The End??

Wow! Like Molly North said in her and Eric's blog this trip has been to amazing an experience to sum up in a few words. It's been one week since we all arrived at La Jolla (I'm still saying La Holla, thanks for that Yvonne and Mo-P!) and the trip still hasn't fully sunk in.

I'm currently sitting in a coffee shop in Chicago where I'm spending the night with some friends on my way to my new home, Minneapolis, MN. I've come to the realization that while this trip is "over" it will never stop affecting my life. Just today when I got into chicago my friends were still working so I went on a quest to find wireless. The only difference is that I got here by car and I didn't have 4 leaders (or more likely Meredith) to ask where to go to find it. Sure enough I pulled out my phone and text messaged google to get some help. When that didn't help I asked a local... Ahh the life skills I've developed!

This trip constantly finds it's way in to every facet of my life. I feel like the people around me must be getting sick of the way that every conversation drifts back to some B&B moment. Discussing immigration with my parents last night I drift into ideas and stats from Kim's presentation, gentrification and I'm launching into Zach-Attacks thoughts on the subject. Heck just driving down the road in my car I see a pot-hole and try to stick my hand out the window to point it out - to bad the window was closed b/c the person behind me nailed it.

I was worried when I left that I'd lose touch with the people from Bike and Build but I'm figuring out that that is far from likely. The night I got off my flight home I sent a text to Eric discussing how much I enjoyed the first Harry Potter book and asking how San Fran was going. Almost everything as I walk the streets reminds me of my friends and our experiences crossing the country.

While I may not be with the my 29 companions every hour of everyday as I had been these past 2 months they are and will be with me in my thoughts, my perspective, and more often than not as the cause of my seemingly unprovoked smile. I am grateful for the time I've had crossing the country with such an intelligent, adventurous and interesting group of people and for the love and support from those following the trip across the country and back home.

I want to give a very special shout out to my parents who have been so amazing in supporting me this spring in all my adventures. They'll never know how awesome it was to call home and have people who knew better than I where I was that day, how much elevation I had climbed, where I was headed the next day, and what the weather was going to be like. They were, and continue to be, a constant supply of energy even at my lowest times and I consider myself lucky beyond belief to have such extraordinary people in my corner.


Thanks to everyone for supporting this amazing adventure, it truly has and will continue to shape my life.

Cheers,

-Vandy

Prescott, Wenden and the ride into Blythe / Cali Border!!!

Out of Prescott

Risa coming around a curve on the amazing downhill we did out of Prescott

Chris Clark and Andrew (left to right) on the same downhill

(left to right) Kim, Risa (Behind Jochem), and Jochem coming up a hill on the way to Wickenburg

Melanie with her Antlers on

(left to right) Melanie, Jen, Tony and Dave with their Antlers

(left to right) Zach, Risa, Mike, and Ivey at the Park in Wickenburg for the Youth Summer Oasis Party put on by the local churches. At the party they had a game in which they launched water balloons up in the air and had two teams (one boys and one girls) that tried to catch the water balloons in buckets as they came down. Occasionally one would go past the group and Madormo would try to take it right on the chest (see below)

On Because Madormo was trying to break the long ones on his chest we told him on was coming long and than Andy nailed him from behind with another... childish perhaps but definitely fun!

Some kids on the inflatable obstacle course... Andy and I raced on it later. We tied, but I kinda cheated by jumping on him.

Wenden

Double pace line on the way to Wenden

Just more pictures of the double pace line

We arrived in Wenden while they were still having church services and so hung out at this cafe until we could put our stuff in the church. I entertained myself with a delicious chocolate milkshake and by taking the pictures you'll find below.

Luna and Ivey looking at pictures from the ride.

This is one series I really like of Luna. She started by making a funny face while I was taking pictures, but when I held down the shutter trigger and let the motor drive go she couldn't help but start laughing. You can totally see her break down into laughter. Very Luna.

Kim trying to frown b/c I'm taking her picture and she doesn't want me to but I'm just too damned entertaining to frown at.

Ivey telling it like it is!

Well hello there Ivey.

Tony and Lindsay after I switched tables due to my other subjects getting sick of the camera.

The railroad tracks that run through Wenden. Taken while I was out exploring still killing time.

Hanging out with CVH and Kim at the convenience store as a storm rolls in. (Molly P. took the picture)

CVH with the storm/sunset in the background.

Molly P. Caught at an awkward time in a dramatic pose. I still like the picture though.

People say it that Arizona is the desert. It rained every day we were there!

Me attempting to juggle

Chris Clark doing the same

Ivey testing out her circus skills.

Wenden to Blythe

Early in the morning out on the road (Molly N., Emily B., Eric, and my shoulder)

Molly N. droppin' her shades down low.

Yvonne pulling the line this morning at 20mph. The girls got some strong legs!

Madormo pushing ahead.

Andy Mac, cruising alone.
Jen and CVH
Jen and CVH from the back.
Andrew on the road and going strong since he's been back.

The next few are just some group shots during riding today. We were lucky to have a lot of cloud cover which kept the temperature down.


Kim, excited to be at the cali state line!
Chris Clark, Zach, and part of Jochem at the cali state line.

(left to right) Kim, Zach, Emily B. Molly N.

Andy and Yvonne at the 2nd California State line sign we found.
Jen Barry
Jen again!


Me at the first sign, mile 0 over the Colorado river.

Molly N. and Eric


Chris C. riding in.

Andy and Me (poorly posed)

Madormo, serious about making it to California

Eric

Zach looking "Intrepid"

Well my friends that's it for today. We're all real excited to be in California but can't believe that this awesome adventure will soon be at it's end. It was definately a bittersweet feeling crossing that state line. Only a few more days together and a couple hundred more miles to ride.

Cheers,

Vandy