Mosquero to Las Vegas (but not the real one)

Todays ride was 96 miles. We set off at 6 am and knew we would be descending and then ascending a canyon. Arden and I started our descent at mile 27 and didnt fully hit flat ground til more than 10 miles later. We cruised through first lunch all before 9 am. By 12 we had made it to second lunch but the van was still behind so we enjoyed a nice nap roadside. The skies were dark with clouds so the temperature was cool. The winds picked up during second lunch. Of our last 20 miles 14 were on the interstate which is legal in NM. The headwinds were terrible. At some points we were going downhill at 8 mph and pedaling to do so. We made it here by 3 and discovered that there was no kitchen to make dinner and also no fridge or freezer to keep our food or cooler packs cold. So the next few days should be interesting food wise.

I'm exhausted. Today was pretty gorgeous and we saw some neat wildlife who ran in front of us for miles. We saw an awesome sunrise and crazy storm clouds. Tomorrow we head to Santa Fe in what is supposed to be a hilly day.

Also...don't forget to send some love to the next mail drop in Farmington!

Clayton to Mosquero

Today's ride was 88 miles and we knew it would be hot and the winds would be against us, so we all agreed to wake up at 4 am and leave by 6. David and I set out just after 6, and by mile 6 I had a flat tire. I changed it and we headed on. The roads today were all very deserted so we were able to ride double file all day. By mile 15 I had flat number 2. David wasn't feeling well and luckily I think he appreciated being able to take a break. We made it to the halfway mark of our trip at mile 28 today. There was some awesome chalking and we all just generally danced around and celebrated having biked 2000 miles!!!

We made it to first lunch around mile 38 and enjoyed some shade and a sandwich. I, for the first time on the trip, went to the bathroom outside. I was applauded for upon my successful return. We left lunch and I immediately noticed my tire looked low on air. Rather than turn around we plodded on and decided to pump it up since it was a slow leak. The air held for another 3 miles and we stopped again. I pumped it once more in hopes we could find shade to stop under to change it. We didn't find hade unfortunately but I worked quickly so as to minimize our time off the bike. I got one more flat, bringing the days total to 4. And my trip total to 34. Luckily we should hit a bike shop soon. By this point the going was slow. David still didn't feel well, and the heat certainly wasn't doing anything to help. Honestly, I didn't mind our pace...it gave me a chance to really appreciate the views and even snatch some pictures. We came upon an opportunely placed "town" which included one church, 2 houses and lots and lots of cows. We did find an abandoned structure with some good shade and stopped for a snack. Chika came them with the van and water to refill our packs which was much appreciated. We made our way to second lunch @ mile 70 and enjoyed food and shade. The last 20 miles after second lunch were rough. The heat had gotten worse, all of my water and Gatorade was just a few degrees below scalding and the headwinds picked up. We knew we had a huge ascent ahead of us. Unfortunately we saw it about 5 miles before we got to it, so we had plenty of time to be apprehensive.

The climb was over 2.5 miles and our leaders tell us that we gained about 1000 ft of elevation in that time. The switchbacks and steep grade kept us from going more than 6 mph. The views were spectacular and I wish I could have taken a picture. But I knew if I stopped I would never get started again. We finally made it to the top and I haven't felt that proud or accomplished in a while. David was a little worse for the wear after the climb so we took one more break under the shade of some clouds. Today's method was slow and steady with an emphasis on the slow.

It really sucks to know that one of your teammates isn't feeling well. And harder to know that you can't do much to help them. Impressive that they stick it out and ride the miles but rough at the same time. But. We made it. To air conditioning, showers, naps, and dinner. No cell phone service since leaving Clayton...but we do have wifi. Go figure. So Mom and Dad, I'm safe. :)

100+ mile day tomorrow. With the next civilization being the town we end in tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Dalhart, TX to Clayton, NM

Today was a super short ride. Only 46 miles. David, Arden and I made it to lunch before 10 am and into town before 12. In the meantime we saw some awesome scenery and crossed into our 7th state of the trip. We also entered MST. So we are now two hours behind EST.

Since we got into town so early we took some time to explore. We climbed a dinosaur, visited a 100 yr old saloon, a few local shops and even the local museum. We had an interesting communal shower situation and another interesting time trying to figure out how to make dinner since we apparently left all of our pots and pans at a host a few stops back. Seems to be a trend as of late. First our silverware, now our pots and pans. Dinner crew DM'd an eclectic array of items that were able to leave us full and satisfied.

