And everything has gone crazy

Up to this point, I would have no problem riding a long distance. However, doing that over and over isn’t as easy, but is much more rewarding.

After having worked in Suffolk VA on tornado recovery, we biked today to Emporia VA. The route started out today as a 60 mile ride, but at the point we realized that the route called for traveling that on an interstate, we opted for a 75 mile route that avoids all of that danger.

In many more ways than I can go into detail, BB has started changing my views. Let me just say I am thankful I came.

As I said before, everyone is awesome and I am having lots of fun. No doubt that there is so much hard work involved.

As more crazy things happen I will update.

Oh yah

And we got our butts kicked by a 76 year old cyclist. I hope I am half as cool as this guy at that age.

Orientation is done

Well everyone, I am here and at 6 am tomorrow we will set off… How amazing is that.

Some highlights of what has happened so far…

I learned a ton about bike repair

We got to explore virginia beach on a 13 mile bike ride

We met a guy who worked at a local bike shop that was in fact homeless for years and he shared amazing stories of why the work we are doing is important

I have met a ton of interesting and amazing people

I have traveled for 30 hours over a 2 day period to get here

I have freaked out about packing too much

And thr list goes on. I am looking forward to sending updates and sending out post cards.

Shalom,

Brian

5 days to go

This is the first post from my phone. I will be using this to blog this summer. Tonight my friend Ashley Pottenger gave me her live strong bracelet to help me with the force of the Armstrong. I am looking forward to sharing many great stories of the summer.

5 days.

Switch of routes

I have switched routes from NC2SD to Central US. I realized that the Central US route goes through Boise, and I would love to go through Boise to greet my friends and family mid trip. Also, it ends in Oregon, which is where I will be going to law school. Not only will it be easier for my family to come to the finish line, but I will also be able to go to Eugene to check out everything. I am excited for the switch, but I must say that I was really liking the people on my old route too. I feel bad for leaving, but I think that Central US will be an even better route for me. I hate that I already bought my airplane ticket for NC2SD, but it will end up costing me the same because I won’t need a shuttle from the airport to the start as well I won’t have to fly home.

Traning

An important aspect of bike an build is training. Today I went with a friend from my house to Newport Beach, and back. It was 13 miles to the beach, and an extra 3.5 miles to Newport one way at 16.5 miles for a round trip total of 33 miles. It wasn’t horrible. I am excited to get out there for bike and build.

My bike gets here on Friday. It will be nice to break it in. I will definitely be biking to the beach again this semester.

Bike Ride

Today my friend Mandy (Bike and Build route Southern US) went on a ride. It was so fun. It’s nice to start training outside of the gym for the trip. Amazingly enough there are some really nice places to ride in Orange County.

The Jack and Isabelle Lindquist Family

I would like to sincerely thank The Jack and Isabelle Lindquist Family for their incredibly gracious donation to my bike and build fund. This is an experience that has humbled me with money more than just about anything I know.

More support/ airplane ticket

I would like to thank Mr. Don Sodaro for his donation to Bike and Build. I spent a year as an RA in the dorm named after him, so it’s cool to get support from him for bike and build as well.

Also, late last night I found the perfect flight for Bike and Build, to Norfolk, VA. For the longest time I could only find flights that would come in at 5:00pm on the 20th or 21st of May. But the problem is I need to be at the starting point by 2pm on the 21st. Well last night I found a red eye flight that will put me in Norfolk at 9:50am. The awesome thing about this is that I will be able to catch a shuttle to Manteo and be there by 2pm like I need to be. And, the ticket was cheaper… only $177.00.

There goes the fear

I was listening to NPR three days ago, and this particular show has a segment that features a song and an individual that picked that song because it has a deep meaning to them.

This particular broadcast featured a guy who wrote in about the song “There goes the fear” by the group The Doves. Interestingly enough, I had just bought this CD a couple of months ago, but had yet to listen to it.

The man focused on this part of the song:

‘Cos there goes the fear
Let it go

You turn around and life’s passed you by
You look to ones you love
To ask them why ?
You look to those you love
To justify
You turned around and life’s
Passed you by
Passed you by, again

It made me think about Bike and Build. I have no clue how this summer is going to turn out, but if I let the fear take over… life will pass me by. A great quote from the Anne Frank Diary, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to help this summer with the housing projects, and spread the word about the housing crisis that is happening to our brothers and sisters.