Hills for Breakfast!

Today, I ate hills for breakfast! My friend Kelly and I were sweep which means we were the last ones to arrive, making sure the group made it safely into our next host site. WE ARE NOW IN ST.PAUL, MINNISOTA! Our tenth state out of 14. I cannot believe how the miles have flown by. As of today and tomorrow, we are about half way through the trip.

For the past few days we have been gliding through Wisconsin. What a beautiful state! I had no idea how beautiful that state actually is. Rolling hills…ones that I actually felt like I could get up and down :) We had a 100 mile day…and then a 65….and then another 65…and then finished up Wisconsin today with a 75 mile day. Day, after day, after day of biking. It starts to wear on you. I never thought in a million years that I would be able to do something like this. It really shows how much the human body is capable of. It’s not about looking at the big picture… “making it across America”. It is about the moments and your mind over the matter. If you have the right mindset, this trip is possible for anyone. Yeah…your butt will get sore and your legs will hurt, but that only for a moment. It fades quickly.

I’ve definitely seen some changes come over my body. I FEEL LIKE A HUMAN GARBAGE DISPOSAL! I eat everything in my path. It is said we are burning over 6000 calories a day with the amount of biking we are putting in. Depending on the day, I am usually sitting on that bike for a good 6 to 8 hours. My legs feel like they could kick through bricks! Hi-ya! And my upper core feels like a toothpick, ready to break!

Really awesome stories about today:
1. I have been pranking a few people on the team. Like putting Styrofoam all over my friend’s bike, or putting a huge rock in someone’s sleeping bag. Harmless things, but they get a good laugh. I WAS OWNED TODAY! My whole team ganged up on me. Little did I know I was going to be in the middle of a war zone as I arrived for lunch. Hiding behind trees and signs…my team bolted out of the shadows and pelted me with water balloons. Imagine at least twenty people gunning for you. It was INTENSE! I was instantly drenched and in total shock. Way to go guys, you got me. You got me realllllly good. This meant wet shammys for the next 30 miles….wahwah!
2. About 8 miles away from the host, Kelly and I looked about a half mile in front of us to see the steepest hill I have ever seen in my entire life. From a half mile away, this thing looked like a wall. A building. A ladder of and incline. I looked at Kelly and said, “uh uh girl…I may be walking this thing!” She was determined to make me climb this thing though. Slow and easy. Before you know it, we are at the bottom and I put myself in granny gear (the lowest gear) to try propelling myself up this ladder. About ¾ of the way through I was screaming, “OH GEEZ….MY LEGS ARE ON FIRE!” but Kelly wouldn’t let me stop….and guess what folks…I ate that hill. Made it to the top and maybe did a lil’ dance.

Soooo…I have been having a pretty tough time trying to upload videos on blogger. I have posted videos on facebook! You should check them out if you have some time. Nolan, Tony, Heather, and I get to stay at someone’s house tonight and tomorrow night! This means beds and a shower. The little things excite me these days. Thanks for checking up on me and seeing how it’s all been rollin’! miss everyone back at home. I’ll keep trying to update you all when I have internet again!

Rainy Day

Lebanon, NH

Hey EVERYONE!

I have some time to type up a post on how everything is going! Today we rode 66 miles into Palermo, New York! It was a great ride. I was able to ride with my good friend Leisl and we talked for just about the entire day...taking breaks in feilds of dandelions and eating a lot of snickers!!!! Thank you mom and dad for the AMAZING care package of snickers! i love them!!!!! Tomorrow we are riding into Rochester, New York which will be about 90 miles. This will be are longest ride yet and I am sweep with a girl named Liz Ball. Sweep is where two people ride in the back of the pack and make sure that everyone makes it to the destination safetly. I am excited to learn more about Liz!

This experience has been AMAZING! The other day we had a ten mile climb uphill...IN A MONSOON OF A RAIN and the WIND against us! It was really intense. I made it all the way to the top of that mountain though! and when i got there i did a dance!!!! It felt awesome to complete that mountain. We have had so many experiences like that. I never really had the opportunity in flat saginaw to train for the hills that i have been encountering these days, but i think it's okay. Because now I only have to get myself through these mountains once! And good news...after yesterday we have pretty much made it through our first mountain range! What an incredible feeling. WE BIKED ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS! more specific the ADIRONDACK mountains...

