Im writing my last post from my kitchen table in Topeka, Kansas. Bike and Build has been over for 8 days, but I have definitely been avoiding this last blog, I don't think I wanted to admit my adventure is over. The end seems sort of hazy, but heres my best recollection...
We spent the last three days only riding 30 miles or so. It was really nice because most of us were extremely exhausted, and it gave us time to recover before our final day. On August 14th, we rode to a spot where all 31 of us met and rode together the last 5 miles. Tons of friends and family met us at East Beach in Santa Barbara, cheering and whistling. We rode in, dropped our bikes and ran to the water. Afterwards, we had our tire dipping ceremony and spent time reflecting on what we had gained and left behind this summer. That night we went out for a fancy dinner (our tan lines went beautiful with our nice clothes) and drinks. The next day we built houses, and then the goodbyes began...
I chose not to go home via plane, but the leaders were driving the support vehicle back. We went from Santa Monica to Zion National Park to Denver (had a day off there), and then to Topeka. So thanks Skip, Kyle, Sophie, and Kristi, that was the most fun I've ever had in a van. I love Tenacious D and the Toast song, and laughing so much!
Im trying to reflect on this summer, and the last couple of days have been a little tough transitioning. I feel a mix of sadness for what happened, but also smile at all the greatness. I also feel a little jumbled since this is the first year I won't being going back to school...and I will be going to Greece for a year....But regardless Bike and Build has taught me:
-that you can do anything (even bike across the county), as long as you take small steps (66 days) and don't think of it all at once
-Everyone I met was SUPER generous. I was looking back over my donor list and donors, I can't thank you enough. You gave me the experience of a lifetime. And all the churches that opened their doors to us...wow.
-Your body can always do more than you think you mind can do.
-Although sometimes I felt like screaming, I love the 30 others Bike and Builders I spent my time with. We're like a big family
I think all for now....
Keep on pedaling!
Allie
-I have no personal boundaries now...Im use to living with 30 others all the time
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Grand, The Dam, Vegas, and so much more~!
The last part of our trip is CRAMMED with things...and we haven't had internet since Flagstaff...so here is my blog about the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, and in between!
The Grand...
Canyon is SO beautiful! I dont think post-cards really do it justice. We got there in time to watch sunset (there were clouds but it was still beautiful). The next day we woke up early to do a 3 mile hike down into the canyon (a couple of riders did a 12 mile hike...i have no idea how they had so much energy). It is so beautiful to see the different rock formations and layers of rock. In the afternoon I found a less touristy place and journaled and wrote postcards while watching a storm come in. Oh and in the evening we saw elk!!
The Dam...
Our ride to Las Vegas was 106 miles with the Hoover Dam at mile 70. It was beautiful but the gorgeous mountains blocked the wind, making it extremely hot. I've never felt so hot in my entire life..especially once we got to the dam and had to climb back up the other side. We soaked our jerseys, skin, and hair with water...and drank tons of water. We heard it was 110 degrees in at the bottom of the dam!
Las Vegas-
On the way into Vegas we stopped for a thunderstorm in front of us...and after it subsided the streets were flooding!!! I went through a foot of water (wading I picked up my bike) to make it to dry land. By the time we got to Vegas we were all exhausted. And our leaders had played a trick on us- they told us we didn't have a host, when actually we had a sweet hook-up and stayed at the Imperial Palace (a really fancy hotel). A BED!!! I hadn't slept in a bed in months (or since the motel on the 4th of July)!!! Other than that I didn't look around Vegas much, I think the city was my least favorite...the few times I did leave the hotel room, I was approached by drunks (one who told me she just slept with her best friend, and another whose yellow thong I saw as she fell down an escalator).
So Much More:
-On the ride into the Canyon I hit my all time high speed- 47.6!
-We did two back-to-back centuries (110 and 106)!
-We also survived a dust storm! A couple of days ago my friend and I were sweep on the longest day- 110 miles! Around mile 80 we started noticing a rain and dust storm behind us...we couldn't figure out if the rain was causing the dust or the dust causing the rain. Anyways, we kept looking at it until it finally caught up to us around mile 102. We could have pulled off the road but decided not to (our vision was alright, and it was the best tail wind ever!). A dust twister went by, and it was really cool to see.
-Final note...I can't believe we only have 3 days left, it seems unreal! The last couple of days our mileage goes way down, so we have more time to bond and pack and such...Then Im helping bring the van and trailer back to the east coast on a road trip!
