We crossed the mississippi river yesterday and the amount of flooding was incredible. I'd never really seen flooding before except for maybe when there was two feet of water over the road or something in Connecticut. We had to reroute onto the interstate because the bridge we would have taken was closed due to the flooding. So in Hannibal, Missouri yesterday we where they put up the levees (back in '94) and the sandbags and such and the water was over swing sets, rail roads, and much of the downtown. And it was weird to be looking at the Mississippi since you spend so much time reading about it and then to see levees and sand bags just added to the experience. It was crazy. We went to the Mark Twain museum since Tom and Huck lived in Hannibal.
Today we road about 70 miles to Moberly, Missouri. I'm still entertained by the scenery of just seeing flat and open fields, something my brother tells me I will get bored of soon. But the sky also seems to stretch on forever and it makes me glad to be a on a bike. However, the head wind is rediculous and (I don't know if I've already talked about this) but it cuts our speed in half.
Peace out.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hoosiers
We got into Indiana yesterday and so far I am enjoying its relatively flat terrain and giant wheat fields. Apparently, people in Indiana also like to steal street signs to hang in their barns and the state just got tired of replacing them... so for us cyclists trying to get to Bedford, we had to rely on the kindness of the few passerbys. we would come to a four-way and there would be the pole, but with nothing on it. We also learned that people around here where there are no street signs rely on directions like, "right at the field, over the railroad tracks, you'll come to a river... go over the bridge and the road will fork. you want the left fork." "uh, ok" and then we would forget and have to ask some person sitting on their porch with the meanest looking dog in the world. I've noticed that when I talk to people with accents I aquire a twang for the durationg that I'm talking to them.
I am constantly surprised by the generosity of people. Today, a few of us were in the post office of Linton, IN and a man just gave us a twenty towards our cause. It was pretty awesome. The food we get donated is also amzing. Last night we had tacos at the church and they had everything from the rice and and the guac and the sour cream. Amazing. I also learned what a hoosier is. Or rather how it was derived. It's what people in Indiana would shout in the fields when the saw a visitor approaching. It's supposed to sound like "Who's there"
I just realized I've been sitting in this Library fiddling with the Internet and I'm still wearing my helmet. Awesome job, Mo.
We did 45 miles today which is like a break for us. Tommorrow is 75 miles to Illinois and into a new time zone.
I am constantly surprised by the generosity of people. Today, a few of us were in the post office of Linton, IN and a man just gave us a twenty towards our cause. It was pretty awesome. The food we get donated is also amzing. Last night we had tacos at the church and they had everything from the rice and and the guac and the sour cream. Amazing. I also learned what a hoosier is. Or rather how it was derived. It's what people in Indiana would shout in the fields when the saw a visitor approaching. It's supposed to sound like "Who's there"
I just realized I've been sitting in this Library fiddling with the Internet and I'm still wearing my helmet. Awesome job, Mo.
We did 45 miles today which is like a break for us. Tommorrow is 75 miles to Illinois and into a new time zone.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ohio Welcomes You
We survived West Virginia. I now know why it is called the Mountain State. It is all uphill with limited downhills. I think the best climb we had was a 4.5 mile long 9% grade. The nice part was lunch was at the top. The bad part is that we thought it would be a nice long downhill after that. No. West Virginia likes to torture us with making a slight downhill followed by some serious uphills. West Virginia was gorgeous. The mountains were awesome and then there were times when it would just open up into farmland.
Yesterday, we got caught in two thunderstorms. The first one we biked through followed by several cars who told us to stop cycling or we would die. Yea, I definitely thought that between the severe rain, lightning, and logging trucks that I was going to die. At some point it was like we were biking towards lightning bolts and then the lightning bolts were actually in front of us and we had to stop and jump a barb wire fence into a Verizon factory for shelter. I was also chased by a dog today.
As a part of our affordable housing education we learned that West Virginia had the largest gap between minimum wage and minimum housing wage and it was definitly evident in the ride. We saw a lot of houses made just from tin sheets and it was hard to imagine them in the winter. As soon as we crossed the border into Ohio there was a noticeable difference in standard of living and it was just fascinating to see.
Tomorrow we ride 85 miles to Wellston, OH.