Last night we stayed at the same host as SC2SC and honestly, riding out this morning I have never been so happy that these 26 other people are my teammates. They really lifted my spirits when I needed it yesterday and made me appreciate our team dynamic.

Tomorrow, in 7 miles, we will gain 1000+ ft of elevation. As usual, it is predicted to be hot. But the scenery and the people are so worth it. And I truly am BIKING across the county, and I'm so excited I am.

Amarillo to Dalhart

Today was rough. And that is an understatement. The route was gorgeous but unfortunately it was overshadowed by my 8 flat tires, bringing my trip total to 30...and a smattering of other bike problems. By 10 am we had eaten and left first lunch...2 hrs later we were less than 15 miles from lunch. We stopped at a roadside cafe, the only civilization we saw all day, to refill our camelbaks and managed to find some awesome post cards and I even found Tampico, one of my favorite though rarely available beverages. Soon after leaving there we rode less than a miek before I got a flat. We fixed that and rode 30 meters only for me to get another flat. As soon as that was fixed we discovered Jack had a flat. And once we fixed his I had another already. We were in the same spot for over 2 hrs patching and fixing flats. We were almost completely out of water but found second lunch just in time. My 8th and final flat of the day rounded out our day on the suffer bus and after almost 10 hrs outside, less than half of which were spent riding (like how for 15 miles we averaged 26 mph) Jack and Made it to Dalhart. We didn't eat dinner til after 8 pm. By then I was a seriously unhappy camper and was not in a good place. There is no feeling worse than having a body willing and capable of doing the miles and a bike that won't cooperate. I felt so helpless. And honestly, calling the van to pick me up crossed my mind. Though I am glad I didn't. Tomorrow we head to NM and I can say I am ready to be rid of TX.

This heat is nuts. It's dry which makes it very easy to not realize you're sweating. More times than not the sweat evaporates before you notice it. Over 500 oz of fluid today have managed to still leave me dehydrated.

Today our route crossed paths with SC2SC, another B&B route. We had big plans for Bike and Build Olympics but sadly today's heat zapped the energy out of all of us and none of these ideas came to fruition. Still cool to get a chance to meet some other B&B'ers.

Over and out from Dalhart. Westward to New Mexico in the morning, we even get to sleep til 6 because our mileage is only 46!!!

Memphis to Amarillo and a day off

We knew the forecast predicted temperatures of over 100 degrees so we made it a point to be on our bikes by 6 am. But, before the day could even start I had a flat back tire to deal with. With some help I was able to dig out the metal shard causing the problem. I rode with Kristin and Susan (shout out to Diane Rhodes!) and we quickly realized that although the headwinds were already beating at us we were better off riding 3 wide and keeping the conversation going. Most of the ride was uphill and my legs were not in the mood. Mentally I was ready for the challenge but my legs were in the in-pain train. The Hoff was truly a beacon of hope to see at the top of a long hill. After first lunch we headed out with the knowledge that the next town had a DQ. We committed to stopping for milkshakes and headed out with spirits high. About 10 miles from lunch we heard a rush of air and I knew it was my tire going flat. That made flat tire #22 for the trip. To put that in perspective many people have only had one. The pavement and tire had gotten so hot that the patch on it wrinkled allowing the air to leak out. The only plus side, since there was nary a bit of shade in sight, is that I'm getting decently quick at changing a tire. We got back on the road and used our desire for milkshakes and air conditioning to power us up the last hills to the town. A chocolate peanut butter milkshake has never tasted so good and by the time we were ready to head out the rest of the team was there. We struggle bused it to second lunch and relished the shade there. The next ten miles were a struggle but after we made one of our last turns the wind was in our favor and we flew into the host around 22 mph. We were greeted by awesome snacks and after a solid nap an amazing dinner. Another nap followed.

By the time we made it into the host I remembered ways more about the great conversation I had with Kristin and Susan than the long hills and strong headwinds. What a great feeling.

About half of us woke up early to had to nearby Palo Duro Canyon. Look it up, it was gorgeous. It was already 110 degrees when we started hiking around 1030. So we kept it short and sweet but still enjoyed ourselves.

