UNC

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Sharif Morad <sharifmorad@gmail.com>
Date: May 21, 2009 5:57:03 PM EDT
To: "sharifmorad.bikes@blogger.com" <sharifmorad.bikes@blogger.com>
Subject: UNC

Today we biked from Wake Forest to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and now we're all in a church watching Cash Cab:

It wasn't a bad ride, and we passed thru Duke along the way. Very scenic and a lot of downhills (always good).

Yesterday, when we biked to Wake Forest, we got a little lost and most of us ended up doing our first century (100 miles). It was EXTREME and took from 8am to 6pm - yes that is 10 hours of cycling. I don't think anyone ever thought they could bike that much, but we all did it and basically crashed after showering and eating.

We are in Chapel Hill for 3 days - tommorow we will build with Habitat for Humanity and Saturday is a FREE day!!! Sarah has offered her house for a pool party because she lives around here and I'm so stoked. So stoked. I get excited just thinking about it as I peck away on my IPhone.

We also did our first bike clinic today. Basically we arrange for kids in the area to come hang out with their bikes and we teach them about basic bike maintence and saftey. It's a way to how back to the community that is nice enough to host us.

Ah a maildrop just came in. I need to go check and see if any if you love me enough...

UNC

Today we biked from Wake Forest to the University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill and now we're all in a church watching Cash Cab:

Las fotos

This is what happens when you have a birthday on Bike and Build. Especially when your name is Ginger and you fail to mention to everyone that it is your birthday. "You can ride, but you can't hide"

These are some photos from Nags Head beach on our first day riding, wheel dipping ceremony.

Hanging out and itching to go

This ones for you, Mom and Dad:

I told Ginger and Andy to look majestic and this is their interpretation...

A nice photo of two out of four of our fearless leaders. Playing in the sand...

LEADERS:

Gabe - (foreground) Reliable, Loud, Enthusiastic, Killer Stache

Anna - (in the sand) Similar, less loud (no stache)

Amy - (no photo) Camera shy...just kidding

Steve - (laughing in next photo) infectious laugh, embodies all traits above as well

They guide us, prepare us, and somehow manage to get us all to take care of one another. We are lost (literally), without them.

Steve and Gabe:

View from on top of the "Welcome to Nags Head" sign:

Hitting the road on our first day (66 miles). We were in this road for about 60 miles ... an endless stretch of swamp and road

Think of me riding my bike and trying to take a photo in front of me. Now, appreciate the detail. Read this again. Marvel at my feat:

The road didn't actually look like this, but I'd like to think that it did

From my ride today doing sweep

Keeping friends company while changing a flat. TEAMWORK!!

Some of the healthy food I ate at Cubies (local burger joint) after our 54 mile ride. Did I mention that eating takes on a whole new meaning after cycling? I'm pretty sure my calorie intake per day has at least doubled. This phonomena, I like it.

And finally, the design on our trailer from last years trip. We just whitewashed the trailer and now it is being repainted with fresh ideas. Whdat will they be?? Stay tuned. Comment if you are reading this; I know a lot of unfamiliar people are - SHOW yourselves! Are you not entertained!?

You have received new photos from Sharif Morad.

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Lighthouse

Snatched this picture off of Nhan's blog...from our first shakedown ride

Saving The World One Turtle At a Time

I'm writing this from a church in Greensville, NC. I'm on a computer in a really large room that is probably used for church rave parties. Things like "WALK" and "HONOR" are written on the wall.

Today I was a sweep rider, for 54 miles, with Timur. Sweep means that we are the last people in the line of bikers (out of the 31 people riding). We make sure no one gets lost, left behind, or has bike troubles. Whenever our group rides our bikes, it's very unsafe to ride in all together in a line, so everyone usually breaks off into groups of 4-6 people, usually staggering several minutes apart. Timur and I left our host location a half hour after everyone else left, and then alternated between super-high-speed biking, and relaxed easy going biking. Our day of sweep involved:

-Providing Greg moral support as he dealt with his two flat tires
-Saving a turtle on the other side of the road from getting run over
-Averting disaster on the other side of the road by readjusting the position of a trashcan.
-Speaking with an old lady who thought we were lost and and then gave us the funniest look when we told her we were going to California. We gave her the whole Bike and Build spiel, and as a result, she gave me a dollar.

It was a nice day - windy at first, but then the weather warmed up nicely. We're right next to East Carolina University campus, so its a nice college town. Had (multiple) burgers at a local burger joint. There's nothing quite like local food with a good reputation.

It's only day 5, and I feel as if it has been at least a week with these new people. This kooky and abnormal lifestyle is becoming normal and I like that. Other than waking up at 6AM each morning, its pretty good. My curiousity alone makes me want to continue - what happens when 31 strangers spend 9 weeks together 24/7? Find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real... Bike and Build...


Things I need to buy:
-EAR PLUGS!!
-Energy gel
-TIME. (for more sleep)

Pictures coming soon...

First Two Rides

At a library, and my time is limited. I will post some photos later, but some bullet points.

-Eating a lot and very well at churches
-Faced a lot of rain, wind, and cold today. Luckily, it was only 34 miles. Pretty suboptimal cycling conditions, though.
-Feels like its been longer than 4 days.
-You can read journal entries from EACH day of the trip here:

http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/route.php?route=NC2SD&year=2009

and click the pencil


-Time to eat...

This trip is awesome.