Once Upon a Time, I Dressed So Fine...Now I Just Wear Bike Shorts

Well, it took me longer to get internet access than I expected. On the road we only have one laptop that we can use, and half the time there's no internet at the places where we stay, and libraries are sometimes hard to find in these tiny towns. Anyway, I guess blog posts might be a bit sporadic, but I'll try to do one a week.

Today we're in Pensacola, Florida. This is the first day in a week that we haven't biked, and it was supposed to be our second day of house building, but there have been bad thunderstorms all day and the build was cancelled.

The biking has been pretty sweet; so far we've gone 413 miles, averaging about 60 miles per day. Yesterday was our longest day yet, about 80 miles. It's been challenging, but pretty doable with enough breaks, water, food, and sunscreen. For those of you worrying about the integrity of my ghostly skin tone, I assure you that I haven't burned much yet. Lots of sunscreen is reasonably effective.

I'm not sure what sort of things people are interested in, so I'll try to do a brief summary of everything.

The other people on the trip are incredibly awesome, I love every single one of them. There's a huge variety of personalities, backgrounds, and reasons for going on this trip. People range in age from 18 to 27 and are from all over the country (plus Iran). I've already found lots of people to sing with, and they even seem to be into my sea chanteys (though they might just be pretending to be nice).

The building has been pretty sweet, though we've only had one and a half days. The first day was in Jacksonville, where my group spent most of the day landscaping. I spent pretty much the whole day laying sod with Brad and Mandy, who are both incredibly awesome people. It was a good way to get started on the building while still getting to know our fellow group members (as it was only the second day of the trip). I also learned how to use a machete.

Most of the nights we've been staying in churches, though we've also done a school and a community center. The churches range from tiny little one- or two-building congregations to giant megachurches with sprawling complexes containing gyms, halls, dining rooms, and elaborate multimedia set-ups. Right now I'm sitting in the sound/lighting booth of the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, using the control computer. Most of the other folks haven't noticed that there's a computer in here, so I'm using it before I let them know. Seriously, it's hard to get computer time! My theatre experience is coming in handy, as I'm able to figure out all the sound and lighting boards. Woohoo!

The food has been great so far, there have been more than enough vegetarian options, and always lots of peanut butter. So all of you worrying about me starving to death, fear not! The only danger left is being eaten be hungry bears. Or alligators, I suppose.

Cell phone reception is still reasonably good, so if you want to talk to me, feel free to call. I will probably miss your call unless it's in the evening, as I don't ususally have my cell phone on my during the day, but if you call, I'll do my best to call back.

Here are some websites you might find useful:
Our route tracker: http://www.bikeandbuild.org/cms/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,211/
How to send mail to me (I'm on the Southern Route) (also, I will love you forever if you send me mail!):
http://www.bikeandbuild.org/cms/content/view/55/217/
Our route journal (updated every day by a different rider):
http://www.bikeandbuild.org/cms/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,67/
Our route's pictures (not a lot now, hopefully we'll get a chance to upload more!):
http://www.bikeandbuild.org/cms/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,258/

That's all I've got time for today. Hope you are all doing well, and keep in touch!

Love,
Joe

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'm Leaving Tomorrow

I promise that all of the titles of my posts won't be puns on films or musicals. Well, probably not at least. If you don't know what I'm talking about...never mind.

Yesterday I went to my cousin's graduation. I think that the only thing I regret at all about this whole trip is that I won't get much of a chance to see the people who I usually only see during the summer. I've been home about two weeks now, and I'll probably be home less than a week between when I get back and when I go back to school. It's definitely worth it, but I'll still miss seeing folks. Lots of postcards will have to do, I suppose.

I'm flying out tomorrow morning. I'm pretty much packed. I think I have everything, though inevitably I'll forget something. Checklists help, so I've made some of them. I still haven't picked out which book to bring, or what sheet music to bring. I'm really hoping that there will be pianos in some of the churches where we stay, as it will be quite difficult to go the whole summer without playing at all. I'm bringing some sheet music just in case, but I don't want to bring too much. A few hard pieces to work on, perhaps.

The thing that surprises me most right now is how calm I am. I'm simultaneously excited and apprehensive, but I just have this overriding feeling that there's no sense in worrying about anything too much. I think I've grown more calm over the past year. What with having to slow down everything after my accident in the fall, then spending a lot of time in the spring going on long, meditative bike rides, I think that I've achieved a greater personal calm. However, I'm sure that once I'm actually in Florida and this whole trip becomes more present and immediate, I'll be a whole lot more nervous and excited.

Off to finish packing. Next time I write will be from Florida.

Hugs to all!

The Unbearable Lightness of Biking

So I've decided to keep a blog of my bike trip. If you're reading this, hopefully you know the whole background story; if not, check out bikeandbuild.org.

This first entry will be brief, as I have a lot of preparations to attend to.

I don't know how much internet access/availability we'll encounter along the route, so updates may be spotty, but I'll do my best to keep y'all updated and let you know that I'm still alive.

Today's goals:

Pick up glasses (Done)

Start Blog (Done)

Buy PowerBars

Send Thank-you Notes

Organize and Label all Gear

Bike at least 25 miles