First day on the road! Our bikes ceremonially dipped in the ocean, our troupe took to the trail and cruised 32 miles to Monck's Corner, SC. Arriving in the lead group at noon, I had a full day to explore the town. I coasted around the town, chatting with cheery, motherly Denise at the Visitor Center. She told us she moved there because "things moved a little bit slower and looked a little bit greener." In my roaming, I bumped into Jake, one of our trip leaders, who convinced me a frozen treat was in order. With his all knowing iPhone, we found Ye Old Fashioned Ice Cream and we nabbed frozen bananas. Sitting in full Bike and Build spandex, we discussed American economic history, racial implications in community service, and the current troubles in pursuit of the American dream. We then skirted out of town and found an quiet, overgrown cemetery. Jake, a professional photographer (to be amazed, see http://jakestangel.com), went to work. As my sister is an aspiring photographer, I loved picking his brain about his artistic vision. Several clicks later, we dove into the Tail's Race Canal in SC. Enthusiastically, I swam across the waterway and then back. The locals later told us this canal was infested with alligators. Either I am too fast (no) or quite lucky. In short, this day was amazing.
I will use this post to send out my first thank you. I have a gratitude calendar planned out, so certain days will be devoted to different donors. Today's ride is dedicated to Christin John, one of the legendary Foreign Legion. I admire so much about Christin: his independence, willingness to listen, and friendly, easy going nature. From middle school lunches to high school exploits and college adventures, his friendship has helped me become a better person. He has always been there for me and I hope to always be there for him. I love you CJ.
I don't have time to do photos now and since tomorrow's ride ends in a campsite, I will be unlikely to post in the near future. Stay tuned for the next update though!
Our Route!
Charleston, SC to Santa Cruz, CA: May 26 to August 14
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Oriented and Soon to Hit the Road
This is the final post from where I can see the ocean until August. We will leave Charleston tomorrow morning with fond memories of our two days in this lovely Southern port. We've cruised the coast, strolled the streets, and noshed at the neighborhood nooks. Wednesday we did a practice ride as a trip and learned the ins and outs of how our large group will operate. Our dinner was Southern favorites at Sticky Fingers...mmm BBQ chicken. Today we worked with Habitat for Humanity, demolishing a older home to give space for a new home for the Lemons. This evening we toured the nearby arts fest and broke into ultimate frisbee. I have limited computer time, so I direct you to my photos here.
Best Charleston resident met: Ronald. This 4 year old bike tike told me, "I could ride across the country too, but I have swimming class tonight." Living in North Charleston, his parents lived with all too common financial situation: father in irregular construction work and mother waitressing, trying to make ends meet. Yet next to their worn down house outside of Charleston, two shining, high end cars (one Mercedes) sat idle. Why were these purchases made? Would those new car funds have been better put towards a better home or Ronald's education? These are the internal questions that I hope to discuss with locals across the country this summer. I am still figuring out the manner in which to broach this subject. For now, Ronald and I just went goofy, laughing over silly faces and handstands.
I will try and write more soon...Tomorrow is 32 miles to Monck's Corner, SC...should be a breeze!
Best Charleston resident met: Ronald. This 4 year old bike tike told me, "I could ride across the country too, but I have swimming class tonight." Living in North Charleston, his parents lived with all too common financial situation: father in irregular construction work and mother waitressing, trying to make ends meet. Yet next to their worn down house outside of Charleston, two shining, high end cars (one Mercedes) sat idle. Why were these purchases made? Would those new car funds have been better put towards a better home or Ronald's education? These are the internal questions that I hope to discuss with locals across the country this summer. I am still figuring out the manner in which to broach this subject. For now, Ronald and I just went goofy, laughing over silly faces and handstands.
I will try and write more soon...Tomorrow is 32 miles to Monck's Corner, SC...should be a breeze!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Arrived in Charleston!
