Latest pics

Hey all! We've finally got some good internet here in Palermo, NY. Enjoy these pictures from the last couple days. Tomorrow we have our first 90 mile day...so goodnight!

From 6/26: BnB (and Dartmouth) alum John Beck rode with our group today and gave us great advice for the rest of our journey

From 6/26: Some teammates and me flexing our muscles after climbing Bethel Mountain

From 6/27: My favorite farmhouse in VT!

From 6/27: BnB does the ferry across Lake Champlain...you can see NY in the background

At orientation we painted our trailer...here is what it looks like!

From 6/28: On our ride leaving the beautiful Lake George

This post is from yesterday

Hello all! Ahh upstate New York is so green and beautiful! When most of us think of NY we picture NYC, but I have come to believe the real treasure of this state is in the hills far north of the city. Last night we had the great treat of staying at the YMCA on Lake George in Silver Bay, and let me tell you, this was no ordinary YMCA. If any of you have seen the movie Dirty Dancing, this place was very much like the family camp in that film :). We had rooms and beds to stay in (a nice and unexpected change from our thermarests), a lake and beach to enjoy, and even, my favorite, a fruit fruit salad bar for breakfast. Needless to say, we were totally spoiled last night. We are so gracious for the camps' ability to house us for a night! I am totally in love with this part of the state and am excited to explore the area more someday.

Today marked our toughest day of riding yet. Whereas other days have had tough sections, today was 56 miles of consistent hills..we were climbing straight to the end! Absolutely brutal. But we did ride along some beautiful rivers today, one which was the Hudson. It's amazing to think that the river that makes Manhattan what it is flows so peacefully and uninhibited up here.

Cell phone service and internet are scarce up here in NY, but as soon as I get a chance I'll upload some pictures from the past couple days. Goodnight all!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

It's been great, VT

Currently waiting for the Fort Ti ferry to cross over Lake Champlain from VT into NY! The ride so far today has been absolutely amazing..sun shining, rolling hills, and miles of green farmland. It's been a great stay in VT- even though Bethel mountain fiercely tested our strength yesterday. We climbed 9 miles to the top but enjoyed a lengthy descent into the cute town of Rochester where we spent the night.

So long VT..onto the Empire State!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Hey all- just finished a great build day in Lebanon, NH where I learned how to sheetrock! We finished the sheetrock in two bedroom ceilings today and learned a lot about house foundations. Then while walking back to our host church we all got free ice cream from Dairy Twirl! Perfect end to a long build day. Bike and build encourages us to spread awareness of our trip and our cause to local businesses because like I said before, the less money we spend on food and housing, the more we can donate to the cause in the end. We call it "donation magic". Free ice cream may not directly relate to affordable housing BUT it does exemplify the kindness of the folks here in NH and their willingness to support us!

Yesterdays' ride to Lebanon was super short and super fun. We rode through the rain (for the third day in a row!) but the rode was absolutely beautiful and quiet. Last night I even got to go to Dartmouth last night! Billy, Bishnu, and I soaked up the last hours we'd have in the Upper Valley for the summer before we head to VT tomorrow. It'll be our first border crossing!

Shout out to John Beck and Maddy Sturm, two Dartmouth Bike and Build alums, for coming to hang out with the group and share some wise words of what's to come ahead! John told me the most important thing along the route will be to do exactly what you want when you feel like doing it. That could mean riding quickly or slowly one day, or riding alone, or stopping at everything that catches your eye. Thank you two for sharing your bike and build enthusiasm!!

Cruising through NH

 Hey family, friends, super fans, and bike and build junkies! I am writing you from New London, NH in great spirits after our second successful day of riding! So much has happened in the past couple days that it is tough to explain it all, but I will do my best to fill you in on a day in the life of a bike and builder.

To begin, bike and build wouldn't be possible without the gracious hospitality of the local residents at our hosts sites who welcome us with warm showers, cooked meals, and use of their facilities for sleeping. Every night we are housed in a church, school, or community center (mostly churches though) and usually have dinner and breakfast the next morning cooked for us on their dime. With such generosity from the local residents, the more money we raised as riders can go to the affordable housing cause in the end. It has been humbling to be received in such a manner and I hope our team can inspire more residents along the way. Tonight we even got spiritual support as we partook in a "blessing of the bikes" ceremony at the First Baptist Church in New London!

In the Atlantic! 

As far as riding goes...NH is super hilly! Our first two ride days have been 54 and 33 miles respectively (relatively low for a day's worth) but have been smattered with hills here in NH. Luckily I was able to do my training on this terrain so after a couple days my legs still feel pretty good beneath me! I've found biking in a team like ours to be so fun because of the variability of who you can ride with. The first day as we rode from Portsmouth to Concord, NH I must have ridden with a dozen teammates at different points along the way! Who you're riding with, and what speed you're riding with is constantly morphing, but it is something I appreciate with a large group.

Meet the NUS'11 team

I have some great pictures from Portsmouth where we kicked off our journey yesterday to share with you. We biked a couple miles east to the Atlantic Ocean where we had a "wheel dipping ceremony" and dipped their back tires in the Atlantic, with plans to do the same when we reach the Pacific at the end of the summer. It was beautiful as ever in NH that day!

Build site enthusiasm!!!!!

Before we hopped on our bikes though, we spent two days in Portsmouth going through a little orientation and then completed our first build. About once a week we'll spend an entire day in a town building with the local affordable housing group, so in Portsmouth we partnered up with Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity. Here's a picture of some group members digging around an almost finished house!

Our group has 33 riders total, all unique in their own way, who I cannot wait to get to know better! The first two rides have been rainy most of the way so our bikes are a little grimy with sand and dirt but hopefully some nice weather is coming our way. I'd love to leave NH on a good note before I head west and leave my comfort of New England for the summer!
Thank you again to all my sponsors for allowing me to experience this trip of a lifetime- I am so excited for what is to come in the next couple months and I owe it to you. Lights out here...goodnight!

The Dartmouth gang, Billy, Bishnu and me about to begin our trip on the coast of NH