Yesterday, we got caught in two thunderstorms. The first one we biked through followed by several cars who told us to stop cycling or we would die. Yea, I definitely thought that between the severe rain, lightning, and logging trucks that I was going to die. At some point it was like we were biking towards lightning bolts and then the lightning bolts were actually in front of us and we had to stop and jump a barb wire fence into a Verizon factory for shelter. I was also chased by a dog today.
As a part of our affordable housing education we learned that West Virginia had the largest gap between minimum wage and minimum housing wage and it was definitly evident in the ride. We saw a lot of houses made just from tin sheets and it was hard to imagine them in the winter. As soon as we crossed the border into Ohio there was a noticeable difference in standard of living and it was just fascinating to see.
Tomorrow we ride 85 miles to Wellston, OH.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Yahoo!
Hey all, I know it's been a while...
We're now in Harrisburg, PA and it has been a crazy 400+ miles to here. I don't know if you knew this but the northeast has been experiencing a heat wave and we've been biking 85 miles in 97 degree heat (which is around 100 on the pavement) we've had some people get sent to the hospital with heat stroke... but they're better now. Tomorrow we work on a house and I'm super duper excited. I think we get to work alongside some 17 year old kids from the local high school. When we got to Harrisburg, we showered, dinner, ect. and played an awesome game of kickball and jumprope with some kids from the high school and it was pretty so much fun. Some of the girls were on the cheerleading squad and we traded a cheer for an insnaely dangerous human pyramid.
As for the road, I've had a bunch falls so far and two flat tires. We passed Hershey park today and yesterday, some vast fields of farmland. It was gorgeous. I also saw a legit horse and buggy for the first time to. What else? oh yesterday, another girl and I were caught in a storm about 8 miles from our destination and we can ride in the rain... but we're not aloud to ride in hail. The pizza place we stopped at gave us some free pizza which was delicious. As we waited for the van to get us (which evidently experienced a lightnigh bolt hit a power line and blue sparks fly out of said poll and the powerlines just falling front of the van) it's been crazy. We've encountered all sorts of problems - one of which required everyone to sleep half naked in the sanctuary of a church. good times. In the stretch from Danbury, CT to Middletown, NY, another kid and I were sweep which means we ride last. We got lost by 15 miles and still had to climb three mountains (one of which was Bear Mountain) in 97 degree heat.
But we've met some really amzing people along they way to Harrisburg. A woman told me about how her father is also bike across country (but from west to east which is easier) and some kids fundraising to get to a state tournament and a woman who's dog is the champion in some division and she delivered water to us in a cooler. A lot of random people. We've been handing out business cards and spreading the word and it's been an awesome time so far. I'm very happy that I came and that this is how I am spending my summer.
I'll put up some pictures the next chance i get.
We're now in Harrisburg, PA and it has been a crazy 400+ miles to here. I don't know if you knew this but the northeast has been experiencing a heat wave and we've been biking 85 miles in 97 degree heat (which is around 100 on the pavement) we've had some people get sent to the hospital with heat stroke... but they're better now. Tomorrow we work on a house and I'm super duper excited. I think we get to work alongside some 17 year old kids from the local high school. When we got to Harrisburg, we showered, dinner, ect. and played an awesome game of kickball and jumprope with some kids from the high school and it was pretty so much fun. Some of the girls were on the cheerleading squad and we traded a cheer for an insnaely dangerous human pyramid.
As for the road, I've had a bunch falls so far and two flat tires. We passed Hershey park today and yesterday, some vast fields of farmland. It was gorgeous. I also saw a legit horse and buggy for the first time to. What else? oh yesterday, another girl and I were caught in a storm about 8 miles from our destination and we can ride in the rain... but we're not aloud to ride in hail. The pizza place we stopped at gave us some free pizza which was delicious. As we waited for the van to get us (which evidently experienced a lightnigh bolt hit a power line and blue sparks fly out of said poll and the powerlines just falling front of the van) it's been crazy. We've encountered all sorts of problems - one of which required everyone to sleep half naked in the sanctuary of a church. good times. In the stretch from Danbury, CT to Middletown, NY, another kid and I were sweep which means we ride last. We got lost by 15 miles and still had to climb three mountains (one of which was Bear Mountain) in 97 degree heat.
