My trek to the Pacific

I wish the tumblr windows app let me post multiple pictures at once but it won't. So here's a panorama of the view from Lassen volcano today. We biked to the roads peak and proceeded to hike up another 1.3 miles to a secondary peak. I've seen more snow this summer than I have all year.

I'm awful consistently blogging. So here's a rather rad bike to supplement my lack of content!

Colorado is definitely my favorite state so far. 

So today, we rode from Des Moines, New Mexico to Trinidad, Colorado. I was sweep again with my sweep buddy for the day Rachel! Some riders decided to ride up a mountain before they started their day so I was resigned to waiting around the host site until they were finished. It wasn't too bad though, I got to squeeze in a nap! We only stayed for a night in New Mexico unfortunately but the town we stayed at was awesome. It was a village of 140 or so and we stayed in the first Baptist church. They had THE coldest shower of the entire trip. It was colder than our plunge into the icy Savannah river! It was a hose shower as well but it was rather nice. It was arranged like an actual shower with a shower head and everything, it really was only missing a curtain. The showers never quite make or break the host but any host can really be improved by a wonderful shower. That's entirely subjective though, some days the cold shower is exactly what I need whereas some days I just need a warm shower to relax my body from the ride. Really though, anything is better than a 2 mile walk to a YMCA. Usually though, unfortunate showers are entirely made up by the host being awesome. Tomorrow is our day off in Trinidad!

We crossed into Texas! Texas is flat, hot, windy and barren. I'm through messing with Texas and I'm ready to hit some hills and the occasional town with a population over 5000. Don't get me wrong though, I've met some wonderful Texans, seen some gorgeous scenery, and gained some great experiences I'll carry with me for my entire life. Going 10 mph for 2 days on 30+ mile stretches takes a lot out of you. But here I am still. Most of our hosts recently have lived in towns of less than 4000 people and before this trip I might have written a town like that off. Between my occasional talks with James Havu and the people I've met in these towns, I think I'm beginning to understand why someone would live in a town like that. It's more complicated than I could ever cover in a blog but it's related to a common thing I've been thinking about on this trip. Embracing discomfort, comfort or finding comfort in discomfort. For the life I want to lead, I think embracing discomfort would be the best mentality but when you're in a hugely discomforting place, that can be a hard mentality to put into practice. I haven't got past just thinking about the ideas a lot but I'm truly relying on my ability to learn new behavior and embrace discomfort, this experience is just one step on my path to doing so.

Oh? I'm trying to remember who i've met from that trip. I've met leaders from SC2SC10, Travis and Brian. Then i met Mac! He gave us a place to stay in Little Rock! 

I had a rad post ready about my day in the van yesterday but unfortunately my phone ate it. Today we rode into Arnett, Oklahoma. I had heard a few things about this town ahead of time but I truly didn't know what to expect. The ride into the town was cursed with crosswinds and unfair rolling hills. I yearned for Georgia's hills as well as its unleashed dogs as I fought all of the hills and the wind simultaneously. It was an 85 mile day and overall, it wasn't too rough. The hardest part is the vast expanses of nothing and staring at the road while the grasshoppers fly at my unsuspecting face. Arnett is a small town Pop. 500-600 near the panhandle of the state. Why they lack in population, they make up in awesome food and hospitality. I spent the day riding with Travis and Cassie, hence the picture of them on the haybales. Talking with Cassie, who's girlfriend was a leader last year, made me really nostalgic and wish I could have joined their route. I love my route and my team entirely but it was still incredibly heartbreaking finding out I couldn't ride last summer. Anyway, tomorrow we'll be off and on to Texas!

After our second build day in Oklahoma city, we drove out to Moore. This was one of the towns hit by the major tornadoes earlier in May. It's incredible building homes and helping people all summer just to see a town like this where towns are ripped apart and only the foundation remains. Not only that, every few homes looked untouched while others were not even there anymore. My thoughts are with any city dealing with natural disasters.

Yesterday we rode into Van Buren, Arkansas. It was an 82 mile ride and it was one of the easier rides of the trip so far. I started off the morning riding with Rae until she had to get in the van to get to the doctors. It was a really gorgeous ride with lots of mountain and lake views. I haven't ridden with her in quite a while. Shes been riding in the front of the pack whereas I've been chilling in the back. After riding with her, it poured. Like, my chamois were soggy until we reached the host. The host was awesome though! The town was old and had a really interesting downtown with at least 2 used book stores! I had a chai tea and read the intro to "3 cups of tea". Today we rode 106 miles. It was our first official century, some riders had reached their first on our 90 mile days previously. Despite the incredible mileage, it was a rather easy day. We rode up to the state line, took our border pictures and Rae and I were off! It's great riding with her, she doesn't care to stop too often and she likes pushing herself and myself to go faster and stay at the front of the pack. So it's a nice workout riding with her and a good changeup from some of my more relaxed days. We skipped 2nd lunch because the van was 30 mins away and we didn't really need help or refills. We did however, take pictures on top of ton hay bales as well as get milkshakes from a place called Braums! Apparently they're like the steak and shake out here. The host tonight has bee. Wonderful as always and I was even able to get onto a computer! I'm sweep tomorrow on our 92 mile day into Oklahoma City! Should be a fun ride, let's hope I don't get too burnt!

Windows phones can't see asks so i'm just getting this! You did SC2SC right? What year? We're staying in Henryetta, OK and there are signed posters from all the past routes. So rad to see all the names. Today was our 106 mile day and it was wonderful. 

Today we rode up to the top of petit jean in Arkansas. From what I gather from alums, this was one of the hardest climbs and best day of the trip for most of them. I personally loved all of it today. It was supposed to be a 92 mile day but it turned into a 75 for me due to a slight injury and a friend not feeling well. We actually stopped at a farm in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere and ended up getting a ride to the host in Russellville from the owner. Today started out rainy, we rode along the Arkansas river bike path from little rock for most of the day. Crossed the big dam bridge. Got lost in the middle of nowhere and suddenly the sun came back out as we started the steepest climb yet. I was told it was 12% and 13% grades in some parts. The incline was about a mile long. Now its about 9 and I'm excited to get to sleep early! Onward to Fort Smith!

Kid Currey with Elaina at the build site.