Altus, OK to Memphis, TX

Today was an awesome day. And truly I think today 100% captured the essence of B&B. We had a 72 mile day today but the high was forecasted to be 106 degrees and since it was a Sunday we had to be out of the church by 7 am. But it was a blessing in disguise. Arden, David and I made it to lunch before 930 and quickly headed back out. The scenery was gorgeous and there was not a cloud to be seen all day. The winds were decently strong and the hills the last 10 miles were killer...but I was in too good a mood to let that keep a smile off my face. Dinner was a smattering of casseroles and some awesome cake. To try and beat the heat wake up is at 430 am. Like back in my college rowing days.

Honestly...today is hard to write about. I had an amazing time and I feel like today was a perfect example of why there is nowhere else I would rather be this summer.

Lawton to Altus

Today was another short day...only 57 miles, so as a group we decided to sleep in until 645 because the church was willing to make us a hot breakfast if we stayed until 8. What an excellent decision. They had some awesome breakfast potatoes and I definitely made a trip for seconds. We did get a pretty late start on the road but Ben, Jay and I kept a steady pace despite the headwinds and crosswinds. We made it to lunch and took solace in the little shade available. We headed out again and made the last 25 miles go by quickly as we told stories. We stopped by an old antique like shop hoping that the Coca-Cola sign out front meant that we could buy an ice cold one inside. While this was not the case we still enjoyed exploring and we each left with an authentic wooden nickel. Another stop at Taco el Rey and we were able to DM dinner for all of us. Then, we made one last stop at the local pool, complete with water slides, DM'd of course, before finally heading to the host. Dinner was great and was followed by some DM'd Italian ice from Riley's Brain Freeze. I had lemon and mango and it really hit the spot, especially considering temperatures here are still in the upper 90's. OK has been good to us, but I'm excited to head back to Texas tomorrow...but mostly just so I can get a picture with the OK state line sign.

The scenery today was pretty amazing. And while my body was a little sore, I enjoyed every baking hot minute of today.

It's crazy to think, but come Thursday we'll be in NM. And while we're on crazy...I'm pretty excited...our silverware was left in Elm Grove, more than a week and a half ago...so we have had one fork, spoon and knife between the 27 of us. So we've been getting creative and also doing a lot of sharing. BUT...tonight we are getting silverware!!!!!

Witchita Falls to Lawton, OK

Today we crossed the border from TX to OK. We had to have a police escort because we took a highway bridge to avoid adding an extra 30 miles to the route. Apparently TX doesn't mind us riding on the highway but OK has a serious problem with it, and rightly so. So sadly, we were not able to get a state line picture, but not to fear, one will be acquired upon leaving OK. The ride today was a super short 59 miles so we took a super long lunch break in Cookietown!!! A town with a population of 6...meaning we almost quintupled the population upon our arrival to lunch. Hannah, David and I leisurely crushed the rest of the miles into town and told stories along the way to pass the time. We had a good time mingling with a group of HS students staying in the same church as us as they work on helping with local home repairs this week. We have another, even shorter day tomorrow. excited, but it's supposed to top out around 100 degrees, meaning on blacktop it'll be around 110. Ick.

Decatur to Witchita Falls

Today was supposed to be a 76 mile day. But, as I've learned, things are never as they seem...especially not cue sheet mileage. By the time we arrived at the YMCA at which we are staying my odometer was about to hit 85. Along the way we stopped for not 1 or 2 flats...but 6. All o my front tire. After the 6th Tova let me take her wheel since she was driving the van. So, tonight at the local bike shop I bought a new tire and hopefully that will fix my problem. My trip total is now at 16 which I do believe puts me in 1st place. Not that it's an award I'm trying to win. Dinner was at an awesome taco place called the Fuzzy Taco and we got a chance to talk with some of the Habitat coordinators from the local chapter. We got caught in a serious Texas storm and pulled off under the awning of a trophy shop, we found out they made all the medals for a race known as HotterN' Hell, the nations largest 1 day century ride. It's held in august so the temperatures always exceed 100 degrees. I got a chance to see the 2012 design and talk with the owner which was pretty neat.

Tomorrow we head to Oklahoma, my second new state of the trip.

