As I write this, I have less than 24 hours before I will be running into the Pacific Ocean, screaming like a maniac. This summer has brought me so many amazing experiences and I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me to complete this journey. To everyone who put their faith behind me and believed that I could complete this trip, a thousand times "Thank you." The support from my family, friends, school, fraternity, and community has been second to none. From the first time that I found out about Bike and Build, I knew that it was the program for me. My parents have always been supportive of all of the absurd ideas that I pitch to them, and this was no exception. The question was never "Is this going to happen?" but rather "How are we going to make this happen?" My parents were constant sources of advice, encouragement, and wisdom to me throughout my fundraising, training, and the trip itself. Without them, I could not have even began to consider this trip a possibility, and will be forever grateful for the opportunities that they have provided me.
To all of my friends at school who never quite seemed to understand what I was doing when I would leave for hours on end dressed in nothing but spandex, but nonetheless encouraged and supported me, I cannot express how much your support means to me. From financial donations, to help planning fundraising events, to simply getting excited about what I was planning on doing, you kept my spirits up and never let me doubt my ability to complete this challenge.
Finally, I want to thank anyone and everyone that I have talk to about this program, have brow beaten for donations, and have gotten advice from.
Brooke, you have heard me talking about bikes more than any person should ever be subjected to in their lifetime. From the day that I got placed on the route, you were huge motivating force for me and for that I will be forever in your debt. There were times when the task ahead seemed to be to steep, but you never allowed me to doubt in my ability to excel. Thank you.
Jesse, I owe so much of where I am today to the help that you gave me. You gave up your time and resources to help me get out my message and get the donation I needed. Even in the middle of a hectic final semester, you gave up your time because you believed in me and the cause that I was working for. I have been thinking about you all summer and I know that I would not be here today without your help.
My Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers. I don't know how many of you really knew what it was that I was trying to do, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for me. You helped shape me into the person that I am now. You have taught me strength, compassion, humility, and humor. I have worked diligently to achieve this goal and I hope that I make you proud.
Sterling and Dave, thank you for the constant words of encouragement and support. They have gotten me through some tough rides on the bikes. Please take my example and continue to work hard to hold up the ideal of Sigma Phi Epsilon. I have complete faith in both of you to be balanced men and to carry yourselves with honor and virtue.
To all of my donors. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I have never lost sight of the mission of this trip. To help educate myself and others about the affordable housing crisis in the United States. I will carry the momentum from this trip forward into the next stage of my life.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Still pedaling away.
We are just over a week away from reaching the Pacific Ocean. As tired as my mind and body have gotten over the past two months, I am still enjoying every minute of this experience. Simply being so close to the end causes me to think back at everything that has happened this summer and everything that I have seen. Cities that we rode through just a few weeks ago now seem like a distant memory. Each day, I am presented with amazing new experiences and the opportunity to do something that I absolutely love. I am so blessed to be able to wake up and ride my bike all day while enjoying the company of amazing people and seeing amazing landscape. I have found myself taking a little bit longer to get into the host sight so that I can have a few more minutes on my bike each day. Everything is so simply and so perfect.
The two nights that we stayed at the Grand Canyon has been not only one of the highs for this trip, but has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The anticipation on the climb up to the rim was almost more that I could handle. I would find myself charging up climbs on the off chance that I would be able to catch a glimpse of the rim only to find myself disappointed and out of breath. However, the wait was worth it. I have previously visited the Grand Canyon when I was 11 years old, but that experience was nothing compared to this past weekend. I was just so overwhelmed with the vastness and the beauty that it was almost difficult to comprehend. My enjoyment was heightened by the faint sense of superiority that I felt over the other visitors who had gotten to the rim by car, bus, or motorcycle. "Oh you drove here from California? An 8 hour drive you say? Yeah, that must have been a tough car ride. Me? Oh, I've just been riding my bicycle for the past 2 months over 3000 to get here. No biggie." The stay at the Grand Canyon was capped off sitting on the canyon rim at sunset and drinking a beer with some of the best people I have ever met. I really can not say that it gets much better than that.
The hiking trails into the canyon were very tough, but really allowed for a more intimate exploration of the canyon. I got a late start in the day, but was able to fit in a 6 mile hike down below the rim. I am just so in love with being outdoors and exploring through my own power.
It is difficult to put into words how inspiring this trip has been and how much it means to me. I hope to keep the momentum from this trip and to continue on pushing myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have permanently raised my status quo. Perseverance and diligence has moved me over 3000 miles under my own power and I know that I am yet to reach my full potential. I am all at once inspired, anxious, and at times terrified for what that means, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. There is still so much for me to learn and so much room for me to grow but I welcome the experience and will continue to face seemingly impossible tasks with the same mentality that I have been trying to cultivate all of my life.
