Today was another harder day - there were some climbs, but it was the weather that was the hardest part - over 90 degrees. Renee was getting too hot, so I made her stop at a grocery store and go inside to cool off in the A/C. There were some kids outside the supermarket publicizing an event at their church, as well as a clown that we got a picture with. We then spent about 15 minutes talking with the kids about our trip and answering all of their questions. They had some great questions and its interactions like this that really make the trip more enjoyable.
We stayed at the 1st Baptist Church, which was awesome. When we arrived they had ice cold Gatorade, cookies and sweet tea. The sweet tea is so good, that I have probably had a gallon of it already. Gary also arranged for us to use the community center pool and today was a laundry day - always a big day given how our clothes smell after biking all day. Gary also gave us a head's up for a
Quote of the day (in honor of Steve from Mt Tabor UMC, who is a huge Chuck Norris fan): When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he is not pushing himself up, he is pushing the world down.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Winston-Salem
Today was the hardest day to date - and I drove the van. It was 89 miles and 85 degrees. It was difficult to get an easy route, and we had to take several busy roads to get to Mt Tabor UMC - Scott Wilkin's church (rider on NC2SD 2008). I was lucky enough to get a couch to sleep on and after shower and a dinner (Thanks to Mt Tabor UMC for the great food), I worked on the cue sheets for the morning and Renee wrote on the white board with the info for the next day. It will become a daily ritual, trying to get the cue sheets done at the last minute. As an FYI, I also try to add a funny quote, and will share them on the blog.
Today's Quote: Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
Today's Quote: Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Chapel Hill, Day 2
Yesterday we got rained out after just 1 hour of building with Orange County (Chapel Hill) Habitat, so we went back to Chapel of the Cross and hung out, watching a movie and resting up.
Today we had awesome weather - sunny and upper 70s. We framed all the walls (both exterior and interior) and raised them up. Had we not been rained out yesterday, we would have had started on the roof.
After today, I am responsible for the host sites for the next week.
Today we had awesome weather - sunny and upper 70s. We framed all the walls (both exterior and interior) and raised them up. Had we not been rained out yesterday, we would have had started on the roof.
After today, I am responsible for the host sites for the next week.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Chapel Hill
The ride from Wake Forest to Chapel Hill was only 38 miles, but had some rolling hills and several of us decided to attack the ride, going pretty hard. It was fun but my legs are feeling it. We got into Chapel Hill just after 11am, which was great since it was so hot. We got into Chapel of the Cross, which is hosting us for the next couple of days, and went into the fridge and found a ton of fruit from Whole Foods. I quickly devoured a container of mixed berries before anyone had a chance to get them, but then waited a little bit before eating two more. Can't go wrong with fresh fruit.
They provided dinner for us and Becky foolishly took a shrimp off my plate. She should know better than to take food for me. 5 minutes later, she tried taking some more food off my plate, and I had to give her the look. I don't know what was going on because after going up for plate #3, Renee decided that she was going to take my food, which I quickly stopped.
Took a tour of UNC campus before heading to a bar on Franklin St. It sucks that North Carolina is not smoke-free because smoking totally sucks. Luckily we were there early (9pm) before the smoking started. They had $.25 Buds and we played several rounds of flip cup. We hit up I Love NY Pizza for a late nite bite before heading back to get some shut-eye. Today we build (I hope)!
They provided dinner for us and Becky foolishly took a shrimp off my plate. She should know better than to take food for me. 5 minutes later, she tried taking some more food off my plate, and I had to give her the look. I don't know what was going on because after going up for plate #3, Renee decided that she was going to take my food, which I quickly stopped.
Took a tour of UNC campus before heading to a bar on Franklin St. It sucks that North Carolina is not smoke-free because smoking totally sucks. Luckily we were there early (9pm) before the smoking started. They had $.25 Buds and we played several rounds of flip cup. We hit up I Love NY Pizza for a late nite bite before heading back to get some shut-eye. Today we build (I hope)!
Suze and I talking with the 4 year olds at Chapel of the Cross
Monday, May 26, 2008
The ride continues...
Yesterday we stopped in Greenville, NC, home of the ECU Pirates. A couple riders learned the hard way that you need to cross railroad tracks with your tires perpendicular to the tracks, otherwise you wipe out. No one was hurt, just a couple of scratches and bruises. We did 58 miles and had to ride with some fairly heavy traffic - something we did not have to do since leaving Nags Head. We stayed at an abandoned house - not completely abandoned, just no one was living in it and we did have permission to stay there. There was only one shower and I got sick of waiting and used the hose outside to shower - so much faster.
Today was 80 miles to Wake Forest. We were spoiled the last couple of days and had some rolling hills at the end of the ride. It was 85 degrees, also higher than what we had been riding in but still cooler than what is coming up. I went thru 2 water bottles of Gatorade and nearly 2 camel packs of water. I decided to ride up in the front group, averaging a little over 19mph. As the lead group, it was our responsibility to draw chalk arrows on the ground for every turn. For those who have seen the movie Superbad, I modeled my arrows after his drawings in his notebook. The 2nd half of the day, Renee, Ana and I rode in a group together. It was pretty good but we missed the last turn and stopped at a restaurant to ask for directions. A super nice couple helped us out and offered to buy us a beer - which we declined per Bike and Build policy (as I always follow policy), but settled for an ice tea. My new rule: If I am ever lost on this trip, always stop at a restaurant to ask for directions! We had to turn down their offer for dinner as we had to get to the North Wake church to shower. We walk in and the first guy I see is wearing an Appalachian State t-shirt. They were super nice and fed us Papa John's pizza. Don't worry, I ate a full pizza myself, but only after everyone else had a chance to go thru the line. We got some frozen custard and then called it a night. Believe it or not, I have dropped 6 lbs since Nags Head, but not sure how much is water. Tomorrow we head to Chapel Hill where we will build with Orange County Habitat for 2 days.