After an early morning United flight, I headed into Charleston and joined my fellow riders. Our first day consisted of ice breakers, random downtown strolls, and compliments on my neon green shoes. I must admit great relief: my fellow participants rock! There's Abby the professional opera singer, Jake the bicycling photographer, Claire the friendly architect, Laura the D-1 water polo star, Amelia the soccer playing cake fiend, J-Gibbs the musical swimmer...I won't be short on entertainment. Personal bike maintenance education came in the afternoon (yes summer goal!) before sitting for a lovely dinner donated by Subway. In the church dining room, I met the family we will be building for, diving into deep discussion with their 5th grade son Trey about how to elevate his basketball skills. He had a sick crossover, but lacked the step back jump shot. We talked through some drills for the summer, so defenses beware!
A sandwich later, we learned a bit about their family story and the Charleston Habitat affiliate. The Habitat houses here are sold at about $50,000 (market value $125,000) thanks to donated labor (us) and no markup. With the no-interest loan, the four Lemons can make their dream home a reality. Arnett Lemon, a hospital worker who has already given nearly 400 hours of her sweat equity, thanked us graciously for our support. Meeting such a deserving family, wanting merely the security and comfort of a small home...I am glad this will be my summer.
All photos from Charleston will come Thursday or Friday after our build, as I don't have the time to upload now. Got to go foster friendships! Question of the day...when should I put the neon yellow handlebar tape on my bike? Early in the trip or later on to mix it up?
A sandwich later, we learned a bit about their family story and the Charleston Habitat affiliate. The Habitat houses here are sold at about $50,000 (market value $125,000) thanks to donated labor (us) and no markup. With the no-interest loan, the four Lemons can make their dream home a reality. Arnett Lemon, a hospital worker who has already given nearly 400 hours of her sweat equity, thanked us graciously for our support. Meeting such a deserving family, wanting merely the security and comfort of a small home...I am glad this will be my summer.
All photos from Charleston will come Thursday or Friday after our build, as I don't have the time to upload now. Got to go foster friendships! Question of the day...when should I put the neon yellow handlebar tape on my bike? Early in the trip or later on to mix it up?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Summer Aspirations
On my roadtrip home from Chicago, I entertained myself listening to three very different audio stimuli. In my trunk CD changer, I had the six disc recording of Call to Conscience, a collection of Martin Luther King's landmark speeches with stirring introductions by leaders like Ted Kennedy or Rosa Parks. In my cassette player, I had Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, outlining how I could be a better me. And whenever I needed a burst, I had the radio primed to stations with hip-hop jams. This combination was fantastic. In a half day of listening, I thought about a great deal of things, coming to the following conclusions. To do great things, you must aim high. In the process of reaching for a noble goal, you can accomplish so much good. Alongside aiming to achieve better societal condition, I must also continually strive to be the best version of myself.
Therefore, I have decided to set some self improvement goals for this summer journey. I will share my list, both putting more social pressure on myself to achieve them and opening a forum for suggestion.
1. Establish a personal mission statement. I got this idea from Covey's Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. By developing a succinct, ubiquitous, and enduring guide for my attitudes and behaviors. There will be no specific target jobs or events, instead focusing on values and principles to follow. I hope to use some of my knowledge from my positive psychology courses, and texts in this document. When I have finished this document, it most certainly will be a post.
2. Become better aware of the affordable housing issue. I have decided to devote my summer biking across the country for this cause, basing this decision on personal experiences, a general awareness of housing inequities, and a passion for altruism. This is insufficient. I am excited to learn from my fellow riders, the wide array people I meet state to state, and increased personal research. I want to leave Bike and Build a knowledgeable, judicious advocate for improving affordable housing.
3. Train my hands, developing my mechanical mind. I want to become a proficient bicycle mechanic, which I believe will be possible if I humbly seek to learn from peers. I must admit past impatience in this type of craft education, but I believe I can work through this shortcoming. Additionally, I hope to read a guidebook on car maintenance and Mac operations. As a wise person told me, "Tools exist for a reason. Push your boundaries and learn a skill for the rest of your life. Do not let fear or laziness hold you back."
