Monday, July 30, 2012

A home away from home

Duluth, Minnesota has a special place in my heart as the home of my dear friend, Fred. I've been to Duluth twice before, and after nearly a month of traveling - each day a new and unfamiliar place - Duluth felt like a homecoming.

The ride into Duluth was a bit hairy, as the Willard Munger State Trail was washed out in the huge flood that hit earlier this summer. We rode on the trail for over forty miles, but the last twenty were inaccessible, so we took: highway 61 that led us to the local ski hill, and then hiked down (bikes on shoulders) on a washed-out hiking trail to a washed-out road, Spring Creek Road. Then there was some interesting navigation of the city's bike route toward downtown. We eventually made it, and it will stick out in our trip as a day of "choose your own adventure."

But as we rode in, somewhat unsure of ourselves, I began to recognize places I'd been and ridden before. The Lake walk, bridges, restaurants...


Stella and I got into town fairly early and immediately headed to a local brewpub. While leisurely consuming an elk burger, GF beer, and root beer float, we watched our fellow riders pedal by in a downpour that set in.
We were soon after whisked away from Bike & Build world by Fred's lovely parents, Brenda and Dave. Not only did they give us real beds, but hot showers, and a salmon dinner. Ahhh, what more could a weary traveler ask for?!

The following day, we volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Superior, WI (just a few miles from Duluth). Our task was to level out a huge pile of dirt inside the frame of the house so that the concrete foundation could be poured the following week. With our help, the organization saved over $5,000!
This is about what the pile looked like at the beginning


Nearly finished...
Our work is done!

 


Duluth was one of my favorite stops, and I sincerely hope it is not the last time I visit this beautiful city.


Leaving Duluth at sunrise.



Sunday, July 29, 2012

A little bit o' Oregon, in Wisconsin

We woke early (4:15am), excited for the big cities at the end of the day. We have our morning routine down by now: bags in the trailer, breakfast, clean-up, route meeting, ride.

But today was a little different, throwing our routine out the window of that sketchy white van we drive around.

Waiting for the rain, it's too early to be awake... 6am!
There was thunder and lightning outside.

Before Bike & Build, I doubt I would have thought twice about going for a bike ride in a lightning storm. We have rubber tires, right?

But we have a saying on Bike & Build; heard at least a dozen times a day. "Safety is Sexy." Yup.

We waited for about an hour for the storm overhead to pass. I sat on a water cooler in the doorway, watching and counting the lightning strikes and listening for the thunder to dissipate into the distance.

Post-rain, climbing hills in the mist.
Still pouring outside, a group of us headed out. Like when driving a car, the rain (and oils lifted off the road) typically reduces the friction between your tires and the road.

We flew up and down hills, exhilarated by the cool air, the rain in our face and flying up from our wheels.

This was our last day in Wisconsin, and I was a little sad to say goodbye to the state. From Janesville, several days in Madison, Soldier's Grove, and Onalaska, Wisconsin treated us well. It felt like home to me, like my beloved Oregon. With the rolling hills, vast forests, and intertwined with farmland, and a liberal sweet bicycling city (Madison), I could have stayed here happily for a while. At least until the first sign of snow.



Just keeping warm at lunch.

 The remainder of our rainy day ended up being lovely. We stopped for lunch under a covered picnic area, did some aerobic jazzersize-esque moves to stay warm, and then pedaled into the great state of Minnesota, ending the day in a cute neighborhood of the Twin Cities, close to the U of M St. Paul campus.
Minnesota!!!

Biking into the Twin Cities, downtown St. Paul is in the background.




Saturday, July 28, 2012

Perfect moments of Madison

It's been almost a week since we left Madison, but it was so amazing I just have to tell you about it!

The ride into Madison was a whopping 43 miles, probably the shortest day we've had since the first week of this adventure. The only thing I remember from the ride is arriving in the city. We knew we were in Madison not because of a city sign, but because we were on a bike path.
Capital City Path, lined with a community garden

Madison is known as a bicycle-friendly city (rated by the League of American Bicyclists as a Gold City, same as Eugene). Taking a look at the businesses located in Madison (or right outside), it's hardly a surprise that this town is filled with many bicycle-enthusiasts who plan, advocate for, and even fund bicycle facilities and amenities in town.
Great bike/ped bridges

First of all, Trek is headquartered in Waterloo, just twenty miles north of Madison, and the only two corporate-owned Trek stores are in Madison proper.

Trek graciously sponsored Stella & I, supplying us with tires, tubes, a couple of chains, and jackets. So we went to the store to get restocked, and say hello to our friends there. The mechanics were wonderful and took care of our every need with the utmost attention. It was like being in  a bicycle tourer's heaven.

Protected bike lane
Trek also is the umbrella company and Madison sponsor of B-cycle, one of two major bike sharing companies in the U.S. Since bike share is coming to the University of Oregon campus, we took a tour of the bicycling facilities with two B-cycle employees, Claire and Mandy, on B-cycles. It was a perfectly cool summer day, and so much fun to nerd out in the cities on colored bike lanes, bike boxes, and protected bike lanes.

I'm lovin' the ride!
In so far as the culture here, Madison is very liberal, home to University of Wisconsin (go Badgers!), filled with community gardens and wonderful places to eat and drink. I was happily surprised every time I went in search of food, I was able to find not only gluten-free options, but entire gluten-free menus and bakeries. Ahhhhh... to be in both gluten-free and bike heaven... 