So some of you may have heard through the grape vine that I got in a little spill! That is correct. I did. But...ALL IS GOOD! i am still alive! Don't worry :) I took a day off to fix my bike and get things back in order but i am back on the road again! I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and support you have given me. God is using them in ways that I could not adequately explain. I have fellowship here...he protected me in the crash...he is changing lives in front of my eyes. I am seeing him everyday in the mountains and scenery. I feel alive!

We have this thing we like to call "DM"...donation magic. It is incredible. Like today...someone really wanted pizza for lunch. He stopped into a local pizza shop and walked out with two huge pizza's for the team after he explained what bike and build was. Seeing how people will just give openly has been eye opening. Everyday...people are giving up time to drive us somewhere to take a shower, to cook us food... It's amazing.

What was really amazing was seeing how all of work was being put into action. We had the opportunity to see a woman tell a family that they are now the owners of a Habitat for Humanity house. Just to see their expressions was enough for me to know that I am in the right place. My team has already raised over 150,000 for low income housing. THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME. Just 32 kids. And we aren't done yet.

Thanks for checking up on me and seeing how the trip is going! I will try to update as much as possible...which is when I get internet....few and far between! If you are still interested in how things are going, two people every night on my team up date a team blog on how the day is going. If you go to bikeandbuild.org..scroll down to all of the routes and their milages so far and click on NORTHERN ROUTE...find the pencil on the right side...now you are there! :)

Biking into Lebanon, NH

We are in Lebanon NH right now! THE DOWNHILL WAS AWESOME. I can't tell you how great it feels to go downhill after you are constantly pumping to get up a hill! it feels fantastic. I will write more later to tell you all how it is "rollin" :)

WHEEL DIP!

Doin' the Northern

Hey All! I oddly had some time to update right now! I have officially been submersed into bike and build and I don't think I have stopped smiling since my parents pulled me into the parking lot. It has been crazy! Sleeping in a church on the library floor! taking full out showers in the bathroom sink. Learning the biking lingo! It has been awesome. I swear every single person here is amazing. Just something outstanding about them. Today we had our fist build day! building building building! it was great! I am ready to take on this summer. We have our first 65 mile ride tomorrow. wow...i can't wait. BRING IT ON!!!!!!

Well...the shuttle is leaving... we are going to YMCA to take a shower! see ya :)

Thanks to my besties....i have this sweet flip video to record all of this! Thanks alli and ashley. I miss you!

Ps...."the northern" is our team dance...can't leave anyone hanging.. gotta do the dance.

11 days until go time!

I LEAVE ON THE 19th! Whoa. That is only like 11 days away! I can’t believe how the time has flown by. I’ve been preparing for this moment ever since last October. I have had people ask me… “so are you ready?” And I’m not exactly sure how to answer that question. I feel like, in all honesty, there is no way to prepare for a ride like this. I have been biking a lot and trying to mentally prepare myself, but I still get crazy emotions running through my head. Sometimes I’m anxious, sometimes scared… nervous… other times I can’t wait to leave and am so excited I can hardly stand waiting any longer!

Right now my biggest fear is PACKING! I have to fit all of my stuff into a small little green bag that will ride in the trailer. All of my bedding… extra bike stuff… building clothes… everything! I honestly will be able bring about 2 MAYBE 3 outfits for the entire summer! I don’t know how I would have room for any more! Oh man…. You might see a post that just says… “I miss my clothes!”

The other night some close friends were able to pray with me for the trip. That God would give me strength on the tough days and that he would provide fellowship along the way. Most importantly we were able to pray that I would be a light and that I would not lose sight of God’s plan for me in this huge journey he is sending me on; that he is Lord and he will provide for me and protect me. It was perfect timing to have people pray for me. I ask people to pray for me and sometimes I feel like it is just a request and there really isn’t a response. The other night, God totally responded. I am so thankful that he has provided friends who are so supportive in what I am embarking on. I received and e-mail from a friend who said she was going to pray specifically that I would find someone to have accountability with along the way. Someone that knows the Lord. I am so thankful to have such caring friends. To have such a loving God.

