(I apparently am putting WAY more pictures and words on this blog than the current format appreciates for each post. So for today you get two blogs of your very own to read! Wahooo! You're welcome. :)
3) Afternoon/AfterRide
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| Step 1 upon arrival: help unload the van and trailer. |
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| This is what you get when you unload the trailer: lots of bags and Thermorests and food in boxes and coolers. Also, in the interest of being completely transparent, I typically don't arrive at the church early enough in the herd of bikers to help with this process. This does not necessarily make me sad. (considering the current weight of my pack) |
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| Step 2: FIND FOOD! Yes, these people look seriously deficient in something. Thank goodness "Chuck's" (a local grill) was nearby with hamburgers and hot doggies and fried potatoes in all forms. YUM! |
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| Biking across the country makes you crazy. Of this I am sure. I have eaten somewhat- strange things in quantities that I never would have considered before this trip. This just so happened to be a cheeseburger with all the fixin's possible along with homemade potato chips... and all of this was preceded by fried pickles and followed by chocolate milk and donuts upon arrival back at the church. What on earth is going on here??? (also, this entire plate of goodness cost under $6 - Score!!) |
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| After everyone arrived at the church we were shuttled over to a local Jr. High where we were able to shower in their locker rooms. Sometimes the churches have showers right in them, sometimes we go to community centers, we haven't had to use a garden hose yet, but the churches are getting smaller and smaller out here now... Here's hoping! Just a side note, this was a really amazing shower! It was like a shower/massage/fire hydrant bathing experience which was pretty great after a day of grime pretty much all over (you have seen how me and bike grease get along, right?) |
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| The showering process takes about 10 minutes each, then I "do my hair" in a complex procedure that involves flipping it over my head, shaking my head, flipping it back up and then wrapping a bandanna around to keep the frizz under control. Yup. I am looking goo-od these days! ("Goo-od" = clean, neutral or slightly pleasant smell, hair standing out less than or equal to 3 inches from my head and less bike grease on legs) |
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| The next step mostly consists of napping. |
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| A lot of napping. |
... unless you are on a chore team that needs to buy groceries or do laundry or clean out the van (the current team did an AMAZING job of this today!) or prep supper (if the host church isn't providing it) and then there is plenty to keep your muscles from freezing up before bed time.
4) Evening (more eating, doing laundry, giving presentations)
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| We hang out, fiddle with our bikes (clean chain, lube, adjust stuff, etc), sometimes make music, spend time catching up with the outside world on our computers. Also, the white board on the table is pretty important. On it, Melissa puts details like supper time, breakfast time, answers to other much-asked questions, and the all-important WiFi password of the day. |
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| And then, when it is ready, we get to eat. Tonight's meal was absolutely amazing and was made by the local Fuller Center volunteer Scott. He made us some of the most amazing Mexican food I have eaten since being in Tucson: beans, pozole, Mexican fried rice, chiles rellenos, and two different kinds of enchiladas. These were all immaculately spiced and bursting with flavor and heat. My stomach (and my soul) is indescribably happy right now! |
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| Divine. |
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| After supper, we often give a presentation on the work of the Fuller Center that includes a short video as well as time for input from Melissa, sharing from all or some of us, and time for questions of all sorts about biking, building houses, etc. We also set up a small display at each place and have a box out for donations - and the response has been amazing! |
5) Sleep
So typically, "Lights Out" happens sometime around 10-10:30 on biking days... but usually people fall asleep long before this. Tonight we got to watch part of "Ride the Divide" - a documentary about a mountain bike race from Canada to Mexico on a new network of trails (like the AT or PCT for mountain bikers) since one of the riders on this trip will be going on to do the "Divide Ride" (not in race time, but still pretty fast :) after the completion of this ride.
At 10-ish pm we all started nodding off, so we decided to save the rest of the movie for another night and head to bed. Tonight I get to sleep in anther Presbyterian Ladies' Lounge... complete with real pillows and the softest, whitest, best-padded carpet you could ever imagine.
Sigh. Goodnight world! See ya at the crack of dawn... or maybe a little before.
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