Also, today was mail drop...seriously...to everyone that sent me something, thank you so much. It really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know about all the people who love and care about me. The next mail drop address is posted in the mail drops tab and I would love to hear from any and all of you reading this. It's really great to come in from such a taxing day, with 6 flats and have mail to read/open. I'm learning more and more everyday how much the little things matter. Real towels, a meaningful conversation, a real bathroom, an wifi. I am so much more appreciative of everything and everyone I have in my life.

Dallas to Decatur

Today's 93ish miles were surprisingly delightful. After a rough and achy first 10 miles Chika, Emily, Arden, Alex and I got into the swing of things and after a stop at mile 25 crushed it to first lunch at mile 36. We ate, with our hands, because our silverware was forgotten at a host an LA. So pasta salad was eaten on lettuce, sandwiches, or with bare hands. Alex had one flat, but the ride to second lunch at mile 72 was a smooth one. Alex, before we left, unknowingly urinated right in front of a security camera. Just further proving B&B is not real life. We made a smart move and daringly rode on a section of closed road that had been recently paved. It was as smooth as a baby's bottom and it almost made me forget the rough roads of east Texas.

Our group was the first to make it to the host. Arden and I managed to snag a room with big fluffy pillows in it and I have every intention of going to bed early.

But, before I end this I wanted to reflect a little on my time on B&B so far.
-I have only 3 or so shirts and yet that is not at all a problem. So why do I need so many clothes in real life.
-I lose things in my 20 gallon bin, it's a miracle I can find anything in a whole room of stuff.
-we never have a whole day where everything goes as planned. It always ends up alright...but why do I spend time in the real world getting bent out of shape when things go wrong.
-in the last month I've watched maybe a half hour of tv. Why do I ever waste a whole day doing that at home.
-these 27 people are all awesome. We all have our similarities and differences...but everyone has something in common. The real world cant possibly be any different.

My life here is so simple. Not to say I leave things to chance, but 99% of the days happenings are out of my control. And the only thing I know in advance is that i will be biking some number of miles from some place to another place and at some point during the middle of that I will be fed. It's strangely liberating.

Dallas build days

So far we have done lots of finish work on our build sites. I love learning new skills but it is sometimes frustrating to leave after 8 hrs of work and not be able to photograph the difference we have made. However, in Dallas we got to frame a house. When we arrived it was only a concrete slab and by the end of day one we had built and raised the exterior walls. Day 2 we did the same with the interior walls. We finished work early both days because we ran out of materials and completed all the worker could without an electrician on site.

After our first build day we headed back to Sally's and enjoyed the pool as well as the unlimited snacks and beverages. Just as we had been greeted with an awesome breakfast, dinner was the same and we gathered for a cookout with Habitat board members. However, before dinner a few other riders and i headed shopping for cowboy boots. I found an awesome pair, but sadly only got to wear them once before sending them home due to lack of bin space. After our second day of building Sally treated us to a trip to he local water park, Hurricane Harbor. It was a blast and nice to be out in the real world for a few hours, even if my tan lines did earn me some crazy looks. After the water park we all headed for dinner at a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. It was delicious.

Sally came with a lot of hype. Alumni have been talking her up since JAX. But...this woman managed to far exceed expectations and make all us on SUS think twice about continuing to Monterey. We only kept going because she will be meeting us at the finish.

Athens to Dallas

We've finally reached the promised land and it's everything we were promised it would be. Sally, our Dallas host has been on the top of our most talked about list since day 1. Arden, Chika, Kristina and I arrived after, what was at least for me, a very difficult 75 miles. The hills from yesterday really took a toll on my legs which I felt today. There were milkshakes, cookies, a table full of delicious food and alcohol aplenty. We swam in the pool and had an amazing dinner including corn on the cob, brisket, and baked potatoes. After dinner we headed to a honky tonk bar for some live music and we got a chance to ride the mechanical bull. Turns out our biking skills do not translate to bull riding skills. A fun night and 2 build days to follow in Dallas...tomorrow we get to frame a house...something we haven't yet had the chance to do.