The two nights that we stayed at the Grand Canyon has been not only one of the highs for this trip, but has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The anticipation on the climb up to the rim was almost more that I could handle. I would find myself charging up climbs on the off chance that I would be able to catch a glimpse of the rim only to find myself disappointed and out of breath. However, the wait was worth it. I have previously visited the Grand Canyon when I was 11 years old, but that experience was nothing compared to this past weekend. I was just so overwhelmed with the vastness and the beauty that it was almost difficult to comprehend. My enjoyment was heightened by the faint sense of superiority that I felt over the other visitors who had gotten to the rim by car, bus, or motorcycle. "Oh you drove here from California? An 8 hour drive you say? Yeah, that must have been a tough car ride. Me? Oh, I've just been riding my bicycle for the past 2 months over 3000 to get here. No biggie." The stay at the Grand Canyon was capped off sitting on the canyon rim at sunset and drinking a beer with some of the best people I have ever met. I really can not say that it gets much better than that.
The hiking trails into the canyon were very tough, but really allowed for a more intimate exploration of the canyon. I got a late start in the day, but was able to fit in a 6 mile hike down below the rim. I am just so in love with being outdoors and exploring through my own power.
It is difficult to put into words how inspiring this trip has been and how much it means to me. I hope to keep the momentum from this trip and to continue on pushing myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have permanently raised my status quo. Perseverance and diligence has moved me over 3000 miles under my own power and I know that I am yet to reach my full potential. I am all at once inspired, anxious, and at times terrified for what that means, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. There is still so much for me to learn and so much room for me to grow but I welcome the experience and will continue to face seemingly impossible tasks with the same mentality that I have been trying to cultivate all of my life.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy Birthday America
As someone who has spent a good portion of my teenage years idealizing Colorado, I have been pleased that my very high expectations have been met. The Rocky Mountains have been spectacular. We have had very long days. Many of which consist of over 6 hours in the saddle and up to 10 hours on the road. However, I have been pleasantly surprised to notice that I have been getting used to these long days. The climbs in the Rockies were very tough, but really rewarding. We reached our highest peak at Monarch Pass, 11,312 feet above seal level. Only a few days later, on our ride into Durango, we climbed three passes, each one over 10,500. This is dramatically different than what the 500 miles of training I did.
We have had two days off in the last 6 days. Our day off in Gunnison was spent white water rafting on the Taylor River. It is amazing how a group of young, adventurous people can ruin a perfectly good rest day by battling rocks, water,and the cold for two hours. Today's day off was spent in a much more relaxing manor. Durango seems to be a very quaint mountain town. Everyone seems to be very outdoor oriented and active. Plus this is an extremely cycling friendly town.
On our ride into Durango we had, arguable, the most scenic ride of our trip. Leaving Ridgway for Durango we rode on the Million Dollar Highway. Immediately out of the church we started to climb and continued for the next 25 miles. The climb seemed to be never ending and it is amazing how cold the mountains can be in July. After a morning spent freezing and cursing myself for not buying full fingered gloves, we finally rode into the sun and I began to defrost. The views from the switchbacks and the small mountains towns that we rode through made the day incredible. The 30 mile descent that we were promised from past riders was corrupted by a strong headwind for the last third of the day. However, the headwind was not enough to put a damper on one of the best ride days of the trip.
We have had two days off in the last 6 days. Our day off in Gunnison was spent white water rafting on the Taylor River. It is amazing how a group of young, adventurous people can ruin a perfectly good rest day by battling rocks, water,and the cold for two hours. Today's day off was spent in a much more relaxing manor. Durango seems to be a very quaint mountain town. Everyone seems to be very outdoor oriented and active. Plus this is an extremely cycling friendly town.
On our ride into Durango we had, arguable, the most scenic ride of our trip. Leaving Ridgway for Durango we rode on the Million Dollar Highway. Immediately out of the church we started to climb and continued for the next 25 miles. The climb seemed to be never ending and it is amazing how cold the mountains can be in July. After a morning spent freezing and cursing myself for not buying full fingered gloves, we finally rode into the sun and I began to defrost. The views from the switchbacks and the small mountains towns that we rode through made the day incredible. The 30 mile descent that we were promised from past riders was corrupted by a strong headwind for the last third of the day. However, the headwind was not enough to put a damper on one of the best ride days of the trip.
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