Palermo, NY

Sunny and windy, today was 66 miles through rolling hills with a net drop in elevation. My legs were tired so it was nice to take an easy pace with Wade, Jason, and Angel. The four of us played a word game called contact all day long. A quick stop at a garage sale, we found a wig that fit Angel perfect for a role in a soap opera. A quick meal at a diner and a big ice cream cone in the little town of Palermo upon arrival held us over before a generous spaghetti dinner provided by our gracious hosts at the United Methodist church. A good game of Taboo and it's time for bed.

Boonsville, NY

Out of the mountains. Today was a day of rolling hills, pace lines, and lakes. The terrain was great, hills by not too steep and getting that elevation drop from the day before--what goes up must come down kind of thing. Started with a fast pace with Wade and we picked up John around mile 10. Road in for a great lunch spot on Seventh Lake. The lake was beautiful with a sandy bott0m and clear water. It was perfect for a refreshing swim and frisbee toss in the shallow water. Jeremy, Wade and I headed out for another dozen miles past Golden beach and through Old Forge before Will and Nate caught up for a 5 man pace line. We picked up Jason at a lunch stop and went for an amazingly fast last 15 miles in a tight line. There was a stretch of about 4 miles that we didn't go below 25mph. We reached the church and my computer told me 17.4mph average for the 76 total mile day. Seems fast.

(Pictures later, no go on this computer)

Indian Lake, NY

Crazy weather. Preparing for a 65 mile day with a big net gain in elevation, we at a huge breakfast at the YMCA. Off by 8, the weather was hot for some steep early climbs. About 15 miles in there was a long hill that went on for a few miles and it seemed to get sunnier as we went up. Then we hit the top and it began raining for the descent. It rained, cleared, brightened, thundered, and poured. Thankfully we just made it over the Hudson river and to a pavilion for lunch before the pouring started. It cleared and we got back to doing the thing. We were ready for our first camping night, but when we reached the RV park we were redirected to the United Methodist church in town for a dry floor. I picked up half gallon of chocolate milk--finished within the hour--and some snap peas for the next ride. The dinner group made tacos and I had an early sleep. Great views all around.

Silver Bay, NY

Another beautiful day for a bike ride--clear, sunny getting hot. Started right out with another intense climb. The downhill truck sign was the best sight of the day--hello 12% grade 4 mile descent. We won't bother with numbers, I went fast, I'm in control don't worry about it. Stopped in a little town square for lunch and opted for my first cheeseburger in months from a local cafe over another PB&J. Delicious. Threw the frisbee a while then back on the bike. A few miles down the road we got distracted by a farmers market and more food. Ate a delicious spinach empanada and packed my jersey pocket with string peas for the road. On to Lake Champlain for a ferry ride to New York and the Adirondack Mountains. The last miles were rough on the legs but beatiful lake George kept my mind off it. We get to the address of the so-called "YMCA" which turned out to be nothing like any YMCA I've ever seen but instead just short of a resort. We were surprised with a check in for a room. A real room with beds, real towels, pillows, and in-the-same-building showers. We headed for a dinner of pasta and salad bar, cake, and chocolate milk. The evening brough an amazing view of the lake, beach volley ball, and shuffleboard. Bed.

Rochester, VT

Another early wake up, I was anxious but excited for the first big climing day. Out of New Hampshire and into Vermont brought the Green Mountains and two big climbs. Down the first hill, I was rolling in around 40mph when Nate and Will passed on the left and Jaye passed on the right. I took advantage and tucked behind Jaye, or the J train as the suitable nickname was later decided, and picked up an amazing draft that pulled me around him for the top speed 48.6mph. Awesome! After lunch we had a little discrepancy about the Q sheet--tells the directions--and Wade and I took a different turn and split from the group. After talking to the Sheriff driving by and a helpful local woman, we found Bethel Mountain and started the climb. A few stops but never walking, Wade and I nearly reached the top when Nate caught up--turns out our way was quicker. The 4 mile descent made the 5 mile climb well worth it into the the little Vermont town of Rochester. Straight for a little cafe, I pounded an amazing bowl of Vermont cheddar potato soup and a delicious VT maple milkshake. Down the street we discovered an awesome bike shop--Green Mountain Bikes. We tried their "tall bikes" which had two bike frames welded together. Pretty cool. An ex-church, ex-hostel, present home of a generous cyclist friendly family cooked us a great dinner and provided floor space. A quick bathing in the river and a good night's sleep ended one great night in Vermont.

