Well today it started! After much anticipation, training and
fundraising the trip is here :) My truly fantastic roommates and
friends drove me down to Virginia Beach yesterday and are seeing me
off. They even decorated the car, 3 times (it was a little rainy on
the drive) in all bike & build! It was beautiful! I don't know what I
would do without you guys: Summer, Maeghan, and Kelly.
So. Orientation. Walked in with the nervous, first day of school, new
kid feeling in my stomach. What if eveyone is more athletic than me?
Am I the only one who isn't strong enough to pump my tire up to the
full amount (120 psi)? These were the questions running through my
head. But now my mind is at ease, all my teammates are amazing, and
our leaders are just fantastic! I changed my first tire by myself and
feel like I've started the begining of many great friendships.
Basically what we did in orientation so far was go over rules and get
to know each other.
One cool thing that happed was the alumni presentation. The two alumni
who gave it were two of the girls I taked to from the Southern US Bike
& Build trip 09 last summer when my home church was doing a service
project in Mississippi. They are how I found out about b&b and one of
the reasons I am here today, how cool to see them today and tell
themhow they affected my life!!
Well it's time for bed, lights out and listening to jets flying
overhead. I'm loving this so much and we haven't even started biking
yet!
Day 2
More awesomeness, health, safety, bike maintenance, shakedown ride,
bike clinic with kids, food. It's been pretty amazing.
Tomorrow morning we have our wheel dipping ceremony in the Atlantic
ocean and then we begin biking across America! Our 40 mile ride
tomorrow will actually be 60 miles in order to avoid a "death highway"
I am glad we are avoiding a death highway. Sounds like a good thing
to miss.
I'm working on figuring out how to get pictures on here...this blog
will be a work in progress, bear with me :)
Sent from my iPod
First comment!
ReplyDeleteTow headed: from "Take our word for it.com"
Tow means "flax or hemp fiber", and so tow headed is literally "flaxen haired". This meaning of tow comes from Middle Low German touw (which means "flax, hemp fiber"). This probably went back to the prehistoric Germanic base *tow-, *taw "make, prepare" (source also of English tool), in the sense "make yarn from wool; spin". (Other variations are towhead and, though incorrect, toehead.)
I still have to figure out the random brown building outside of DC for Maeghan before my genius status can be restored :)
I'm glad your having a great time! Thank you for texting me and I can't wait to see you ride off into the sunlight (?? sunset doesn't really work for this context) tomorrow!!!
P.S. please tell your leaders that I appreciate the absence of Death highways :)
Hahahaha everyone is going to be confused about the tow. Other riders blogs you should read are Andy and Heather. They both have pictures too :)
ReplyDeleteSo...I really, really like these route leaders of yours. They are putting safety first, even though it means an extra 20 miles. Believe me, this is something that gives us parents "peace of mind." Can't wait to hear about your first day on the road.
ReplyDeleteKelly, thanks for the pictures. You guys are awesome!! I hope you figure out the mystery of the random brown building. We will be praying for your safe trip back to Michigan today. If you could give Ryan or myself a message to let us know you got back safely, that would be great!!
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Philippians 2:13
Hi Kristen
ReplyDeleteI was awake at 5:20 this morning and praying for you all as you dipped that tire in the ocean. There was no visible sunrise here but hope you got to see one. Rather dreary and wet here.
Blessings!
Thanks mom and aunt Dianne!! The wheel dip didn't actually take place til 8:30, but I really appreciate your prayers. Today was wonderful!
ReplyDelete"Sent from your Ipod" :) Thanks Marlene!!!
ReplyDelete