Today Jacob Ridley, Aaron Ridley, and I got 58 miles in! It was a great ride! Check out how it went in the video! :) the link is the route we did in Vassar, Frankenmuth, and Millington.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/mi/vassar,%20frankenmuth,%20millington,%20otter%20lake,%20columbiaville./179127601594379417

Anonymous Giver

“Be careful not to do your acts of high righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward in heaven. So when you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6: 1-4

I woke up this morning, about to go to the dentist, and there was an envelope sitting in the front seat of my car with the words “Bike and Build” on the front. Last night…. SOMEONE donated 100 dollars and didn’t even give me a name. I immediately dropped my head and started praying. That was just too cool… Beyond words for me to even describe how happy that made me. I think that is all that needs to be said. I am just super excited about what happened this morning and I can’t even form anymore words to tell you how grateful I am for this “anonymous givers” giving. So if you’re reading this…thank you anonymous giver…you have me smiling all day :) and Jesus is certainly pleased!

WSGW

Ever since November I have been meeting with WSGW (790 AM radio) to talk about bike and build and what is ahead of me this summer. IT’S BEEN AWESOME! Cameron Brady, who works with Saginaw’s Habitat for Humanity, has gotten me involved with that and I can’t tell you how many random people come to me and say, “Hey….wait a minute…you were on the radio the other day!” It is amazing the people that you can reach through the radio. People I have not seen in years to people that I saw yesterday are listeners. I am super fortunate to have the opportunity to do this. I never thought in a million years that I would be involved in anything that would get me talking on a radio station. This is all part of the adventure.

I pulled up to Habitat’s restore at like 6:15 am yesterday and there is a huge WSGW van sitting in the parking lot. I hardly can get out of my car and start talking to Art Lewis and he says, “Actually, she is here with us now…beth, say hello.” So basically I walked out of my car listening to WSGW and then I was talking on the station. Pretty insane.

As we were sitting in Habitat’s restore, waiting to talk about Bike and Build and Saginaw’s Habitat for Humanity, Art was sitting in one of the chairs. He was leaning back…just chillin’. And then he leaned further, and further, and further…. And then PLOP. Haha. His chair snapped and in slow motion he fell backwards with his hands and feet in the air. OH WOW. I was laughing hard. I don’t ever think I will forget the expression on his face. Complete fear.

We were in the middle of talking about Bike and Build and then someone came to the door. I assumed that it was someone who worked there. I was fiddling with the lock trying to let him in and as I opened the door he says, “Are you the biker?” And he just handed over his money! WHOA! That was soooo awesome! He was probably on his way to work and I don’t even know! He just decided to stop and give! That is so awesome. His name was Bob. If you read this Bob, thanks! That was selfless :)

So I have a few more fundraisers left that I am planning on doing before I leave. One is a pop can drive…  The other is new. I am thinking that of getting everyone and anyone that can to come out and help pump gas at the 7-11 on titabawassee and mackinaw. I’ll be on a trainer sitting right next to the door biking and then people can help pump gas…maybe get a car wash going? I will let everyone know more about it when I find a date. But if you read this and want to help out… let me know!

About 800 dollars to go! We’re treking…little by little. ONE MONTH FROM TODAY I will be on my way to Portsmouth, New Hampshire!

93 miles!

Sweat Equity

Today I had the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity. First of all, I looked up where the build site was and it was 3 miles from my house! MY JAW SERIOUSLY DROPPED! I just think that is so crazy. The work that I did today was no different from the work that I did in Louisiana to Alaska. Service is right in our backyard and I found how true that statement really is today. Even though I was only 3 miles away from my house, I felt like I was across seas. I love how service can do that. It is such a freeing experience. There were no worries today. I was focused on people and listening and smiling. It is so powerful to be in an environment with new people…all with the same goal in mind. To better this temporary home.

I met an incredible woman named Kerry. We were about to start putting up siding on the house and some how we struck up conversation. I was able to tell her about Bike and Build and I could see her eyes light up! She was so interested and I was so excited to tell her all about it. We started talking about life and where we have been and she’s telling me all of these crazy things! Like how she has been to Alaska going out on fishing boats and just incredible things. She was a leader… a true spirited leader. She ended up donating money right on the spot. How incredible is that?!?! Someone to have such a big heart and give so freely to someone they hardly know. That shows character. I can’t wait to meet more Kerry’s this summer.

I’ve had so many donations lately. Like big donations and I don’t even ask people. They are just giving out of the kindness of their heart. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such humble hearts. I want to be just like these people. Able to give without hesitation. God is present, that is for sure.

I’m about 1,000 dollars away! We are almost there folks. Schools out and I’m in Bike and Build mode. Watch out world…things are going to change!

