Fun Rides

This was my first week without being at CASA and I was excited to have free time and get out to do some longer rides. However, it ended up pouring rain this week... However, Bike and Build suggests we go for a ride on the rain, so I did! I tried to have a positive attitude and look at it as fun. Well, the roads were slick which made turning and stopping more difficult, basically resulting in my being scared on the city streets. I went over to the park and rode around for a while since there wasn't anyone out. I got a descent amount of miles in, but was just too cold I had to go home. 

I did get out for one longer ride with the Baltimore Bicycling Club, which was fun. We went on a scenic tour of Anne Arundel County and had lunch in downtown Annapolis.  I ended up riding the afternoon with one of the "fast guys" as everyone refer to him. We averaged 18 mph which is pretty good for me, but boy was I exhausted by the time we got back to the car!

I'm hoping for more good riding next week. 

Farmer's Market Fundraiser

I had a bake sale yesterday at Waverly Farmer's Market in Baltimore. The person who runs it wasn't there, and the sub wasn't too sure of what was going on... so I didn't even get a spot to set up until a half hour after the market opened. Regardless, it went very well and I made $249. If I had been counting, I would have insisted on selling one more item to make it an even number :) 

I also had an event scheduled at the Bmore fair in the afternoon. This turned out to be more of a resource fair, and the people in attendance didn't really have any money to give. I ended up doing the face painting for free, and just giving away the left over baked goods. I was a bit upset at first, but it turned out to be fun, and I was able to tell a lot of people about the organization and what we do. 

Thanks to my most recent donors, Julia Hartenstein and Jana Peterson. 

Donations rolling in!

The donations just keep rolling in! I love it when I check mail and there is something for me. Thanks to Lisa and Keith Petersen, Robert and Trudy Spiegelman, Mass Hagen and from PPC Construction Components!

As of Easter, thanks to Kathy, Paul, Sarah and Sam Smythe! And Julie Litch McGurn! And Ellen and Scott Andersen! I'm now up to $2,800 and I have two fundraisers this weekend that will hopefully bring in some money :)

Training Update

Bike and Build has a requirement that we 500 miles before leaving on the trip, and do at least one day of 65 miles or more. I have bee keeping track since January, and have already ridden 537 miles! However, only 89 of those were outside... and those are the ones that really count. Having hills, wind and changes in terrain is far different than riding in the gym or on the trainer. I've also ran/walked 23 miles and have been swimming a few times. I really wish there was a pool closer so I could do that more often. I've also started seeing a personal trainer which I think will be good to make me stronger and healthier all over. So, all in all, things are looking good. The weather is getting nicer and my work load will be dying down in a few weeks. Hopefully I'll have a lot more time to get out and ride :)

On Wednesday, I received a record number of donations for one day! Thanks to Lane Victorson, Mark Oswlad and ReMax 1st Choice, and Betsy Cummings! Also this week I received donations from Alicia Bower, Sara Montag and Anita Buckingham. Thanks everyone.

Leader Retreat

Last weekend all the leaders for the 8 different Bike and Build Routes gathered at the Headquarters in Philly. We spent the weekend meeting some awesome people, finally meeting my co-leaders that I speak to one the phone/online all the time, and learning about many aspects of being a leader on one of these trips. We talked about the day to day aspects, health issues to be aware of, maintaing an open and welcoming community, how to fix a flat tire and other bike maintenance stuff. Overall, it was super fun, and wicked helpful. 

    In the Bike and Build spirit, we slept on the YMCA floor and ate PB+J sandwiches (sunflower butter for me!). Other food was donated by various restaurants, and it was all delicious. The weekend got me all geared up, and I feel like I want to be done school, and leave this weekend!

Thanks to Rachel Kuhr, my most recent donor!

   

Sweat Equity

One of the Bike and Build requirements is to complete "sweat equity", aka volunteer for an affordable housing organization before the beginning of the trip. I spent last week in Louisiana, in a town just outside of New Orleans rebuilding from Katrina. There was a group of eight people from my grad school, and my dad who came along! It was a great week and we got a lot of great work done. I volunteer here in Baltimore with Habitat for Humanity regularly, and have 4 more days scheduled before I leave.

Check out the blog (by Nikita Parson) from this trip at: habitat-9.blogspot.com

Thanks to my newest donors: Rachel Boss, Darlene Houston, and Claire and Neil Doherty!  

In honor of Craig

As some of you know, a good friend of mine from Elizabethtown College, Craig Anderson, passed away from cancer about a month ago.Craig was an amazing person and had high spirits the entire time he was sick. I've decided to ride in honor of Craig this summer to share his high spirits for making a difference in the lives of those he met.
Please keep Craig and his family in your prayers.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]