Climbing our way out of Flagstaff on our way to the Grand Canyon (Lenny, Sophie, me)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
California Love
We made it to Santa Barbara! We arrived on Thursday, to fanfare and media and families and friends galore. It was a really fun celebration, we had our tire-dipping, did some reflective closing activities, and enjoyed an amazing beach potluck lunch thanks to the families. It is impossible to describe how it felt to reach the Pacific after so long on the road. It even now seems hard to believe that we started at the other (much colder) ocean and got all the way here on our bikes, through rain, hail, gravel, and mountains. I can remember each individual ride from host to host, but it still doesn't seem possible that those days all strung together got us from one coast to the other.
I know that it has been an egregiously long time since I have updated, and many stories are missing. For this I apologize and blame the craziness that was our end of trip, and general lack of internet in the desert through which we passed. I will write more exhaustive posts later detailing Vegas, Death Canyon, and our California days, and I plan to put all my photos up online, but for now just wanted to say that we all made it, alive, well and triumphant.
The group has now dispersed, and I miss everyone terribly already. I have never been part of something quite so amazing and with such an unsurpassable group of people. I firmly believe that B2SB 2008 is and forever will be the best Bike and Build trip of all time, and I know we will keep in touch. In short, this was the best summer of my life. I have learned a lot about affordable housing, and Habitat for Humanity, and gained some construction skills. I have stories and memories that will last a lifetime and then some. I have a beat-up blue jersey that probably won't last quite so long, but I will never forget what it felt like to put it on every day, two hours before sunrise, and hit the road with our unstoppable posse of energy legs. Thanks to all who helped me get here, and love to all.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ash Fork, Arizona
Since last I wrote, much has happened. I saw Roden Crater, the Grand Canyon, and ate some amazing pie. Roden Crater is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen, the blend of science (astronomy) and art was unbelievably creative and impressive. I can't really ever hope to explain in a blog what the crater is like or why it is so beautiful, but if it ever gets finished and/or opens to the public, you all should do your best to get there. I for one plan to go back.
Then we biked to the Grand Canyon, where we made camp and had a day off. The Grand Canyon was one of the main reasons I chose this route, so it is hard to underestimate how excited I was about it. Despite all the hype you hear about the Grand Canyon, it can never be overstated, and I was amazed. It almost didn't look real. We watched the sunset on the day we biked in, which was a little cloudy but still beautiful. We made a campfire and smores and slept outside under the stars. This was our first (and will be only) real time camping outdoors, and it was glorious. It has been too long since I have camped. On the day off, a few of us went on a hike down inside the rim, descending for a mile and a half into the canyon before coming back up again. Luckily for us, it was not too sunny, and we started around 7:30am, so it wasn't too hot. I really loved being able to go into the canyon, because it gives you much more a sense of the enormity of it all, and you can see the rock layers up close. The rest of the day we relaxed and enjoyed our free time. I feel so lucky to have gotten to see the Grand Canyon, I loved it, it fulfilled all my expectations and then some.
Today we biked from the Canyon to Ash Fork, 80 miles away. It was a nice ride and we stopped in Williams for the best pie ever. I had chocolate dipped strawberry, and suffice it to say that if I had had more cash on me, I might have never left. So we realized today that we have only 8 more days of biking left after today... I can't quite imagine that. We have already passed the Grand Canyon, and it still doesn't seem possible that we might actually reach California. Next exciting stop is in Vegas, which comes this Thursday. Our leader Skip hooked us up with some crazy connections and thus we are staying in a supersweet hotel (with beds!!!!!) on the strip (!!!) across from the Mirage (!!!) and with free buffet (!!!). We are all beyond thrilled, and crazy stories to follow.
Then we biked to the Grand Canyon, where we made camp and had a day off. The Grand Canyon was one of the main reasons I chose this route, so it is hard to underestimate how excited I was about it. Despite all the hype you hear about the Grand Canyon, it can never be overstated, and I was amazed. It almost didn't look real. We watched the sunset on the day we biked in, which was a little cloudy but still beautiful. We made a campfire and smores and slept outside under the stars. This was our first (and will be only) real time camping outdoors, and it was glorious. It has been too long since I have camped. On the day off, a few of us went on a hike down inside the rim, descending for a mile and a half into the canyon before coming back up again. Luckily for us, it was not too sunny, and we started around 7:30am, so it wasn't too hot. I really loved being able to go into the canyon, because it gives you much more a sense of the enormity of it all, and you can see the rock layers up close. The rest of the day we relaxed and enjoyed our free time. I feel so lucky to have gotten to see the Grand Canyon, I loved it, it fulfilled all my expectations and then some.