But we've met some really amzing people along they way to Harrisburg. A woman told me about how her father is also bike across country (but from west to east which is easier) and some kids fundraising to get to a state tournament and a woman who's dog is the champion in some division and she delivered water to us in a cooler. A lot of random people. We've been handing out business cards and spreading the word and it's been an awesome time so far. I'm very happy that I came and that this is how I am spending my summer.
I'll put up some pictures the next chance i get.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Connecticut!
so this morning we dipped our back wheels into the "Atlantic" in providence and rode about thirty miles to Connecticut. It felt good to cross a state line for the first time and took a bunch of pictures. I will post them eventually. I think one of the other highlights was in ri when we coasted down this hill (i hit thirty mph) and then everything just opened up to a bridge right on the water on both sides. Like riding on water.
We're staying at a church in Plainfield, ct and the kids were crazy but the food is crazy good. I think were sleeping in the pews tonight
We're staying at a church in Plainfield, ct and the kids were crazy but the food is crazy good. I think were sleeping in the pews tonight
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Biking and Building
So I'm finally here. All the kids a pretty cool and relaxed so it looks like it's going to be a good summer. Today we helped out at the Habitat for Humanity in Providence where I got to see Herman DeKoe again (sight and sound: doc, you know who he is) which is always entertaining. We built the walls for an upcoming duplex for somewhere in Providence. Tomorrow we leave for the first day of cycling for Plainfield, CT (37 miles) it's a good start. But getting up at 6:30 am is hard. I haven't done that since high school. We'll dip our back wheel in to the "Atlantic" (i guess it technically is) at the Brown University Boathouse and then it's biking time. I'm excited to be sweep which isn't for another few days when we back from CT to NY (75 Miles). Sweep means that I just have to make sure i'm last and that when I get to where ever I am supposed to be, everyone is already there. Basically, it's an excuse to take my time.
We went on a shake-down ride yesterday and it was thirteen miles, but I got a taste for what this summer was going to be like because me and three other kids got lost, and the trip, I don't know what it was, but it was more than 13 miles. Good times.
I know a few people wanted to know how they could mail me, so here it is:
Address the maile with:
Bike & Build
Attn: Elizabeth Mo
USPS General Delivery
"Street Address"
"City, ST, zip code"
June 12: 5901 Jonestown RD, Harrisburg, PA 17108-9998
June 19: 610 Gay St, Portsmouth, OH 45662-9998
June 26: 300 S Main St, Taylorville, IL 62568-9998
July 03: 645 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044-9998
July 10: 226 S Interocean Ave, Holyoke, CO 80734-1535
July 17: 200 N Wisconcisin St, Gunnison, CO 81230-2626
July 24: 75 W Main St, Torrey, UT 84775-8001
July 31: 120 N Maine Street, Fallon, NV 89406-9995
August 07: 2020 5th Street, Davis, CA, 95616-9998
I can't wait to start cycling tomorrow and see everyone at the end of the summer and thanks so much everyone for your support!
We went on a shake-down ride yesterday and it was thirteen miles, but I got a taste for what this summer was going to be like because me and three other kids got lost, and the trip, I don't know what it was, but it was more than 13 miles. Good times.
I know a few people wanted to know how they could mail me, so here it is:
Address the maile with:
Bike & Build
Attn: Elizabeth Mo
USPS General Delivery
"Street Address"
"City, ST, zip code"
June 12: 5901 Jonestown RD, Harrisburg, PA 17108-9998
June 19: 610 Gay St, Portsmouth, OH 45662-9998
June 26: 300 S Main St, Taylorville, IL 62568-9998
July 03: 645 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044-9998
July 10: 226 S Interocean Ave, Holyoke, CO 80734-1535
July 17: 200 N Wisconcisin St, Gunnison, CO 81230-2626
July 24: 75 W Main St, Torrey, UT 84775-8001
July 31: 120 N Maine Street, Fallon, NV 89406-9995
August 07: 2020 5th Street, Davis, CA, 95616-9998
I can't wait to start cycling tomorrow and see everyone at the end of the summer and thanks so much everyone for your support!
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