4. Read. To set a target, I will say 8 books, which will be one for every 10 days of the trip. While some of these are pre-determined from personal choice and friend suggestions, I will leave half undetermined. If you have any suggestions, please share! Keep in mind I love non-fiction books on topics I know little about.
5. Foster and deepen friendships. Spending 81 days with 33 civic minded, outdoorsy peers should provide ample opportunities to find fantastic friends. Yet cultivating these relationships takes more than just proximity. Though I consider myself an open, approachable person, I must fight the urge to buddy off after first impressions, making a concerted effort to share at least one heart to heart with every fellow rider. Outside of the trip, I must stay in contact with those most important to me. I hope this blog can serve as a medium for such communication, but it is not enough. Especially as a recent graduate leaving many of my Penn peers, I will strive to email, call, and send postcards to continue distance friendships. In the past, I have struggled with this, making this goal even more important.
6. Understand America better. I will be crossing through 13 states on my trip, staying in over 70 different towns and cities. In every place I arrive, I hope to spend at least 30 minutes perusing the area and have at least one notable conversation with a local. When else I am going to be in places like Heflin, AL or Watonga, OK or Vernal, UT?
7. Chronicle this journey. With both my D70 camera and this blog, I hope to have put this trip in a form that will be accessible to family/friends now and for all (myself included) in the future. While a post a day may be impossible, I think 3-4 per week is a very conservative proposal. Photo goals are less clear, but I hope my 4 GB card is filled to its capacity.
8. Finish the ride! Oops, almost forgot, I do need to bike 4,139 miles this summer. There will be a point where I am sick of pedaling. I promise now to continue. Like the mantra of my cousin Ben, "I cannot be stopped."
There they are. This summer will certainly be filled with fun and sun, but with some effort, serve as a time for self optimization. For my readers, what are your summer goals?
Therefore, I have decided to set some self improvement goals for this summer journey. I will share my list, both putting more social pressure on myself to achieve them and opening a forum for suggestion.
1. Establish a personal mission statement. I got this idea from Covey's Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. By developing a succinct, ubiquitous, and enduring guide for my attitudes and behaviors. There will be no specific target jobs or events, instead focusing on values and principles to follow. I hope to use some of my knowledge from my positive psychology courses, and texts in this document. When I have finished this document, it most certainly will be a post.
2. Become better aware of the affordable housing issue. I have decided to devote my summer biking across the country for this cause, basing this decision on personal experiences, a general awareness of housing inequities, and a passion for altruism. This is insufficient. I am excited to learn from my fellow riders, the wide array people I meet state to state, and increased personal research. I want to leave Bike and Build a knowledgeable, judicious advocate for improving affordable housing.
3. Train my hands, developing my mechanical mind. I want to become a proficient bicycle mechanic, which I believe will be possible if I humbly seek to learn from peers. I must admit past impatience in this type of craft education, but I believe I can work through this shortcoming. Additionally, I hope to read a guidebook on car maintenance and Mac operations. As a wise person told me, "Tools exist for a reason. Push your boundaries and learn a skill for the rest of your life. Do not let fear or laziness hold you back."
4. Read. To set a target, I will say 8 books, which will be one for every 10 days of the trip. While some of these are pre-determined from personal choice and friend suggestions, I will leave half undetermined. If you have any suggestions, please share! Keep in mind I love non-fiction books on topics I know little about.
5. Foster and deepen friendships. Spending 81 days with 33 civic minded, outdoorsy peers should provide ample opportunities to find fantastic friends. Yet cultivating these relationships takes more than just proximity. Though I consider myself an open, approachable person, I must fight the urge to buddy off after first impressions, making a concerted effort to share at least one heart to heart with every fellow rider. Outside of the trip, I must stay in contact with those most important to me. I hope this blog can serve as a medium for such communication, but it is not enough. Especially as a recent graduate leaving many of my Penn peers, I will strive to email, call, and send postcards to continue distance friendships. In the past, I have struggled with this, making this goal even more important.