Lebanon, NH

Ride

Nice weather brought a quick ride and great day. Road 34 miles from New London, NH to Lebanon, NH on a great warm sunny day. At mile 26 in the front of the pack, we hadn't seen the lunch van that usually stops about halfway along the route and decided to skip the PB&J and ride through Lebanon to Hanover and Dartmouth college for food and a swim. Wade and Jeremy led us an extra five miles to their stomping grounds where we hit up Molley's Bar and Grill for a ridiculously large meal--6 loaves of bread included. From there we headed to the Connecticut river to a dock for a swim and canoe ride. Back to Lebanon for an amazing meal by the first congregation church.

Build

The next day we woke to a much appreciated hot breakfast supplied by friendly church members--the break from the begals and otmeal was great. The group went 4 different directions to do Affordable housing work. I biked three miles to a Habitat house on its final stages. I painted the porch and trim while others did landscaping. A cute little girl that lived in the Habitat house across the street put some little painted handprints on my shirt--made it worth the work. Back with the group, the van made runs to the river where Will--one of the leaders and another Dartmouth guy--knew of a roof to jump into the river. The 40 foot drop was awesome! Both times. The Lebanon Methodist church provided an amazing pot luck spread and my chore group did the first housing presentation. Couple facts: the frist bike and build group in 2003 had 2 routes and raised $70,000. This year there are 8 routes raising $540,000 for Affordable housing distributed in on the road donations--donations made in the name of those that house us, grant applications--grants aplied for by affiliates, $500 from each rider to the organization of their choice, and $35,000 to the church that lets us use the van.

New London, NH

Today's weather was nicer with only a little rain but no blue skies.
Only 35 miles today, little more hilly as we're getting into the green
mountains, but nice mountain views and woodsy roads.  There was one
section that a stream ran back and forth  on either side of the road
that was really nice.  Took a really cool stop at a diner for  breakfast
and ordered the pancake that the menu dared me to order.  It was
bigger than the plate and filled with raspberries--delicious decision.
Don't  worry I finished it. The last few miles were especially fun,
heading up a long hill to get up to the church.  There's a painted gnu
with an apple across from the church--fun.  Able to walk down the street
to Colby Sawyer College where we were allowed a shower and library for a
computer to make these posts.  Feeling a just a little tired and sore.
Constantly hungry.  Good times.

Concord, NH

First ride day. Had to wake up at 5 to be out before masses and road 8 miles--turned
to 12 when a few of us missed the turn--for a wheel dip in the Atlantic.
Then off 56 more miles to Concord, NH with almost constant rain in alternating
severities.  The rain jacket did a good job and it wasn't too cold so the weather
turned out to be rather refreshing.  I road majority of the time with three
guys--Wade, Jeremy, and Theo.  Stopped at a nice stream water fall, played a word
game called contact for 20 miles, and ate PB&J at the van.  I felt pretty good
as far as the riding went, road at an easy pace--average for the day 14mph--with
rolling hills.  We stayed at a Methodist church where I went to a youth service
said by a young female pastor--good music, prayer, and words for thought.  They
provided us with a pasta dinner--I had three plates full and a fourth before
bed.  Theo and I went into town looking for a library to get on a computer, but
it wasn't open on Sunday, so we took some pictures at the Capitol building instead.
Lots of bike cleaning was needed after the weather and I watched and learned as
Kristian, the B&B leader riding with us for a few days, and Nate, one of our route
leaders, did bike maintenance work for hours.  Lucky they're there.  Little tired
excited for the start of what's about to be a great summer.

Portsmouth, NH

Arriving in Portsmouth with my dad after a three day drive from Cleveland, I met the 30 people that I'd be biking and building the summer with, a great group I'm looking forward to getting to know. The first two days were orientation. We stayed at Holy Trinity Lutheran church where we got to know names, rules, safety, and equipment. Everyone was anxious to get riding. We had an entertaining and touching talk from the woman who runs the Portsmouth Habitat for Humanity who provided us dinner. Saturday brought our first 'build' with half the group doing painting and the other half--myself included--biking to Dover, NH for help at H4H's Restore. The Restore is a store where Habitat raises money by selling donated housing supplies. We helped measure, price, and organize windows. The work went quick, so we were able to check out the art festival going on in Dover and had an enjoyable loop down the street into Maine on the way back, just to say we were there. 27 miles total riding. Good start.