Because of a lack of internet access and phone service plus a competitive edge for one computer between 32 riders I havent been able to blog. However, it is nearing the end of the trip and I wanted to update everyone on what has been happening.
New Mexico was the most beautiful, we were only in Utah for a day or two, Nevada was the most miserable experience ever (heat, hills, and sand), and it was the most beautiful experience of my life to see the "Welcome to California" sign.
The trip has been absolutely amazing and having only 2 days left of biking seems unreal. Looking at the map and seeing how far we have come seems so simple compared to what we have gone through. The mountains that we have climbed, the heat that we have endured, and the distances of 110 miles that we have gone have all made us true bikers. I would not trade this trip for anything in the world but the site of the Golden Gate Bridge will be the best feeling of my entire life.
I thought that I would see my mom at the end of the bridge and it would be the completion of my huge journey, but she came and surprised me today in Napa Valley. That surprise is what is going to get me through these last 2 days of biking. When we pulled up into the church parking lot and she came out to greet me and Kelsey, I almost fell over. Experiencing Napa Valley wineries and restaurants with my mom proved to be one of my favorite parts of the trip.
So as we head into the next two days they will be the longest but prove to be some of the best. I want to thank everyone again who donated to my cause and biking experience to help send me across the country to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. This has been the best experience of my entire life and I cant thank you enough. I will blog again when everything is over to share more of the entire trip!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
TEXAS!!!!!
After our amazing week in New Orleans we have hit the road yet again and have made it in to the Lone Star State. We crossed into Texas a few days ago but immediately got lost and crossed back into Louisiana...not fun. But we found our way and eventually over the next few days made it into Dallas.
While in Dallas we worked with the local Habitat at their workshop and were able to build 3/4 of the new home they just started that day. The amount of work we did was great and the facilities were some of the nicest I have ever seen. My favorite part was sawing because the hammering is definitely not my forte.
So coming into Texas I thought it would be my favorite state by far but after the longest and hardest ride of my life, 6 flats, a shredded tire, and brakes that remained shut for the last 30 miles of one of our rides I have decided that Texas is not a fan of Maegan Wareham.
However, today we biked a short (relative) 68 miles into Decatur and it was amazing. We had smooth roads, a tailwind, and a mail drop with tons of packages from home waiting for us. This was the first day that I was in the lead group and the first to arrive at the host location because we were literally FLYING down the highway. Easily my favorite ride yet!
Our plan for Decatur is an outdoor movie on the green and as much sleep as possible because tomorrow it is back to the average day of around 80+ miles. Our next big town is Amarillo and from here to there hopefully Texas will be a little kinder to my bike.
While in Dallas we worked with the local Habitat at their workshop and were able to build 3/4 of the new home they just started that day. The amount of work we did was great and the facilities were some of the nicest I have ever seen. My favorite part was sawing because the hammering is definitely not my forte.
So coming into Texas I thought it would be my favorite state by far but after the longest and hardest ride of my life, 6 flats, a shredded tire, and brakes that remained shut for the last 30 miles of one of our rides I have decided that Texas is not a fan of Maegan Wareham.
However, today we biked a short (relative) 68 miles into Decatur and it was amazing. We had smooth roads, a tailwind, and a mail drop with tons of packages from home waiting for us. This was the first day that I was in the lead group and the first to arrive at the host location because we were literally FLYING down the highway. Easily my favorite ride yet!
Our plan for Decatur is an outdoor movie on the green and as much sleep as possible because tomorrow it is back to the average day of around 80+ miles. Our next big town is Amarillo and from here to there hopefully Texas will be a little kinder to my bike.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
New Orleans :)
We are finally in New Orleans! We have gone through 4 states (5 for some of the people who ventured off to find the Georgia state line) in just a few days. We have increased the miles by a lot and went really quickly through the rest of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and then into Louisiana.
Coming into New Orleans I had a lot of excitement but was not sure what to expect. I had no idea the condition that some parts of the city would be in even three year after Hurricane Katrina. Entire neighborhoods are still abandoned and boarded up. Others are trying to rebuild homes while the families live in FEMA trailers that have been there for years now. It is hard seeing spray paint postings on the walls for pets that were found dead or not found at all and seeing entire homes in a crumbled mess with no signs of reconstruction in the near future.
On the positive side the majority of the major city areas are back to life and as fun as ever. Experiencing Bourbon St, Canal St, Cafe du Monde and others areas has been great. Several of us have already gotten a lot of beads and seen all the neon lights out at night. But besides the nightlife some of the best stuff has been the food. Gumbo...mmm, mmm, mmm! We have had some amazing food provided for us and eating at local fares is great.
For the rest of the week we are working on renovating/rebuilding a families' home that houses four generations from 8 months to 70+ years old. It has been a lot of hard work but we have already seen amazing progress.
Hopefully I will be able to blog at the end of the week to finish the New Orleans experience :)
Maegan
Coming into New Orleans I had a lot of excitement but was not sure what to expect. I had no idea the condition that some parts of the city would be in even three year after Hurricane Katrina. Entire neighborhoods are still abandoned and boarded up. Others are trying to rebuild homes while the families live in FEMA trailers that have been there for years now. It is hard seeing spray paint postings on the walls for pets that were found dead or not found at all and seeing entire homes in a crumbled mess with no signs of reconstruction in the near future.
On the positive side the majority of the major city areas are back to life and as fun as ever. Experiencing Bourbon St, Canal St, Cafe du Monde and others areas has been great. Several of us have already gotten a lot of beads and seen all the neon lights out at night. But besides the nightlife some of the best stuff has been the food. Gumbo...mmm, mmm, mmm! We have had some amazing food provided for us and eating at local fares is great.
