Day 3 of Biking...ARRIBBAAA!

So today we are put up like kings at an army base in Blacksburg, VA. There are REAL beds (not thermarests), a computer, and I have AC...woah. First laundry day of the trip didn't come soon enough. That's for sure.

Today was the first day we biked in the rain. We started out and for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to hope that it wouldn't rain and so not put on my rain jacket....I was wrong. It wasn't as bad as I thought though and the moisture was welcome bc we biked up the first hills of the ride as well. My entire body is sore, I took a nap and am still tired, but it's all totally and completely worth it. Good lord it's only day 3 of riding and I'm already 100% dreading day 72.

There was an ice cream store in the middle of the road that we got to stop in about 15ish miles out of our destination, and it's a good thing we stopped because I ended up doing a solid 6mph up some of those hills. Oh can't wait for the Rockies *gigglez*

As per usual the people are absolutely incredible on this adventure with me. We met on the 19th of May and I feel like we've known each other for a very long time. How could you not be awesome and do this ride though? We're all eagerly anticipating entering Charlottsville, VA so we can do our very first build day on Tuesday! Huzzah! It's going to be epic. There's so much more I could write about, but those are the high lights from a very rough day. Even more fun tomorrow (and hopefully a hot shower as soon as we get to the next destination, but don't count on it!).

Love from VA!
Sarah

First Post from the Road!

Okay, day 3 of BNB fun and already it's way too much to write about. When i think about all of the things i'm going to be doing, all of the lives i'm going to be affecting, and all of the miles i'm going to be riding it makes me choke up (and, no, not from fear of the 3 centennial rides!).
For example, the two churches we have stayed in the past 3 nights have been absolutely phenomenal. The people, who have never met us and will probably never meet us again are cooking oodles of pasta/bread/salad etc. for dinner, even breakfast can be provided. The video they show during presentations to the good people who belong to these churches makes me want to cry every time. I've never in my life experienced something this powerful. Helping people, real people, in a way that is just nothing but unfathomable.
we're helping people across the country and even around the world. our first build day is in Charlottesville and it's for refugees from everywhere and anywhere. They had no homes in another country and so they came to America as refugees, their homes literally taken away, and to nothing. we're giving them something. we're giving them stability. wow.

Okay, I could go on for days about all of this...granted it's the first day so i'm super high on exercising endomorphins (spelling?) and the naive belief that every day is going to be sunny, 75 degrees, and flat...not the case. ha! I'm excited though. the people are nothing but awesome. we've known each other for about 2.5 days and i'm pretty sure i've known all of them for years. so wonderful.
sleeping on thermarests is an adventure, it's amazing though. I wish i could convey just how awesome it has been these past 2.5 days, but alas no words can ever capture what the moment to moment life has been like.

to all of you reading, i hope this finds you well!

pedaling for affordable housing (for real this time!!!!)
Sarah