Yes, I could stay here for a little while... but don't worry, Mom, Dad, my friends at the Janet Smith Cooperative - I'm still heading west toward Oregon (or as everyone says it out here, Ory-gun).


A special THANK YOU to Lee Jones, Tyler Reeder, Chuck McFarland and Claire Hurley for being such amazing hosts and taking care of us and our bikes with so much love and attention. You made my first Madison experience unforgettable!!!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Firsts.


This week has been one of firsts.
We volunteered with the South Bend (Illinois) Habitat for Humanity Chapter. It was by far the best build day we’ve had; they put us all to work and made sure we learned a few things along the way. A group of us worked on putting up rafters and roofing the garage. I ignored the slight anxiety of height and got up to nail the roofing as well. It was so rewarding!
In South Bend, another first for me – riding in a Hummer. After a long day in the heat, I barely thought twice climbing into the air conditioned monstrosity.But I gotta say, I don't understand the appeal still, considering the inside is cramped.
The new experiences continued...
I completed my first century bicycle ride, totaling 107 miles from South Bend.
And finally, I visited Chicago for the first time. I loved bicycling to the city. As one of my fellows riders put it - the cityscape appears after a bend in the river path - and then all the sudden, it envelopes you. It was a challenge to keep my eyes in front of me, when there was so much to see above.
In two days, we'll be in Madison!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Catch up!

Today was pretty epic. We bicycled 80 miles, and hit the 1,000 mark of our trip. We also left Ohio behind and said hello to Michigan. It was one of the rare days here at Bike & Build, where we got into our host site before 2pm and have had a good portion of the afternoon and evening to ourselves. 

Stella taking in the Ohio scene.
We spend this time in a variety of ways. Napping is not a question of an "if" but "when", and other common indulgences are visiting the post office, local pub, cleaning our bicycles, stretching, and giving/receiving massages.

I was delighted and surprised when I found out one of the women providing showers today also used to be a music teacher. We exchanged shaky, awful performances of our favorite classics for one another, and then attempted a duet. It sounded terrible, but it was fun. I laughed at my out-of-practice fingers.

In playing the piano, I've noticed something quiet disturbing is happening to my hands. I am developing what's known in the cycling world as "handlebar palsy," which is when one or more nerves in your hand is compressed and causes your hand to go numb/tingle/lose dexterity.

Writing, eating, and yes, playing a D major cord has become an interesting challenge.

I have been assured by my fellow riders and google that this can be improved with some minor adjustments to my positioning and focusing on my core while I ride. Things are getting real technical. 

This evening I was also thankful to have quality internet and thus a little more computer time (am I really saying this?). The real world was beckoning at the door, and I felt like I could no longer ignore it.

Alright real world, goodnight!


Monday, July 9, 2012

Craziness

I can hardly believe we are in Ohio. I am empowered by how far we've come in just a few short weeks; while watching a sunset or getting to the next city we often say - "You know the best part about this? WE BIKED HERE!!!"

My legs are getting stronger. I'm no longer worried about my knees giving out on me and I have pushed myself beyond what I believed my shaky legs could carry me.

Tomorrow we ride 90 miles. Our wake-up times have shifted in response to these long days and the recent heat wave that pushed the temperatures into the mid-nineties.

After riding into our host site, we were driving (yes, weird I know) to take showers nearby and heard the mayor put out a public service announcement asking everyone to avoid going outside. And to check on your elderly neighbors, too.

It is often these little things that make me feel a little crazy for doing this but also less of a wimp for stopping occasionally to have an amazing root beer float or to eat a juicy peach in the shade with my fellow riders.

What am I saying - we are completely crazy!!! Here I am typing away at midnight, and I get up in five hours to bike 90 miles.

With that, I am going to get horizontal for a while.

Look at my facebook for photos! There are quite a few to browse through. I know you are trying to avoid all that work you have to do. ;)

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Five straight days.

Today marks our fifth day of cycling in a row. Every morning, we wake up between 5am and 6am, and are pedaling by early morning. We take a break after a few hours for lunch, and then finish by 4pm.
It's finally setting in that we are bicycling across the country, and we'll be bicycling like this for the next eight weeks.

There have certainly been a few surprises this week traveling through New Hampshire, Vermont, and now New York.

Good surprises include:
- Beautiful countryside. I had no idea that there were quiet, scenic roads out here, nor quaint little towns with old brick buildings. Everyday has been a pleasant surprise in both respects.

- Zero flat tires (so far). I know I'm bound to get one soon, but with my fellow riders going through several patches and tubes already in the trip, I'm feeling pretty lucky about that. Yesterday I even pulled out a good chunk of glass from my tire. Disaster averted!
- Amazing hosts who can cook gluten-free food! I was more hungry in my first week of this diet when I was cooking for myself, it turns out that other people know what's up with wheat. I was made a batch of GF brownies by our first host, Yvanne, and just finished the last one yesterday. AHHH what a delight.

- Our crew is wonderful. The people I'm spending every waking moment with are hilarious, passionate, and are all amazing individuals.

Not-so-good surprises:
- My booty hurts. Even with chamois butter, creams and powder, there's no getting around it - sitting on a saddle for 6 hours a day takes a toll on one's behind.

I’m trying really hard to think of unpleasant surprises. But actually, that’s all. Life is pretty great.