6. Understand America better. I will be crossing through 13 states on my trip, staying in over 70 different towns and cities. In every place I arrive, I hope to spend at least 30 minutes perusing the area and have at least one notable conversation with a local. When else I am going to be in places like Heflin, AL or Watonga, OK or Vernal, UT?
7. Chronicle this journey. With both my D70 camera and this blog, I hope to have put this trip in a form that will be accessible to family/friends now and for all (myself included) in the future. While a post a day may be impossible, I think 3-4 per week is a very conservative proposal. Photo goals are less clear, but I hope my 4 GB card is filled to its capacity.
8. Finish the ride! Oops, almost forgot, I do need to bike 4,139 miles this summer. There will be a point where I am sick of pedaling. I promise now to continue. Like the mantra of my cousin Ben, "I cannot be stopped."
There they are. This summer will certainly be filled with fun and sun, but with some effort, serve as a time for self optimization. For my readers, what are your summer goals?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Path Not Chosen
Pedaling for poverty is a new thing for me. I've spent the past 3 summers in Chicago, exploring the wide array of city activities and spending time with my family. It's become wonderfully familiar. Arts fairs, music festivals, movies in the park...I've learned my favorite nooks and crannies of the Midwest's greatest metropolis. Then there are the hidden treasures only I know: Strolls through Hyde Park with Loren, museum trips with Eleanor, early morning chats with Mom, and documentary films with Dad. I am just realizing that while this bike trip will be an amazing experience, there is a trade-off. With all the fund-raising, training and gear collection, I almost forgot all the things to love in my Chicago. For those of you with free time this summer, remember to spend time at home. Wherever life's path takes you, it begins and ends with family.
It all starts so soon! If you would like to send me mail during my journey, please refer to the instructions on the "Mail Drop" feature on the right side of this page. Anything you send will help propel me to California! Keep in mind that averaging 70 miles a day cycling means I will burn about 3200 excess calories every day...Can you say baked goods?
Okay silly question: If you had to eat 3200 calories worth of one type of food in one day, what would you choose?
It all starts so soon! If you would like to send me mail during my journey, please refer to the instructions on the "Mail Drop" feature on the right side of this page. Anything you send will help propel me to California! Keep in mind that averaging 70 miles a day cycling means I will burn about 3200 excess calories every day...Can you say baked goods?
Okay silly question: If you had to eat 3200 calories worth of one type of food in one day, what would you choose?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Graduation!
In 4 days, I take a plane to South Carolina, meet my 32 fellow riders, and begin my journey across the country. I have that lovely blend of excitement and nervousness that indicates you truly care about what is upcoming. 4139 miles. Woah.
In other news, I am now officially a Penn alumnus. Graduation was this past weekend, meaning my amazing family came to visit. The crew arrived Saturday to join in the carnival festivities of Grad/Alumni Weekend. Highlights included the spray on face paint Ps, the ridiculous Penn lollipops, and seemingly limitless amount of kettle corn.
Along with the core Koles, I was fortunate that my Grandma and Aunt Susan came. Susan, my fierce childhood rival in basement hockey, reminded me of my earliest joys, and Grandma, who frequently evoked the memory of her late husband and my grandfather John Kole, emphasized the enormity of my future potential.
After our dinner, I was surprised by a barrage of presents. Though I received many great gifts, one gift stands alone as the most wonderful one I've ever received. In one item, my parents had shown that they truly understood who I was and wanted to become. I opened the thin box to reveal a engraved stethoscope...with neon orange tubing. Instantly I was ten years older, confidently striding into a child's room, kneeling down to discuss the latest Nickelodeon cartoon, and listening to everything my patient had to show me. A silly motto popped to mind: I care with flair. May this item be only the beginning of my infusing of fun into healing.