Carthage to Athens

Today's ride was 91 miles to Athens, TX. We knew that temperatures were going to be hot so we woke up at 4:30 a.m. in order to be on the road as early as possible. David and I finally made it on the road around 6:30 a.m. and neither of us were on our game. We knew the route would be hilly but I don't think either of us quite expected the extent of the hills. We saw a rainbow and grabbed coffee around mile 20 and we were back on top of our flow. We  cruised into first lunch around mile 43 and finished and headed back out on the road all before 11 am. We knew second lunch due to the heat and miles would be around mile 70, but David and I, despite the large rolling hills and the rough shoulder conditions made it there before the van and decided to forge ahead knowing we had plenty of snacks and water. We hit a dangerous stretch of road around mile 75 and around mile 82 had a close call with a truck. We made it to the host by 3 only to find that we couldn't get inside until 5. So we headed to the local Mexican restaurant and had a second lunch before heading back to the church. After dinner we split up to go to different homes. Justine and I had were paired together. So we were able to shower, try some homemade peach tart and will even have a real bed to sleep in tonight. I had a real towel to use after my shower, and reliable internet access. It's really the little things that can make or break a day. Tomorrow we head to Dallas where we'll build for 2 days and get a chance to rest our rear ends. Tomorow will also ebe our 8th day in a row of riding and I think I speak for everyone when I say we need a break.

Elm Grove to Carthage, TX

We had a 77 mile ride today which turned into about 84 when it was all said and done. We were able to take a tour of Barksdale AF base and got a police escort in the process. My escort count is up to 4 and all in 5 days! After our AF base tour and gift shop adventure it was hot and after 10 am. We quickly headed out again and had lunch at the largest garden dedicated to roses. After literally stopping to smell the roses we forged on towards Texas. We found what we thought was the state line sign and were a little disappointed. About a half mile later we found the real sign and we were rewarded. Louisiana dropped the ball and we never got a state line picture, though some riders claim to have one. Arden, David, Alex and I slowed down the pace a little bit because Arden and I were not feeling our best. At around mile 60 David and Alex split off and the road conditions worsened greatly. My wrists and rear end took a beating and the hills and headwind did nothing to help the situation. But we arrived safely and I promptly enjoyed a bottled Gatorade which was a real treat and then a shower and nap before dinner.

Natchitoches to Elm Grove

The ride today was awesome. It was a short 53 miles and I managed to make it with no flats after 5 the previous day. Kristina, Hannah and I killed it to lunch on what we deemed the "local pain train". We made it to Elm Grove by 1:30 and we were glad we pushed the pace because our host was an AMAZING alum from P to S last year. There was a lake that we immediately jumped in and fresh fruit smoothies. Bomb dip and this was all before dinner! Burritos rounded outvote evening and bellies as well as fresh strawberry pies from Marcus' mom! There was an electric cart that we used to go pick peaches and berries from the orchard on the property. Probably a trip highlight so far. Even despite the mile long gravel road to end out day

Alexandria to Natchitoches

Today was pretty rough. The morning started off well when we had biscuits for breakfast but went downhill when I got a flat before we even left the host. I changed it all myself and pretty quickly but by mile 16 I had another flat and another by mile 24. When I left lunch I had my fourth flat and 5 miles after that I had my fifth. By that time we decided it was time to change my tire and after that it was smooth sailing. I was in a pretty foul mood but I was cheered up when we stopped to help Emily finish a birthday scavenger hunt. She needed to honk the horn of an 18 wheeler which we accomplished and we all got a chance to honk the horn as well. It was pretty cool. I wasn't feeling well when I got to the host but once I cooled off and had a shower I felt much better.

