Building!

So yesterday and today were our first two build days. Yesterday we got in an hour before the rain started. Kinda stunk we couldn't build.

Today though was a great day, about 8 hours of work. Sunny, hot and we got a lot done. As you can see from the pictures we got all the outside walls up and pretty much all the inside walls up. It all went pretty smooth. Not too many re-dos for us.

This is our last night in Chapel Hill. Tomorrow we ride to Winston-Salem. 85 miles and I think it's going to be a little hilly. It will be good to get back to riding.

This was the day it rained. The foundation and floor were already in. In this picture is Lance, Angela and Renee. Oh, the one in blue was our site supervisor

Well, that's all for now.

Later,

Dave

Tough Day!

Yesterday we left Greenville for an 80 mile ride to Wake Forrest. It was a tough day. Our first day of decent hills. The combination of many miles, some heat, pushing too hard and not changing the front gears sooner did me in. I was in the front group and thankfully we had cold gatorade waiting for us. Showers soon followed.

North Wake Church was our stop. Again, awesome! The hosts have all been very cool and generous.

Leaving the house

one of the last pictures before my gorilla pod snapped off on a big pothole. Tried superglue but it's done.

Go Go Go! Right across from the YMCA we showered at was a go-cart place that was closed but had a guy working on a new mini-golf course. He opened the track and gave us a discount. It was a blast! Those things slide nicely.

Today was much easier and slower pace for me. 38 miles to Chapel Hill. Some hilly spots but not as bad as we thought.

The first couple groups got in at 1. We were the first to shower! Who knew showers could be so coveted? The next two days are build days here in Chapel Hill. 9-5 days is what I heard.

Today is pretty chill. The group who has no name is doing laundry right now. We have our first group presentation tonight and dinner at 7. After that we are free for the night. In the next couple of days we'll probably do our presentation to people of the community/Chapel of the Cross(the church we're crashing at for the next couple of days).

Cole Train(inside joke), the group I'm in has cooler duty this week. Gatorade, water, food. Eh, I guess that's enough info for you guys. More later.

Dave

Push-ups!

Oh, forgot to mention or maybe I did(Already these days are blending in), most of us are doing a push-up for every mile that day.

So for instance, today we did 58 miles and 58 push-ups when we got to our destination. We are pretty loose with the rules. People can rest and stuff. I rest but don't get my hands off the ground.

It's a nice way to work the upper body. Even out a little.

Dave

The 3rd Day..

Itinerary - Here is the updated places and mileage

So we've been riding for 3 days. 65 miles day 1, 35 day 2 and 58 day 3.

Day one - 65 miles. So flat and straight. Piece of cake! Police escort part of the way, great dipping ceremony, just a great start for this trip. Swanquarter was our first destination.

A real small town. The school across the street let us use the showers. The church, its pastor and people from the congregation had a great dinner for us. Thank you for all that you've done! It is really appreciated.

Day two - Woke up to rain. It was only 35 miles but it was lightly raining. Belhaven which is an awesome town of people was our stop for day two! Of course it got all sunny and warm after we arrived. Their hospitality is going to be hard to beat. There was an article in their paper, donation jar, tons of food for dinner and breakfast. These people are crazy good and generous. Many opened their homes for showers and laundry. A big thank you to this awesome community.

These people just kept giving us food. Which we are going through quickly.

Also we all are assigned chores and this week I had laundry. So myself and a couple others assigned to laundry started on them when the van was unloaded. 30 people and lots of laundry. We got through it pretty quickly though.

Day three - It was 58 easy going miles to Greenville. Again it was pretty flat. A couple "hills" if you could call them that. I was sweep with Travis so we were making sure everyone got to our destination, helping with flats and stuff like that. I'm ready for tomorrow! 78 miles or something like that. All this energy unused!

We are staying at some huge house that the guy doesn't live in anymore. Someone had a connection and we got tons of super awesome food again. We are getting spolied! In a couple weeks well have to be making our own and be eating a lot more PB&J.

Today I finally got cell reception. Called the parents to let them know what's up.

It's only been a couple days but all the people on this trip are awesome! I've gotten closer to some(Go Laundry Group!) and I'm excited to get to know more about everyone.

I'm so glad I went on this trip. I know I'm going to be talking about this for the rest of my life.

If you want to know more, ask away! Just leave a comment and I'll get to it asap.

Thank you all!

Dave

First Pictures!

We had our shakedown ride(21 miles to the lighthouse) and I hooked my camera to my bike. Got some decent pics. Adjusted the settings so there should be better ones the next time I post(I don't know where the next internet connection will be)

Tomorrow is the real start. 5:15 wake-up, bike dipping ceremony and riding 66 miles to Swanquarter.

Until next time...Get Riding!

81 Miles Baby!

Well, things didn't go as planned. I got my bike yesterday around 1 and Hannah got hers at 6. Plus major thunder/lightning storm and a bunch of rain. We decided to get up early today and do it all in one shot.