The Rope

---Climbing is difficult. The tug of gravity is constant. Ordinarily, though, with a moderate amount of determination and stamina, people complete the climb they began. But sometimes the foothold gives way and there is a slide backward.---

Right now, I am learning how there is this constant “pull of gravity.” I have always had this “pressure” like I need to get A’s in all of my classes. Like I need to constantly do the BEST! I remember signing up for my chemistry class last semester. I had been in the class for one day and remember having this indescribable pain in my stomach and crying myself to sleep because I never thought that I would get through it. I was so nervous that I had chose the wrong career and that I was going to have to start all over and I had no idea where to even begin! Long story short… I broke the barrier and got a B+. And you know what… I’m still here.

I’m learning how great it feels to not care about my feelings. How my joy and my security come from who God is, not from my feelings. Some hard things have happened this semester, but I’ve found this incredible peace with where my life is heading. And I feel like it’s because I’ve finally given up “my plan.” IT’S SO FREEING!

---When mountain climbers are in dangerous terrain, on the face of a cliff or the slopes of a glacier, they rope themselves together. Sometimes one of them slips and falls. But not everyone falls at once, and so those who are still are on their feet are able to keep the backslider from falling away completely.---

I’ve been thinking about Bike and Build constantly. I keep hearing, “Prepare yourself for the BEST summer of your life!” I was able to talk with one of my team leaders the other day, Kelly, and we just kept talking about how crazy this whole thing is. Like really…who gets to do something like this? The more I let myself think about what I will be doing, the more of an adrenaline rush I get. But the more I get into training…the more I understand just how tough this is going to be. I can see it now…on my 5th day of a 75 miler and I’m at the bottom of a hill… just looking up. Whoa baby. And this is the exact point in the journey where I am sooooo grateful God has given us fellowship. That my teammates are going to be at the top of the hill cheering me on…telling me I can do it. Wow. And that’s when I kick.

----We may slip and stumble and fall, but the rope will hold us up.---

Praise God. He’s the rope. And literally…my clip pedals are probably going to bring me to the pavement. But I’ll still be holding onto the rope.

“Jesus, who both began and will finish the race we are in.” Hebrews 12:2

Sulfa Stinks!

Alright, so many of you know back in January I came down with a terrible…TERRIBLE…allergic reaction. I am apparently allergic to sulfa. Who’d a thunk!

allergic reaction n.
A local or generalized reaction of an organism to internal or external contact with a specific allergen to which the organism has been previously sensitized.

Nowhere in this definition does it say anything about it lasting FOREVER! I never in a million years would have thought that an allergic reaction would take such a toll on my body. All of the training that I had done, gone. It put me on my butt for over a month and ever since a little before Denver, I have been building my endurance back up.

IT IS THE CRAZIEST THING! I don’t know why, but I have had this weird cough thing going on. I’m not sure if it is allergies…or if it a weird side effect of the allergic reaction that just came way late... or if secretly I am coughing because it is the first step until I start breathing fire like a dragon. Really though, these attack thingy’s like to come when I am talking to people. And they have gotten a lot better than what they were before, but seriously, all of the sudden I just start coughing like a maniac mid conversation and the person next to me is like, “BETH…are you okay?!?!” And I’m like spitting out mucus and pretending I know sign language. It happened when I was talking to mike lauckner on the phone the other day and he thought that I had died! Sorry for the scare mike…

All of that said, I have been getting out and biking around the neighborhood and every time I bike, my throat feels amazing! So this is a good sign. I can’t wait to be with a group of people! I’m loving the training now and I can only imagine what it’s going to be like with 30 people! 58 degrees and sunny today. Once I get out of class, I’m hitting the pavement!

10 year old boyfriends and lingual frenulums, but not together...EWWWWW.

I get home from Denver and it is as though the snow melted in NARNIA! Well, I wish I was coming home to Mr. Tumnas and the wonders of Narnia, but alas, I’m back in Saginaw. Mountain less Saginaw. But…I seriously cannot complain. The weather here has been prime biking weather.

I strap on my lime green slash white classy helmet, I strut outside in my tight leggings and my new kicks, and I raise my hands in the air, “YESSSSSS.” With music in the background like I won. I’m not sure what I won, but I won. Okay for real, I’ve marked out some smooth roads within the neighborhood that I might get sick of really soon, but they are good for now. I’m learning how GREAT biking feels. Seriously..it’s a rush.

