DAY OFF

Look, we found Wendy!

Snapping a little back to civilization, Stephen, Amy, and I are at a
Starbucks in Colorado Springs. Say what you want, think what you may -
we're taking it easy with some coffee and internets. Steve man is
doing job applications, Saunders is cue sheeting, I'm blogging, and we
all have too many inside jokes to keep us laughing and everyone around
us wondering. This is our last day off of the trip. It gives me peace
of mind and a refreshed feeling to have a day of nothing. Time you
enjoy wasting is not time wasted.

Today comes after our build day with pikes peak habitat. It was a
beautiful area with mountains all around - so fresh and vibrant. And
it wasn't blistering hot like all the southern build sites! We laid
foundation down and a week from now SC2SC is gonna come and build for
a week and COMPLETE the house. That's right. Bike and Build is
building an entire house. We work together as a whole organization
it's neat. I am bike and build. At first I felt like I was signing up
for a trip, kind of like doing a camp adventure - where I was an
observer being led along for the experience. But I realize now that
that notion was all wrong and that I'm doing my own leading, creating
my own journey, and giving up myself for something bigger and greater
than me. I represent bike and build and it's very cool to be a part
of something like that. When someone in a gas station comes up to me
and asks why all these funny looking cyclists are coming in, I get to
give them the spiel and represent us. It's not just me on this trip, I
and everyone else MAKE the trip. Its different to me, especially since
I've always delegated myself as a floater and individual; I have found
comfort in this group and find my experiences to be really great and
completly worthwhile. All I'm trying to say is that this is awesome...
I need a thesaurus because I'm starting to overuse that word.

Other people are taking the day in full speed and with the spirit of
Colorado. More than half our group woke up at 5:30AM (not me! :) ) to
go skydiving, white water rafting, and rock climbing. These people are
crazy. We spend the past month BIKING across America and then on our
day off they want to do more physical activity. I'll be happy today to
get new bartape from a bike shop.

My bike is getting the makeover it deserves. I get such a fuzzy
feeling everytime I tune, clean, and take care of my bike. How nerdy.
But take care of your bike and it will take care of you across the
country...
New brake pads, tires, chain etc etc thanks to the maildrop we just
got (thanks mom and dad) and THANK YOU Ms Thompson for the brownies.
Loved that you sent something.

Last night was fun too...went out to some Mexican joint and took it
over in our typical swarm fashion. Margarita madness. Completly loud
and obnoxious - we clear an area pretty quick. But I think other
people look at us and can tell how much, yes I'll use the word, love
is floating around and see that our ruckus comes from a place of good
heart. If that makes any sense at all to anyone but me. Anyway it was
really fun and it didn't even need to be said, but weight of our
progress and accomplishment really rides on the shoulders of everyone.
It's something to felt instead of said.

I'll try and follow this post with some fun pictures and memories
since I have time. Next four days of riding are intense climb days and
will be tough but hey, I've already biked halfway across the country.
What's next?