Got up at 4:45 and left at 5:10. Went 81 miles(my longest ride by about double). Took 6.5 hours, not including two 5-10 minute breaks. It was awesome! Didn't have my camera out because I thought the weather was going to be iffy. Saw some pretty landscapes and got good experience riding on the road.

So we got to orientation and did a bunch of icebreakers in the sand dunes(I'll try and post pictures later) when everyone arrived. Went over rules and stuff like that. We also painted our trailer(again, pictures later). It was fun getting to know my fellow bikers.

Well I'm off to bed. A little tired after getting up before the sun to bike 81 miles.

Tomorrow we are going to a local bike shop to learn more about bike maintenance and going on a 14 mile shakedown ride. Friday is when the real work begins. I think 60+ miles.

Oh, I forgot to mention, instead of 3,400 miles. It's now over 3,700! 4 centuries now and some days have been extended.

Later!

Dave

They took my butt cream!

Got your attention? Before I get to that, let me update you!

I finished my sweat equity pulling weeds at hope house, which is a transitional home for homeless mothers and their kids. Not Habitat related but still deals with homelessness/in need people.

I also spent the best $1.25 ever! Thursday I did the 48 mile ride. Started at 12:30pm in 95+ degree weather on my old bike. Took an extra 40 minutes, a lot more hard work and all of my 100oz hydration pack. When I got back to the parking lot the water I had in the car was warm, so I went to a vending machine and got the most refreshing water ever!

Friday and Saturday were sweet going away parties for me. Family, friends, rock band and an awesome time! Told people more in detail what my planes were, how I was getting to Nags Head, etc.

I got up at 3am to go get on a plane to fly to Norfolk, VA. So this is where I am, couch surfing(check out couchsurfing.com if you don't know what that is) on some guys couch, very close to the water, just had a sweet asian portobello salad and borrowing someone's wi-fi(Thank You!).

Tomorrow I'm going to ship my duffle to Nags Head and hopefully get my bike to start putting it back together. I'll bring my camera and take some pictures of the sweet houses or anything else I deem cool enough to photograph.

Hannah is getting in on Tuesday and the plan it to bike 40 miles that day. We'll see how that goes!

I know some of you wanted me to post the itinerary and I will, just after we get to orientation. That way you can get the most up to date info.

Oh, almost forgot about the butt cream! So you totally need it when you ride a whole bunch, which I do and will continue to do for the next 2 months.

I put the bottle in my bike shoes to save space and brought those shoes on carry-on backpack. The screener had to open it up but I didn't know what he was looking for until he took out the cream. I laughed and said I totally forgot about it. Didn't even think about the no liquids thing.

That just means I need to get some more tomorrow. Ah, good start to the adventure of a lifetime.

Later for now!

Serving and I'm almost gone!

Last night I helped serve a couple hundred homeless/in need people. I found out about it that morning and signed up. They've been doing it for many years and are very efficient. I was a server. Stood in line and when it was my turn, took two plates of food and was directed to people just sitting down. Once I was out I got back in line. It all worked very well. After that we cleaned up and put the chairs and tables away.

I still need 1.5 hours but there is nothing habitat related. Well there is but not in the next couple days. I'm going to contact the head of a single mothers home and see if they need me to do something.

On the biking front, I shipped my bike! I have my old mountain bike that I just started using again. Man was it weird getting back on it. This is the bike I put 1,400 miles on but now it's so low to the ground and heavy. No clip-less pedals, different stance and not as cool looking as my road bike.

If you still want to donate, contact me. The time has past to get donations to the office in time. I will be bringing any donations to orientation. If you have donated, thank you! I've compiling all the address but some of you didn't leave an address. I'm trying to locate those to send you a postcard along the way. Send me your address if you didn't put your address anywhere.

I've got a couple more things to wash and I'll start packing my duffle bag. Everything should fit nicely. I've been calm getting things in order like, how I'm getting to Nags Head.

All good stuff!

Peace!

Dave

Ride Video!

So my ride times were a little slower getting back into the swing of things. But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I found a place to crash in Norfolk! And my presentation is done! A couple big things checked off the list. Also got 48 bucks back for some bike shorts! They just had a big sale and I got mine a couple weeks ago. They refunded me the difference!

Today I went on my "usual" 48 miler and did it in the usual time. I took pictures and video though. It's almost 12 but I put together this video. I think it's pretty sweet! But I did make it so...

Enjoy!

A Ride Tomorrow!

It will be my first one in over a week! I worked my legs pretty good last week so I don't think it will be too bad.

I started working on my presentation and want to finish it up tomorrow. I went to the bike shop to find out about shipping and get some bike parts.

The way it looks right now, I'll be shipping my bike next Monday! I'll have a couple days to ride it and I'll have to switch back to my mountain bike. Not that big of a deal.

I'm looking for a place to crash in Norfolk and hit up some poeople on couchsurfing.com. Not bites yet.

I also sent Habitat in Sacramento a quick e-mail about any projects I can work on.

Not too much time left! Crazy! But not too much to do. Which is good. Don't want to be running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Dave