Opelousas to Alexandria

Today was supposed to be a nice average 75 mile day, but we quickly found out, ad is always the case that nothing is average on B&B. By mile 5 we were supposed to have made 5 turns, but we had only made one. The mileage was way off and because we are riding in the backwoods of Louisiana many roads are not marked. We made frequent stops to check Google maps. Though once we were fortunate enough to stop near a hay bale. One of the things on my B&B bucket list was to take a picture on top of a hay bale which I accomplished, though not without a boost up...those things are tall! After David, Arden, Kristen, Hannah, Justine and I found our way back onto the cue sheet we quickly discovered the road we were on turned to gravel. We walked the length only to find our next turn was the same way. We heard the van, Timmy, behind us and unfortunately there was no better alternative than to walk our bikes or attempt to ride through the gravel. We made it to a busy intersection and were greeted by construction workers who alerted us the next 10 miles on our cue sheet were all gravel roads. So, we resorted to taking the road we had been trying to avoid by using back roads. We were all pretty grumpy at this point and the 6 of us decided a coffee break was absolutely necessary. We stopped at a gas station and were able to get free coffee and talk to some locals about B&B. We spoke to a police officer outside who said the road ahead was busy and offered to escort us to our next turn. I obviously accepted the offer and we were able to ride in the lane safely trough the rain until our turn onto a less busy road. Things went downhill from there. Kristen got a flat, it started pouring, we were barely making progress with all the wind when we saw lightening and had to pull over. We were all hungry but knew we were close to lunch so we pressed on as soon as it seemed safe. At lunch we took a pretty sweaty, musty smelling though long nap as we waited for thunder and lightening to cease. After lunch we all boarded the struggle bus, I got a flat an eventually Hannah did as well. David and Arden forged ahead and the 4 of us struggled on without them. We met an awesome woman, Julie. We were able to ride double file and that's what kept me alive the last 15 miles. We were out if snacks and it was 6 pm and we were all ready for real food, not trail mix. We missed a few turns near the end because the roads were unmarked. Fortunately I noticed and we were able to get right back on route. The last 5 miles flew and I was able to get quickly showered and eat an awesome dinner which quickly lifted my spirits. Tomorrow is supposed to be only 54 miles although I think you've all seen by now how that usually works out. By, we're starting the day with a hot breakfast...so I'm not sure how it could be a bad day.

Baton Rouge to Opelousas

Today's mileage was short, only 66 miles according to the cue sheet. However, we had an exciting treat at mile 5 and I was able to cross something off my B&B bucket list. Between miles 5 & 8 we had a double police escort! We had to cross a narrow bridge with a relatively high speed limit and Chris from Rebuilding Together made a call or two and hooked us up. One car blocked traffic with their lights on while the other went ahead and blocked oncoming traffic. We made a jug handle turn onto the highway, using the entrance ramp and everything. Once we were on the road both cars followed us with lights on and the van close behind. I felt like a celebrity and it may have gone to my head a little bit. :) But in all seriousness probably a top 5 riding moment so far. And we also succeeded in blocking a decent amount of morning rush hour traffic. After the police escort things got a little rougher. I boarded the struggle bus. The roads were rough but the shoulder was worse. There were rumble strips every 10 ft or so so we were forced to stay in the lane. We came to lunch earlier than expected which was a nice surprise. However, from lunch we all had to pack our bikes in the trailer and shuttle the next 5 miles over a dangerous causeway. I hated having to miss those miles but it helped knowing we were all missing out. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Though I think today was the muggiest day yet. We managed to DM some dinner when we got into town since the host couldn't provide it. We ended up with 8 pizzas from Dominos and 75 Cane's chicken fingers. Sounds like a pretty balanced meal, right?

But speaking of balanced meals, before I forget...St. James Episcopal in Baton Rouge hooked us up. All our meals were incredible and we managed to have leftovers at every one which is shocking. This morning for breakfast was especially awesome. Instead of cold cereal and milk we were treated to waffles ( a trip first ) , sausage patties, fruit salad, scrambled eggs and grits. There was even flavored syrups for the waffles and plentiful hot coffee. I almost didn't want to leave. But the excitement of a police escort got my butt into gear.

