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