Love from Boonville, NY

We've spent the last few days in New York, taking a ferry from Vermont over Lake Champlaign and then biking up and past the Adirondacks, some of the most breath-taking moutain ranges this Miami girl has ever seen. A friend I was riding with told me he still felt like he was in Vermont-I guess the mountains don't pay any attention to those state borders.

So today is one of my worst sore days-sitting for hours in that little seat does wonders to my tush. We pushed 80 miles today, and it's going to be another long ride tomorrow, with a little rain to change things up a little bit. My days are no longer measured by the date or the day of the week, but more by how many miles the next day or what city we arrive to next.

I'm writing from the village of Boonville, which miraculously has internet and cell phone service for some (mine excluded). The women had wonderful bonding time in the local middle school showers, which is the only place town can afford to have 30 smelly bikers shower.

That's all for now. It's 8:30 and almost bed time for me (I know, I'm a crazy party animal).

Much love from the road.

PS If any of you were going to send me mail, we no longer have a mail pick-up in Grand Rapids Minnesota, though I would love to get mail anywhere else.

150 miles down, 3850 to go!

So we began on Saturday by dipping our bikes in the Atlantic, or at least the tip of our wheels (no need to rust the whole bike before we begin biking). We did that at Prescott Park in New Hampshire, where we could look over the bridge into Kittery, Maine. Rory and Tommy came to visit and see me off, which was great. They quickly got introduced into our little bubble of spandex. Our first ride was 50 miles, and a hilly 50 miles (although I'm sure I'll disagree in 2 months).

We are now in Lebanon, New hamshire, and tomorrow is our first build day. My legs are sore, my butt aches and I'm sunburnt, but it is incredible. I'm tired early and always have a little bit of chain grease somewhere on my body. My freckles are multiplying, my hair is getting longer and I have white feet (but incredibly tan legs) as part of my sexy biker's tan.

I am amazed everyday by the hospitality we are welcomed with. We've stayed in churches every night so far, and they've fed us wonderfully. I felt like it was thanksgiving last night-there were tables full of food for dinner, all cooked by people of the community. Yesterday we got the leftover pies and cookies from a bake sale. Mmmm.

The morning is my favorite. The sun is just rising, and the moutains are faint in the distance. Uphill is hard, but downhill is amazing. I hit 38 miles per hour this morning, downhill of course. I kind of feel isolated from the country, although I am traveling through it. I haven't had much access to newspapers or television, which is sort of comforting (although we managed to see cool runnings last night).

Pictures will come soon, hopefully. Thank you guys for all the emails-I'll try to write you all back soon, but internet access is pretty scarce. I figure this is a good way to reach a lot of you.

Oh yea, and dad, happy father's day.

Tomorrow it starts

I can't belive the time has finally come. Tomorrow I meet my fellow travelers-all 29 of them. I've been staying on the east coast with some amazing people-my friends in Boston and my aunt in Maine. Time and time again I can't get over how I'm one of the luckiest people in the world. I love having such wonderful people in my life.

So my big bike trip is about to begin. I may not be completely trained as I should be, but I'm full of spirit and spunk. A fireball, as Diane once put it.

I gotta go get some sleep. Love you guys, and keep in touch. Check out www.bikeandbuild.org and look at the Northern Route for all our info. We'll have pictures and journals on there.

Peace

Jess...the bicycle bum