Im sorry if you really just read that whole ramble~!
~allie
The Grand...
Canyon is SO beautiful! I dont think post-cards really do it justice. We got there in time to watch sunset (there were clouds but it was still beautiful). The next day we woke up early to do a 3 mile hike down into the canyon (a couple of riders did a 12 mile hike...i have no idea how they had so much energy). It is so beautiful to see the different rock formations and layers of rock. In the afternoon I found a less touristy place and journaled and wrote postcards while watching a storm come in. Oh and in the evening we saw elk!!
The Dam...
Our ride to Las Vegas was 106 miles with the Hoover Dam at mile 70. It was beautiful but the gorgeous mountains blocked the wind, making it extremely hot. I've never felt so hot in my entire life..especially once we got to the dam and had to climb back up the other side. We soaked our jerseys, skin, and hair with water...and drank tons of water. We heard it was 110 degrees in at the bottom of the dam!
Las Vegas-
On the way into Vegas we stopped for a thunderstorm in front of us...and after it subsided the streets were flooding!!! I went through a foot of water (wading I picked up my bike) to make it to dry land. By the time we got to Vegas we were all exhausted. And our leaders had played a trick on us- they told us we didn't have a host, when actually we had a sweet hook-up and stayed at the Imperial Palace (a really fancy hotel). A BED!!! I hadn't slept in a bed in months (or since the motel on the 4th of July)!!! Other than that I didn't look around Vegas much, I think the city was my least favorite...the few times I did leave the hotel room, I was approached by drunks (one who told me she just slept with her best friend, and another whose yellow thong I saw as she fell down an escalator).
So Much More:
-On the ride into the Canyon I hit my all time high speed- 47.6!
-We did two back-to-back centuries (110 and 106)!
-We also survived a dust storm! A couple of days ago my friend and I were sweep on the longest day- 110 miles! Around mile 80 we started noticing a rain and dust storm behind us...we couldn't figure out if the rain was causing the dust or the dust causing the rain. Anyways, we kept looking at it until it finally caught up to us around mile 102. We could have pulled off the road but decided not to (our vision was alright, and it was the best tail wind ever!). A dust twister went by, and it was really cool to see.
-Final note...I can't believe we only have 3 days left, it seems unreal! The last couple of days our mileage goes way down, so we have more time to bond and pack and such...Then Im helping bring the van and trailer back to the east coast on a road trip!
Im sorry if you really just read that whole ramble~!
~allie
Saturday, August 2, 2008
News From Arizona!
Arizona is a land of unique of beautiful geography... The past couple days we:
-went into the painted desert...famous "badlands" where water caused the land to erode and show different minerals and different colors of dirt...from where we were biking we could see hues of green, red, white, blue and brown all on the mountains we were passing by on our bikes.
-passed by petrified forests and saw rock wood!
-stopped at a meteor creator
- crossed paths with jackalope, rabbits and lizards in the desert.
But perhaps the coolest thing was today on our day off in Flagstaff. Sophie Turrell is one of our trip leaders and apparently her father, James (or Jim) Turrell is famous in the art world. We got to go to Roden Crator, his work in progress that is a volcano turned into artwork. We walked through these tunnells that frame the sky and other rooms that capture the hues of sunrises and sunsets on slates of walls. Its impossible to describe but absolutely amazing (heres a NY Times article on it: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/arts/design/25fink.html).
Anyways, tomorrow we're off the the Grand Canyon and then Las Vegas!!!
~allie
-went into the painted desert...famous "badlands" where water caused the land to erode and show different minerals and different colors of dirt...from where we were biking we could see hues of green, red, white, blue and brown all on the mountains we were passing by on our bikes.
-passed by petrified forests and saw rock wood!
-stopped at a meteor creator
- crossed paths with jackalope, rabbits and lizards in the desert.
But perhaps the coolest thing was today on our day off in Flagstaff. Sophie Turrell is one of our trip leaders and apparently her father, James (or Jim) Turrell is famous in the art world. We got to go to Roden Crator, his work in progress that is a volcano turned into artwork. We walked through these tunnells that frame the sky and other rooms that capture the hues of sunrises and sunsets on slates of walls. Its impossible to describe but absolutely amazing (heres a NY Times article on it: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/arts/design/25fink.html).
Anyways, tomorrow we're off the the Grand Canyon and then Las Vegas!!!
~allie
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