A 100 Mile Ride into Colorado

This morning Taylor Swift was playing, and our group got pretty excited even though we had to wake up at 5:30 AM. At the morning meeting I led a chant that I had learned while working at summer camp. I knew it was going to be a good day right away. Laynie, Vant, and I rode together for the first forty miles. I was feeling really awesome crushing across the Nebraska plains. I posed in the middle of nowhere with my peanut butter during lunch.

After lunch Jason, Vant, and I took off together. I or a flat around mile 50, but we were able to fix it pretty quickly. We rode to mile 76, and second lunch was a blessing. The guys and I got in a picture together before our last quarter of the trip.

It was tough pushing through the next 25 miles, but our dynamic pace line helped us get through. We also reached Colorado today!

I can't believe I've made it here! I've been looking forward for riding through Colorado since the beginning of the trip. It was a euphoric feeling, and the last ten miles breezed on by. We're staying at a new events center in Holyoke, but we're missing the mouse race tomorrow.

Man. That's something I've never seen. We also climbed 1200 feet today. I'm getting ready for these Rockies!

It was a great century day.

-Sarah

Winds of the Midwest

This morning we had to prepare our own breakfast because we had no breakfast provided the host. The breakfast crew which includes me managed to provide an assortment of food to choose from. Then afterward we were ready to hit the road. I rode with Hannah and Mark before lunch, and we played some games as we biked along.

Lunch was in a pretty scenic area. We went on the spinny playground apparatus and got super dizzy.

It was a bit more intense than bike riding.

I managed to hold on though. Before we took off some of the group posed for a sweet shot.

During the afternoon I rode with Hannah, Mark, and Vant. We continued our leisurely ride, but we were also met with some tough winds. Together we made it through the rest of our 79 miles. It was pretty hot out after our ride, so I swam in a pool once again. It was a 50 meter pool, and so I did a few laps. I love swimming as well as biking. McCook, Nebraska has been pretty nice. There was an awesome looking frisbee golf course in the park, but unfortunately I don't have any discs with me.

100 miles tomorrow! A Century. It will be long, but I'm ready.

-Sarah

Halfway There

I can't believe I have rode my bicycle for 2086 miles in the past month and a half! I have made some unbelievable friendships, and I am ready to keep on pedaling on through the Rockies and beyond. A bunch of us decided to do a 5 mile time trial on our 46 mile ride to Alma, Nebraska. It was intense, and I got super into it!

I think the pink handlebar tape pushed me through. After the time trial I rode with Mark, Nic, and Vant to our halfway trip point at mile 42! They went super fast, but I was able to keep up with them. The van also stopped at the halfway point, and our whole group met up!

We had lunch and a dance party. A random car took a picture of us because we looked so impressive. Some of us girls did a dance pose.

Once we got to the host, the group went swimming. I love Nebraska so far because of all of the pool parties we've had. I also got ice cream. Number 11!

It was necessary after a hard day of pedaling. Then our dinner crew made us some excellent stir fry. I'd say it's been a fantastic day.

I just love riding. And I love P2C.

-Sarah

Just a Ride to Red Cloud

I had a fantastic ride to Red Cloud today! I rode with Hannah mostly during the morning, and we stopped at Lake Waconda. It made me realize how much I like Kansas.

Matt stopped with us too and did some excellent rock skipping. After riding for several more miles we came across he world's largest ball of twine! It took ten of us holding hands to fit around it.

The rest of the ride to lunch was spectacular. The rolling hills, and the plains made Hannah and I feel like we were in some other country. After lunch the group went to the geographic center of the United States! We had to travel a mile out of the way to get there, but it was totally worth it.

We also had a fake wedding in the mini chapel next to the monument and a dance party of course. After seeing the center of the USA, Nic, Hannah, and cd I took off at record speed. We were cruising along, pulling through the wind, and we hit Nebraska. 

We're not in Kansas anymore! Overall I've had a great time in that state, but I like Nebraska so far. As soon as we got to Red Cloud, we went swimming. We're camping out in the park tonight of this one mile town. It should be grand.

Lots of love from the Midwest 

-Sarah

A Quick Jaunt to Beloit

Today was one of our 5 AM wake up calls because it was a 93 mile ride day. I had an excellent ride with Vant, and we casually cruised through the first 40 miles. Rachel captured me in action on the bike going fast as lightning.

We encountered some groove pavement, but overall it was a great ride. It wasn't too hot, and the scenery was nice to enjoy. Our second lunch was at an old gas station with an abandoned truck. 

It had a Kansas license plate so I had to pose by it! After lunch it took a quick snapshot of some hay bales. I've never seen so many hay bales until this summer!

The last ten miles Vant and I pace lined a bit. We were going at 26 mph without much effort at all! Everybody got to the host pretty early today. I managed to give my bike a makeover. Ill take a nice picture of its beauty tomorrow.

Ah man I am tired! Off to Nebraska tomorrow!

-Sarah

Sweep Day into Manhattan

Anna and I were sweep for our 81 mile ride day. Luckily most of the terrain was flat so we were able to get to the host right around 4:30! In the beginning we had to carry our bike over these cinder blocks blocking a bridge, but after that there were no obstacles!

I took a nice nap during lunch, read the paper, and then I was ready to conquer the last 35 miles of the day. At one point I stopped for some water because It was a bit humid. The last 20 miles flew by because there were some rolling hills that pushed us along. Once we arrived at the host we found out that we were going to Olive Garden! And we got to go there by trolley.

Dinner was superb, and it was excellent being able to go to a sit down restaurant with all of my teammates.

 On the way back we danced and sang in the trolley and got a drive by tour of

Manhattan. It seems like a cool college town! 

97 miles tomorrow. Must rest and get amped!

-Sarah

Painting All Day

I was ready for a different job this morning at the work site. I decided to join the caulking team. We had to fill in all of the holes so everything was sealed.

It ended up being pretty messy. After that  task was achieved, I began priming. When you prime you just put a layer of white paint on the building. I really got intense with the roller.

The construction manager John also talked to us about the style of Habitat homes that they do. The house we were working on actually included a storm shelter room which is pretty unique. After lunch I started painting the house grey, and the sun was really beaming down on us, but we managed to do a lot. 

Once again Jason, Hannah, Lydia, and I got together for a picture during a brief break. Overall the build day was pretty fantastic. I'm really glad we were able to build with Lawrence Habitat for Humanity because they are so well run, and they treated us so well!

Back on the saddle tomorrow!

-Sarah