New Orleans to Baton Rouge

We had been hearing rumors all week about today's mileage. We even heard a rumor of 63. And another rumor of 110. Turns out 63 is the number of miles via highway. 110 on the other hand was the bike route. Marcus and I were sweep, meaning we were in charge of being the last two riders as well as carrying the med kit and spare tire. The day got off to an early start, with a 4:30 am wake up. But, in true B&B fashion it was 6:30, not 6:00 by the time we were all on the road. Before mile 10 Marcus and I had stopped twice for riders with flat tires and once for a train. After having spent more than an hour and a half trying to make it out of the city and on to the Mississippi river trail we finally made it. I have a special place in my heart for bike paths and trails and this one was no exception. 30 miles of no traffic and beautiful river scenery to look at really is a treat. We made it in to first lunch around mile 45 and we're delighted to find that someone had saved us each 2 pieces of "sweep"-za (pizza for sweep). Yesterday, due to the length of mileage fell under the B&B 90-90 rule. Over 90 degrees or 90 miles means we get two lunches. After first lunch is when things started to get dicey. We learned just before leaving that there was a route change due to new construction ahead. We made the detour just fine, but about 10 miles after leaving lunch saw lightening and heard thunder. Unfortunately we were on a pretty high traffic road with nothing but trees in sight. We decided to press on and look for any type of shelter. It began raining and we came upon Maggie and Jay. Jay was fixing a flat so we stopped. Thats when it really started to pour. More lightening and thunder followed and our sense of urgency in finding shelter increased. We had to slow our pace because visibility was very low, but about 2 miles later we saw a sign for a visitors center. We immediately proceeded there, and found 4 other riders there as well. As far as places to get stranded it was a pretty good one. Lots of picnic tables (which I took an awesome 2 hr nap on) and even indoor restrooms, and the best part is lots of space to keep us and the bikes under. Every time we thought it was safe to prepare to venture out we would see another strike of lightening. All in all we were stopped for about 2.5 hrs. When we finally headed back out it was after 3 and we hadn't even hit mile 60. Marcus and I kicked it into gear and were hauling at about 20 mph. We stopped once more for thunder and lightening and by the time we made it to second "lunch" it was 5:45. After cramming in two PBJ sandwiches (which after 12 hours of biking is not appealing, nor is a 5th package of trail mix) we headed out, figuring from our cue sheet that the detour had added about 5 miles, which would mean we had about 30 to go to reach the host. The going was a bit slower as neither Marcus nor I seemed to have a positive stomach reaction to the lack of real food so far that day. The sun started to set in what was a beautiful array of colors in the sky. But it also meant we were running out of daylight. We made a quick stop to see the live tiger on LSU campus and received a call from our leader Ben saying he was leaving with the van to start picking riders up because it was too dark to be riding. I told Marcus that Ben would have to fight me before I got in that van. So knowing we had less than 3 miles left we hauled ass. Marcus' tail light had died so I let him go ahead so we would be more visible to cars coming from behind. The last few miles we rode around 23-24 mph. I'm not sure I've ever been so pleased with myself or in such high spirits pulling into a host. It was about 8:45 when we finally made it. My odometer read 118.5 and I felt like I got hit by a train. But I was ecstatic and a little delirious and more than a little smelly. But I was much better after dinner and a shower. We made it out to a beautiful roof top bar where I spent 20 minutes crushing a water, and I do very much mean water, and then headed back to pass out on my sleeping bag.

Today we worked with an organization called Rebuilding Together. The services they typically provide are ones to help keep elderly homeowners in their homes. However, because it was raining we helped paint the inside of the St. Vincent de Paul food kitchen that often provides meals to elderly people with low fixed incomes. The work was short and the help plentiful so we were finished by 2 which left time for a short run ( And boy, am I out of shape) as well as a nice long shower, nap and the writing of this blog post.

NOLA build days

We have been fortunate enough to spend the last 5 days of our journey building with the St. Bernard Project in St. Bernard's Parish in New Orleans. We spent all 5 days working on a duplex for a man named Oliver. A special grant from the United Way provided the money for materials for the rebuild and SBP provided the construction knowledge and volunteer labor to get the job done. The grant received will also teach Oliver to be a landlord. He is retired and currently has no steady source of income, but this rental unit will change that. Arden and I spent the majority of our 5 days working on baseboards and shoe molding for all the rooms. We created what came to be known as a wood journal and embodied the concept of measuring everything, writing measurements down and only making one trip to the saw. By the second day everyone was copying us. Yesterday after we finished the baseboards we built 3 pantry shelves for the kitchen and installed several other closet shelving units as well as transition strips between the flooring in each room.

There was a McDonalds only a few blocks from the build site and many went the first day for some lunchtime coffee. By the second day everyone was making a lunch time visit, in addition to catching a lunchtime nap. By the 3rd day we were stopping by in the morning as well, and before we knew it we were on very friendly terms with the staff. 27 people can really pack a place.

My parents visited Saturday through Tuesday and in addition to getting to see them they also made all of us an awesome meal on Monday after our first build day.

Spirits were high this week, as were temperatures and the humidity. But, we took it in stride, sang and danced a lot and I think just generally reminded ourselves why we are here this summer. We got a chance to meet Oliver this morning and hear from his perspective how Katrina affected him, and what moving back home means to him. It was really inspiring and more than made up for all the rough days behind and the ones still to come.