Today we biked from the Canyon to Ash Fork, 80 miles away. It was a nice ride and we stopped in Williams for the best pie ever. I had chocolate dipped strawberry, and suffice it to say that if I had had more cash on me, I might have never left. So we realized today that we have only 8 more days of biking left after today... I can't quite imagine that. We have already passed the Grand Canyon, and it still doesn't seem possible that we might actually reach California. Next exciting stop is in Vegas, which comes this Thursday. Our leader Skip hooked us up with some crazy connections and thus we are staying in a supersweet hotel (with beds!!!!!) on the strip (!!!) across from the Mirage (!!!) and with free buffet (!!!). We are all beyond thrilled, and crazy stories to follow.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Standin' On the Corner...
Yes, we went through Winslow, Arizona, which is exceedingly proud of that song, to the extent that they have a mural with a girl in a flatbed truck and a statue of Don Henley (even though apparently Jackson Browne actually wrote the song). Many photos were taken, and the song is still stuck in most of our heads.
To backtrack slightly, on our way here, after Pietown, we crossed into Arizona, which is beautiful and desertlike. We stayed a night on a Navajo Reservation, at Houck (I think that's the spelling), which was really interesting. We got to make flatbread with some of the women, got to see some old pueblo ruins, and treasure hunted for shards of old pottery and petrified wood around the church which hosted us.
We biked by the entrance to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park, but it was a twenty mile detour to actually ride through to see these things. Since it was already a century day, and a hot and windy one at that, it didn't make a lot of sense. But being stubborn by nature (would I have made it this far otherwise?) and having the willing accomplice of Kyle (R.), I set off to fulfill my geology nerd dreams. It turned into a 122 mile day, certainly my longest yet. It also was perhaps my favorite Bike and Build memory so far. I can't really describe how beautiful it was, or how amazing to be biking right through the middle of the Painted Desert, or what it was like to sit on petrified logs, but suffice it to say, it was unforgettable and I don't regret the extra mileage for a second.
A few days later, we are now in Flagstaff, on an unexpected day off due to some craziness at the local Habitat chapter which was thus unable to give us work to do. Since we have just done seven days of riding in a row, no one is too upset about this change. We have had an awesome time already, complete with an artwalk last night (tons of galleries open their doors and have cool stuff like refreshments, sweet art, and glassblowing demos), diner this morning, and a thrift shop where we spent hours picking out Vegas outfits. An added bonus, Smokey came to visit for the weekend and we have decided to make him an honorary member of B2SB so he can follow in his car for the rest of the journey and toss chocolate chip cookies into our mouths as we bike.
This afternoon we have been granted the most amazing opportunity to see Roden Crater, an unbelievable land art project under construction by one of our leader's fathers. It won't be open to the public until at least 2011, and we can't take photos, but here is a story about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/arts/design/25fink.html?_r=1&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
That's it for now, I can't believe how close we are, or that it is already August, but many adventures remain. Tomorrow we bike to the Grand Canyon! After how much I loved the geologic wonders I have witnessed so far, I can only imagine I will perish from awe. Not a bad way to go...
To backtrack slightly, on our way here, after Pietown, we crossed into Arizona, which is beautiful and desertlike. We stayed a night on a Navajo Reservation, at Houck (I think that's the spelling), which was really interesting. We got to make flatbread with some of the women, got to see some old pueblo ruins, and treasure hunted for shards of old pottery and petrified wood around the church which hosted us.
We biked by the entrance to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park, but it was a twenty mile detour to actually ride through to see these things. Since it was already a century day, and a hot and windy one at that, it didn't make a lot of sense. But being stubborn by nature (would I have made it this far otherwise?) and having the willing accomplice of Kyle (R.), I set off to fulfill my geology nerd dreams. It turned into a 122 mile day, certainly my longest yet. It also was perhaps my favorite Bike and Build memory so far. I can't really describe how beautiful it was, or how amazing to be biking right through the middle of the Painted Desert, or what it was like to sit on petrified logs, but suffice it to say, it was unforgettable and I don't regret the extra mileage for a second.
A few days later, we are now in Flagstaff, on an unexpected day off due to some craziness at the local Habitat chapter which was thus unable to give us work to do. Since we have just done seven days of riding in a row, no one is too upset about this change. We have had an awesome time already, complete with an artwalk last night (tons of galleries open their doors and have cool stuff like refreshments, sweet art, and glassblowing demos), diner this morning, and a thrift shop where we spent hours picking out Vegas outfits. An added bonus, Smokey came to visit for the weekend and we have decided to make him an honorary member of B2SB so he can follow in his car for the rest of the journey and toss chocolate chip cookies into our mouths as we bike.
This afternoon we have been granted the most amazing opportunity to see Roden Crater, an unbelievable land art project under construction by one of our leader's fathers. It won't be open to the public until at least 2011, and we can't take photos, but here is a story about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/arts/design/25fink.html?_r=1&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
That's it for now, I can't believe how close we are, or that it is already August, but many adventures remain. Tomorrow we bike to the Grand Canyon! After how much I loved the geologic wonders I have witnessed so far, I can only imagine I will perish from awe. Not a bad way to go...
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