For the rest of the week we are working on renovating/rebuilding a families' home that houses four generations from 8 months to 70+ years old. It has been a lot of hard work but we have already seen amazing progress.
Hopefully I will be able to blog at the end of the week to finish the New Orleans experience :)
Maegan
Monday, June 23, 2008
CENTURY!
Three days ago we had our longest ride of 82 miles into Pensicola, FL. While the ride was long we got to stay in one of the nicest host sites yet with pool tables, free fountain drinks, a huge projection tv screen, and big comfy couches (the lucky few got to sleep on those rather than the thermarests).
The next morning was our first day off of biking, FINALLY and much appreciated, but it was a scheduled build day with Habitat. However, after an hour of two or work our building was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms so instead we spent the day sleeping and relaxing. Not productive, but much needed.
That night, an amazing family from the church we stayed at hosted a barbeque at their lake front home. Ryan and I jumped off the dock for a quick swim but quickly realized the water was about a foot deep and had sharp clam shells all over the bottom...whoops! So we quickly taught ourselves how to swim on top of the water and a few people isntead opted for kyacks. Ryan, Anne, Eleni and Tim provided everyone entertainment as they fell in, raced, balanced like surfboards for a good 20 minutes.
The next morning (yesterday) our plan was to wake up at 4:30am and get our early to start our first Century (100 miles!). However we had thunderstorms yet again which would prove to be a constant throughout the day. When we finally got on the road around 7:30 we had a very interesting day. Graham had what seemed to be 459 flat tires, poor guy, we had to stop at a bait shop and a fruit stand because of thunderstorms AGAIN, and Me, Kristen and Tim had a bad collision and all went down as Tim soared into the ditch. My helmet exploded on the ride side on impact but everyone was ok and now I'm in search for a new helmet.
Right now I'm in a public library about 60 miles into a 70 mile day. It is sooo nice to get off that little seat and sit on a real one for once. We will be in New Orleans very soon to start our week of building and exploring the city. I cant wait to help out in the area and see the progress we make!
I will try to write again soon, but until then look at the mail drops if you feel like sending us anything :) and keep up with the journals that we try to post daily!
Maegan
The next morning was our first day off of biking, FINALLY and much appreciated, but it was a scheduled build day with Habitat. However, after an hour of two or work our building was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms so instead we spent the day sleeping and relaxing. Not productive, but much needed.
That night, an amazing family from the church we stayed at hosted a barbeque at their lake front home. Ryan and I jumped off the dock for a quick swim but quickly realized the water was about a foot deep and had sharp clam shells all over the bottom...whoops! So we quickly taught ourselves how to swim on top of the water and a few people isntead opted for kyacks. Ryan, Anne, Eleni and Tim provided everyone entertainment as they fell in, raced, balanced like surfboards for a good 20 minutes.
The next morning (yesterday) our plan was to wake up at 4:30am and get our early to start our first Century (100 miles!). However we had thunderstorms yet again which would prove to be a constant throughout the day. When we finally got on the road around 7:30 we had a very interesting day. Graham had what seemed to be 459 flat tires, poor guy, we had to stop at a bait shop and a fruit stand because of thunderstorms AGAIN, and Me, Kristen and Tim had a bad collision and all went down as Tim soared into the ditch. My helmet exploded on the ride side on impact but everyone was ok and now I'm in search for a new helmet.
Right now I'm in a public library about 60 miles into a 70 mile day. It is sooo nice to get off that little seat and sit on a real one for once. We will be in New Orleans very soon to start our week of building and exploring the city. I cant wait to help out in the area and see the progress we make!
I will try to write again soon, but until then look at the mail drops if you feel like sending us anything :) and keep up with the journals that we try to post daily!
Maegan
Friday, June 20, 2008
It has begun....
I want to apologize for not having blogged earlier but with 32 people and very little internet access it is a little competitive for computer time.
I cant write much now but I want to say thank you again to everyone who helped me get to this point through donations, support and encouragement. So far this has been an amazing experience and I am so lucky to have the next two months full of biking, building and raising awareness.
A quick recap of what we have done...
Biked well over 400 miles, swam in alligator filled lakes, jumped into springs, visited museums, painted the BEST trailer in the history of Bike & Build, learned what it's like to get a flat tire in the first mile of my ride, slept on gym and dining hall floors, showered in abandoned high schools, learned how to live on peanut butter and jelly, survived some bike crashes, had some amazing home cooked food from our hosts, and meet some of the most amazing people around both within our own group and in every town we visit.
As soon as I get another chance at the internet I will fill in on the details about where we have gone and what we have built, but until then read the daily journals that we post as a team and look at all the photos that have been posted.
P.S. Shout outs to my lovely team mates and my family.... :)
I cant write much now but I want to say thank you again to everyone who helped me get to this point through donations, support and encouragement. So far this has been an amazing experience and I am so lucky to have the next two months full of biking, building and raising awareness.
A quick recap of what we have done...
Biked well over 400 miles, swam in alligator filled lakes, jumped into springs, visited museums, painted the BEST trailer in the history of Bike & Build, learned what it's like to get a flat tire in the first mile of my ride, slept on gym and dining hall floors, showered in abandoned high schools, learned how to live on peanut butter and jelly, survived some bike crashes, had some amazing home cooked food from our hosts, and meet some of the most amazing people around both within our own group and in every town we visit.
As soon as I get another chance at the internet I will fill in on the details about where we have gone and what we have built, but until then read the daily journals that we post as a team and look at all the photos that have been posted.
P.S. Shout outs to my lovely team mates and my family.... :)
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