Sunday went quickly...Morning brunch where I debated with Grandma on legalizing marijuana to create government revenues, noon visit to Reading Terminal Market for chocolate potato chips, afternoon viewing of Aladdin with my sisters instead of attending the Baccalaureate Ceremony, then finally the College graduation. I had the excellent fortune of choosing to march with the Biology Department, allowing me to sit next to Sean for the lengthy evening. John Legend stole the spotlight (even more than expected for a 6 time Grammy Award winner). His speech did exactly what was necessary for a graduation speech: leave the audience with one succinct point. Citing failures in history and the present, he urged us all to "seek truth." I will not soon forget his forceful words, even though he may have been listening to his iPod later in the ceremony. As Sean and I crossed the stage, we attempted to shake Legend's hand. Moments later, Dean DeTurck had bear hugged Sean and I was being glared at by the lady handing out diplomas. I settled for shouting "You know I want to shake your hand, you are amazing" before scurrying off stage. So close.
Monday's festivities were worthwhile, not so much for the speakers, but for the march down Locust. The Fun Dumpster strolled together, an amusing last hurrah of skipping and dancing for our silly gang. Fittingly, I sat next to Sean again...the one I would choose both in my major and of all Penn peers of 2009. Soon the proceedings were over and I was officially done with Penn.
Many goodbyes and 755 miles of driving later, I am home in Chicago. This will be one of many blog posts this summer, but I don't want the conversation to be one way. Therefore I will end my posts with a pertinent question, which I hope you answer with a response comment. Here is today's...What is the greatest gift you ever received? Why?
In other news, I am now officially a Penn alumnus. Graduation was this past weekend, meaning my amazing family came to visit. The crew arrived Saturday to join in the carnival festivities of Grad/Alumni Weekend. Highlights included the spray on face paint Ps, the ridiculous Penn lollipops, and seemingly limitless amount of kettle corn.
Along with the core Koles, I was fortunate that my Grandma and Aunt Susan came. Susan, my fierce childhood rival in basement hockey, reminded me of my earliest joys, and Grandma, who frequently evoked the memory of her late husband and my grandfather John Kole, emphasized the enormity of my future potential.
After our dinner, I was surprised by a barrage of presents. Though I received many great gifts, one gift stands alone as the most wonderful one I've ever received. In one item, my parents had shown that they truly understood who I was and wanted to become. I opened the thin box to reveal a engraved stethoscope...with neon orange tubing. Instantly I was ten years older, confidently striding into a child's room, kneeling down to discuss the latest Nickelodeon cartoon, and listening to everything my patient had to show me. A silly motto popped to mind: I care with flair. May this item be only the beginning of my infusing of fun into healing.
Sunday went quickly...Morning brunch where I debated with Grandma on legalizing marijuana to create government revenues, noon visit to Reading Terminal Market for chocolate potato chips, afternoon viewing of Aladdin with my sisters instead of attending the Baccalaureate Ceremony, then finally the College graduation. I had the excellent fortune of choosing to march with the Biology Department, allowing me to sit next to Sean for the lengthy evening. John Legend stole the spotlight (even more than expected for a 6 time Grammy Award winner). His speech did exactly what was necessary for a graduation speech: leave the audience with one succinct point. Citing failures in history and the present, he urged us all to "seek truth." I will not soon forget his forceful words, even though he may have been listening to his iPod later in the ceremony. As Sean and I crossed the stage, we attempted to shake Legend's hand. Moments later, Dean DeTurck had bear hugged Sean and I was being glared at by the lady handing out diplomas. I settled for shouting "You know I want to shake your hand, you are amazing" before scurrying off stage. So close.
Monday's festivities were worthwhile, not so much for the speakers, but for the march down Locust. The Fun Dumpster strolled together, an amusing last hurrah of skipping and dancing for our silly gang. Fittingly, I sat next to Sean again...the one I would choose both in my major and of all Penn peers of 2009. Soon the proceedings were over and I was officially done with Penn.
Many goodbyes and 755 miles of driving later, I am home in Chicago. This will be one of many blog posts this summer, but I don't want the conversation to be one way. Therefore I will end my posts with a pertinent question, which I hope you answer with a response comment. Here is today's...What is the greatest gift you ever received? Why?
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