I used to think that people wearing helmets just looked so lame. They just reminded me of when I was young and my dad would make me wear my helmet when rollerblading with my super cool 10 year old boyfriend, or like riding my bike to 7-11 and coming home with a huge slurpee. I would try to be a rebel back then and not wear my helmet on occasions. Whoa. Now that’s when I looked the coolest. Okay, I don’t even know what I’m talking about anymore. I guess moral of the story is that now I think helmets look legit. As my brother Eric would say, “dat helmet looks ‘GIT!”

Right now, in the biking story, I want to remember how incredibly busy school is. LIKE SO BUSY. I don’t go a week without taking an exam and it consumes so much of my time. Not that I’m not enjoying it, it is just a huge part of what is going on right now. I dream of what summer will look like with time off and meeting new people and just laughing and having great conversations. Maybe I’m just writing this so when I come back and read it before school starts in the fall, I will be okay with going back. “BETH…I’M TELLING YOU IT IS OKAY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. Just in case you are nervous.” If you know me, you know that I like to over analyze things and then I get nervous. Why? Well, Im not so sure. But I really do like school. Today I learned what that thing under your tongue is called….lingual frenulum. BOOM!

Here we go.

Right now, I AM LIVING IT UP IN DENVER (and wishing I had my bicycle. the hills here would be amazing to take on). I am really excited about this blog. I am hoping that it will read like a story when this adventure is all said and done with. By no means did I mean that in a way where you will not see any grammatical errors. If you know me, you know that I inherited my dad's concept of english. :) The last time I decided to blog was when I was in high school and looking back on those days, I'm not too sure that was such a good idea. But I figured that it's not like my bike has a couch seat on it where I can sit back and tell you over the phone how each and every day is going. My butt is probably going to hurt more than I can imagine (thank you grandma for the butt paste for my birthday) and not that I will be talking out of my butt, but I imagine time is going to be precious.

Really, this blog is meant to let everyone know how training, fundraising, and the trip itself goes. What I learn along the way and how God is working in this crazy adventure he is sending me on. I want to remember little details about this trip that I would otherwise forget if they aren't written. Sooooo, I will do my best not to bore the boom scooter out of you if you decide to follow me state by state!

I never knew how hard fundraising could really be. But at the same time it is so easy. Well that doesn't make sense. Okay...dollar by dollar, I feel like asking people is almost torture, but remembering that every dollar given has nothing to do with me and everything to do with poverty makes all the hard work totally worth it. Last weekend, I walked around asking my fellow neighbors if they were interested in buying these amazing butter braid pastries that have different fillings in them like raspberry or strawberry....you know just another fundraiser. I swear half the people didn't want a silly butter braid but they just wanted to give. A neighbor two houses away that I had never met, pulled out her check book and gave me a fifty dollar donation right there on the spot. My jaw dropped. Now, not everyone is going to give so freely, but it is those people who humbly and graciously give that make me even more motivated to get off the couch and get things done.

I was given a book this week by a friend that a few other people had actually recommended I read. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. I was aware that this guy had biked across america and wrote a little about it in this book. Essentially, this book was about stories. A book on stories... sounds so thrilling. But seriously, I could not put this book down and even started crying in a starbucks. Call me a baby, but...well...okay you can call me one.



There are few huge things I was able to take away from this book.

1. The bible repeats over and over, "Do not fear." Which is going to imply a couple things. One, that we are going to be afraid, and two, we should not let fear boss us around. If we let fear boss us around, it is a great guide in "keeping us safe," leading us into a BORING life. There are so many times when I am freaking out like, "WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?" Which kind of leads me to my next point...

2. "JOY is what you feel when the conflict is over. But it is conflict that changes a person.... and there is no conflict man can endure that won't produce a blessing." If fear is going to take over my life, I will never face conflict and if there is no conflict, then what sort of offering do I have to give to God. So... bring on the hills, bring on the sore butt, bring on the hard floors to sleep on and the flat tires. Bring on the conflict.

3. And if you are on my team this summer....i hope this quote speaks to you like it did for me...

"None of you is in the kind of shape to do this. I don't mean that to be offensive, but it's going to be harder than you thought. But you will make it. Just don't stop and stay together. You'll make it." Don't let me stop guys. And i wont let you.