There are no words... But here's a try.

Yesterday I rode my bike to he pacific ocean with a group of the most amazing people I have ever met. Nc2sd 2011 wasn't just about following the cue sheet, it wasn't just about the climbs, or the descents. It wasn't about the next lunch break in 11 miles or the incessant winds of Kansas. It wasn't about surviving the million dollar highway or the elevation sickness, or dominoes pizza. This trip was the epic journey that it was because of the 32 individual people that put their regular lives aside for two months to share this trip with me. I am completely at a loss when I try to begin to explain these people to anyone. They are some of the most talented and driven, yet also the most insane and goofy people I have ever met. You do have to be slightly crazy to bike from north Carolina to San diego... But you also have to be independent, strong and passionate. These are the people that are going to change the world. They already are. I am sitting in the San diego airport with a huge knot in my stomach and a barely touched pizza in my lap. Memories are flooding my head like a film in fast-forward, and each image evokes both a laugh and a wince (I haven't cried yet, Chris!). I have sand in my ears and a broken toe and I am wishing I could eat something but I can't. Every other song on my iPod reminds me of someone or something from the trip and the coke I'm drinking just doesn't taste as good because i didn't donation magic it from a gas station after riding 50 miles in 100 degree heat. I love you bike and build. You all brighten MY day... and I'll never be the same because of what you've given me.

First thing we do in Blythe, CA? Buffet lunch at sizzler and watch the USA womens game.

Caliiiiiiiiii!!!!!!

From Gunneson into Ridgeway, CO

I took Ed's challenge to bike with him on our ride to Ridgeway. We had a great time! Here is a shot of what I'll remember from this part of Colorado. We followed this part of the Arkansas river for a lot of our ride through the state.

Ridin into Gunneson

Had an awesome descent from monarch where I reached my new top speed (42) and then coasted through some scenic terrain into Gunneson, CO, a really co little bike-friendly town (and had a well deserved ice cream)

Meeee way up high!

Can't stop smiling

If I could get paid to do this forever, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Pat and Jen m taking it all in

Nc2sd way up high

We then took the gondola up for a great view of what we just biked! Ethan below in the gondola.

Amazing job everyone :)

11,312 feet? No sweat.

"all you have to do today is ride your bike"

We have a saying on bike & build and it really accurately described how I felt on our way up to monarch pass that day. It was a challenging climb but so gorgeous and so rewarding. We had been nervous and excited for this day, where we would reach the highest Elevation of our trip, and it certainly lived up to our expectations. Everyone absolutely killed it on the ride up. We waited fr every member of the team to ride up so we could all share in the experience of reaching the peak together. I spent a solid 3-4 hours at the summit, just taking it all in.

Below, mid-ride shot on the way up

That's more like it

This is not the shot I was looking for Oliver...

It was a cold morning

Cathy and Nick bundled up

Taking on monarch pass in CO!

(catching up on old posts, sorry!) the me and the mountains pictures below. Gorgeous ride up through the collegiate peaks to get to monarch

Chris, our fearless leader

Ed and more balloons

Hot air balloons taking off in gunneson! I rode with Ed that day and we had a great ride, started off at a coffee shop in town

Best birthday ever!!!

In Prescott az!!

Impromptu shirtless dodgeball game

More BV

Crazy weather in Buena Vista

In BV e everywhere you look you have a view of the mountains, and also apparently the ever changing weather. We had hail, lightning, rain, sun, you name it. And it was a lot of fun to see it come in across the peaks

BV!!

Joey and I rode the remainder of the ride together and I think it was the most beautiful descent I've had all trip. The sun was shining on one of the collegiate peaks, and the other one was in shadow from the storm cloud. It was amazing!

Lunch in hartsel was interesting. We geared up for whatever lay ahead and some people met riders from Ride the Divide - an insane cross country bike race (the short way). I was still struggling with the elevation at this point :(

You can see south park and the next mtn range we would cross that afternoon, trying to beat the storm approaching

Dominated Wilkerson pass

Our highest elevation to date on the trip. Great climb, but the tough part was still ahead at this point. A solid 20 mi stretch on a very high plateau called South Park, where we hit a persistent head wind and a bleak landscape. I struggled a lot mentally but it was a great challenge and we managed to get through it for a gorgeous decent into BV!

Ethan, always so knowledgeable about the local historic points of interest. On the 100 mi ride to Buena Vista we had a lot to keep us busy. The climbs, the descents, the wind, and a lot to see along the way.

Cool map

Maniton springs, a cool little town we passed through on our way out, and up

Rockies here we come!!

Sent from my iPhone

David lifting some rocks

Someone peed right where I would have been standing. (Ben). Still a good pic

Garden of the gods

On our way out of co spgs we were lucky enough to rode through the garden of the gods. Beautiful red rock formations that were worthy of the name for sure. Pic of the guys, and Jenn, doing a "sorority squat" in front of the entrance to the park.

Bros bonding

We had an amazing BBQ at a habitat volunteer's home our lastnight in co spgs. We learned a lot about falcons and had a nice relaxing night before the big ride over the mountains the next day. I had to say goodbye to Drew :(

Drew at the top of pikes

Pikes peak with Drew

We drove (we did not bike) up Pikes peak while drew was visiting in Co spgs. It's the 14er just on the boarder of the city. So beautiful but pretty scary! I'd like to hike one of these for real soon but we didn't have the time, and I definitely didn't have the energy.

Wildlife

The hummingbirds were everywhere! Drew got a good shot of a particularly lazy one here. We learned a lot about birds in co spigs

DREW!!!!

Drew came out to visit me in colorado springs!!!!! We stayed at an amazing B&b outside of town and I got to live almost like a normal person for two days! He built with us on our build day too, which was really exciting because we laid an entire foundation of a habitat home. SC2SC will be working on the house we started when they get to CO spgs!!

Jen and elevation map

Plotting against the boys

Girlies

The guys claimed we don't bond as much as they do. We proved them wrong shortly after this photo at lunch on our way to pueblo

CO

Kissing camels in Colorado!