Today was 80 miles to Wake Forest. We were spoiled the last couple of days and had some rolling hills at the end of the ride. It was 85 degrees, also higher than what we had been riding in but still cooler than what is coming up. I went thru 2 water bottles of Gatorade and nearly 2 camel packs of water. I decided to ride up in the front group, averaging a little over 19mph. As the lead group, it was our responsibility to draw chalk arrows on the ground for every turn. For those who have seen the movie Superbad, I modeled my arrows after his drawings in his notebook. The 2nd half of the day, Renee, Ana and I rode in a group together. It was pretty good but we missed the last turn and stopped at a restaurant to ask for directions. A super nice couple helped us out and offered to buy us a beer - which we declined per Bike and Build policy (as I always follow policy), but settled for an ice tea. My new rule: If I am ever lost on this trip, always stop at a restaurant to ask for directions! We had to turn down their offer for dinner as we had to get to the North Wake church to shower. We walk in and the first guy I see is wearing an Appalachian State t-shirt. They were super nice and fed us Papa John's pizza. Don't worry, I ate a full pizza myself, but only after everyone else had a chance to go thru the line. We got some frozen custard and then called it a night. Believe it or not, I have dropped 6 lbs since Nags Head, but not sure how much is water. Tomorrow we head to Chapel Hill where we will build with Orange County Habitat for 2 days.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Belhaven Hospitality
Yesterday I volunteered to drive the van and this morning, it was raining. What are the odds? Oh well, I'd rather have been riding. We stopped by the gas station in Swan Quarter, and the guy has a sign outside that he paints sayings on, but always spells something wrong. It is an honor to make the sign and we were privileged to have it. The miss-spelling was "Biking For Buildings" (Instead of Bike and Build). I wish I had a sign that I could paint comments / sayings on. I am sure that I could come up with some sarcastic / funny things to post.
I got into town early and hoped to get the laundry started early. I opened up the trailer, and after first finding out that the water cooler was double stacked and spilled out all over, the laundry detergent was all the way in the back under all the bags. I stopped at the church to see if I could start to unload the stuff early, and ran into one of the members of the church. After telling her the situation, she said not to worry, that she was headed to the store and would get laundry detergent. She then flagged down another member of the church who opened up the church. 30 minutes later, she brought me the detergent to do laundry.
The southern hospitality in the town of Belhaven is unbelievable. The church did not have showers, so we went to the houses of members of the church to shower. I was talking with the pastor of the church and ran into him in town 5 minutes later and he insisted on buying me an ice cream cone - which I could not turn down. We were also able to stay at the house next to the church and they gave us apple slices, orange slices, bananas, and other snack food and even let me go upstairs and take a nap - talk about making yourself at home. Dinner was at the park down the street with several members of the church. The food was great. We were supposed to have a bike ride with the kids and I was sent to ask the pastor about it, but got distracted and walked over and had a cupcake. I turn around and several fellow riders are laughing and Angela is taking a picture of me eating the cupcake - all while I had no idea why since I had already forgotten that I was supposed to talk to the pastor and not go get food. They gave us all the leftovers including oatmeal cookies that were spiced with a hint of spiced rum. Just need to make sure not to eat them while biking or driving. On a side note, we saw a stoplight. I have not had phone reception since leaving Nags Head but should get it tomorrow in Greenville, as it is a larger city. Too bad Sprint's nationwide coverage is not nationwide.
I got into town early and hoped to get the laundry started early. I opened up the trailer, and after first finding out that the water cooler was double stacked and spilled out all over, the laundry detergent was all the way in the back under all the bags. I stopped at the church to see if I could start to unload the stuff early, and ran into one of the members of the church. After telling her the situation, she said not to worry, that she was headed to the store and would get laundry detergent. She then flagged down another member of the church who opened up the church. 30 minutes later, she brought me the detergent to do laundry.
The southern hospitality in the town of Belhaven is unbelievable. The church did not have showers, so we went to the houses of members of the church to shower. I was talking with the pastor of the church and ran into him in town 5 minutes later and he insisted on buying me an ice cream cone - which I could not turn down. We were also able to stay at the house next to the church and they gave us apple slices, orange slices, bananas, and other snack food and even let me go upstairs and take a nap - talk about making yourself at home. Dinner was at the park down the street with several members of the church. The food was great. We were supposed to have a bike ride with the kids and I was sent to ask the pastor about it, but got distracted and walked over and had a cupcake. I turn around and several fellow riders are laughing and Angela is taking a picture of me eating the cupcake - all while I had no idea why since I had already forgotten that I was supposed to talk to the pastor and not go get food. They gave us all the leftovers including oatmeal cookies that were spiced with a hint of spiced rum. Just need to make sure not to eat them while biking or driving. On a side note, we saw a stoplight. I have not had phone reception since leaving Nags Head but should get it tomorrow in Greenville, as it is a larger city. Too bad Sprint's nationwide coverage is not nationwide.
Friday, May 23, 2008
And we are off!
The trip has officially begun. We got up at 5:15 (and I got up at 5:25 – I needed the extra 10 minutes). We stopped at the Gallop Funeral Home, and after a quick photo op, and then headed to the beach for the wheel dipping ceremony.
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