Last night after out build we were able to go to a SBP welcome home party. It was essentially the grand reveal of a finished house and we were able to meet the homeowner Mr.James and hear his story as well as hear a brief presentation from the site supervisors and UPS who donated $100,000 to the project. We toured the house and I was thankful to experience that since we will not get to see the reveal of Oliver's house.

The evenings we were able to spend exploring the city, including seeing jazz bands on Frenchman St. And eating dinner at an NUS alum house and also the house avid local cyclists Chip and Bunny. Both dinners were delicious and the music was awesome as well. We rounded off the week with a indie folk concert and lots of time spent on the roof of our church in the lower ninth ward. Because the area has an elevation below sea level we saw a boat passing by above our heads as it headed down the river. It was very eerie.

Morale is high leaving New Orleans and tomorrow we ride to Baton Rouge. The only downside...it'll take us 110 miles to get there. Keep us in your thoughts, I'm risky sweep with Marcus, but it'll be along day.

The picture included is from a house near our build site. These were the marks placed on homes during the search and rescue efforts following Katrina. 7 yrs later and the marks remain indicating by whom the house was searched, date searched. And any deceased persons found inside. The letters TFW stand for toxic flood water.

Even 7 years later New Orleans is not completely rebuilt. It takes continued support both of time and money to continue rebuilding efforts. Please take a moment to look up St. Bernard Project. They currently have 70 families on the waiting list. If time or money is not something you can provide think about a thought or a prayer or sharif this blog with a friend. :)

And don't forget to send love to next weeks mail drop.

General Delivery
Care of Bike and Build
Attn: Jessie Modrall
10781 US 71
Elm Grove, LA 71051

Biloxi to New Orleans

Today's ride was pretty great. Kristina, Arden and I set out first and kept a pretty speedy pace all morning. There was no wind which was an awesome change of paste. We were on the same road for most of the day. Nate found us an awesome lunch spot with shade and picnic benches and we had a real lunch without a hint of pb or j due to our leftovers from Biloxi. We left lunch pretty quickly and continued to crush it into NoLa knowing my parents would be waiting for us when we got there. We chanted "puppy chow" to get us up the hills and bridges, which are always hills. We made our entrance almost flawlessly with only one minor bump into a HUGE pot hole. We made it to the church just before 3 after our 83 mile day and my parents rolled in shortly after with loads of delicious snacks.

I was able to go to their hotel room and take a shower knowing that no one was in line behind me, and the feeling was sensational. We got to go out to a nice dinner in the French Quarter as well and then I headed out to meet the Bike and Build gang on Bourbon St.

Today was our first build day, but more to come on that later. But we were able to accomplish a lot and I can't wait to head back tomorrow.

Build days in Mobile

We were fortunate enough to work with Habitat of Mobile County for 2 days while we were in Mobile. They're doing something different than the other organizations we've worked with so far. Due to the large number of foreclosures in Mobile in recent years the Habitat chapter there is buying them and refurbishing them for the future homeowners. We split up into 2 worksites, and on my site we primed and painted all of the rooms which took the majority of our first workday. The second day we laid some laminate flooring in the bedrooms while some of us helped repair a shed in the backyard. The build site was a little more disorganized than we were expecting and accustomed to, so we felt a bit unproductive in the mornings as we tried to determine exactly what it was we were supposed to do. But after we figured it out we were on a roll. We've already made it to NOLA and have been busy exploring. Expect a blog post to follow soon, and our 5 build days start tomorrow!

Mobile to Biloxi

Today we crossed our 3rd state line today from Alabama into Mississippi! There was an awesome state line sign to commemorate the experience. The weather this morning was great. It was cloudy and cool and we rode leisurely on some back roads and enjoyed the conversation between riders. Around mile 27 I heard a loud noise and turned around to see a fellow rider had fallen into the road and was pretty scraped up. There was no where around to clean her wound so we improvised until sweep could get there with the med kit. Luckily both her and her bike were okay and she was able to keep riding. We had a pretty great lunch, with real bread for sandwiches and took our time making it to the host. Stopping several places to look for postcards. We had a bomb dinner tonight that even included vegetable curry and then got a chance to visit and look around one of the casinos. Biloxi was way cooler than expected as well as the ride here. We encountered nothing but nice people and I can't wait to ride to New Orleans tomorrow! We get one full day off and then build for 5! My parents are meeting us in the big Easy and I'm pretty excited for that as well.