Colourful Colorado

So i have Finally reached the point where i could not resist. Climbing atop a big old barrel of hay was an awesome experience. Why? I have no idea. It just was trust me.

Lately, Several times a day I've had to stop and remind myself of something. "Oh yea, I am currently living a dream. Riding my bike across the country." This is usually followed by several minutes or miles of smiles or laughter. It is an awesome feeling.

I recently heard awesome news from a friend on the trip Mo Jo or Mary Olive Jones will be accepting an americrops position with the DC Habitat for humanity affiliate. This means i have a contact which can help me continue to volunteer my time and labor to help the affordable housing situation locally after this trip is over. That was really great news. Congrats Mo Jo.

At the moment I'm feeling very expansive or effusive, unrestrained, free, or open as EB would say. I feel as though I am soaking up all the awesomeness, excitement, and amaziness this trip has to offer and I'll never get full. This has lead me to seriously consider doing the trip again as a leader. My goal there would be to help other novice bikers and housing advocates have an amazing experience like I am having. Helping others through this challenge and powerful expericne would an awesome reward.

Day Off In Bartlesville

The ride into Bartlesville Oklahoma left our bike in distress and out bodies exhausted. The flash flood warnings and super humid weather was a challenge through out the day. All things immediately looked up once our host site the Adams Blvd Church welcomed us in. The hospitality was some of the best I've felt on the trip. There were cold drinks, cookies, and of course my personal favorite brownies waiting for us inside! It took all of my limited will power to save some for the other riders! Meaning I tried to stay below my regular 8 to 9 brownie intake!

Speaking of hospitality, I must thank all of our many host sites along the way. From Gallop Funeral Services to our last host site Grove First United Methodist Church there has been many people how have served the bike and build mission in countless ways. The meals and space to sleep have been beyond my greatest expectations but it has been the love and excitement which these people have expressed about our service trip which has really floored me.

To all our host sites thank you so much.

One cool and awesome thing which I learned about here at the Bartlesville Adams Blvd Church was a group of young kids aptly named Transformers. There goal this summer is to transform their community through service to other people. Doing things such as canned food drives and trash pick up around the community. Pretty sweet right? If you ask me these transformers sound like some future bike and builders. Am I right or am I right?

General Picture Update

Don't act like you're not impressed with these tan lines.
Time to celebrate our 1st day off. Mel Risa, Myself and Zach doing it right.
learning how to put up siding. this was a tough day for Zach, Liz, and I. Ask me about it later.
Going over the edge...
An elite break away squad has formed.
Blue ridge parkway. Waitin around for Big Chris.

General Update of Awesomeness

Today's ride was cake. Chocolate cake, with a 6 mile climb 2 minutes into the ride.

Some of you reading may be pondering why I haven't updated my blog, like oh umm Andy. Well there's a perfectly good reason for that. I'm much too busy building up my V-8 engine like legs which will soon come to the burg and rip you apart like a Great White. How's that?

Speaking of Sharks. Apparently that is my new name for the remainder of the trip. A bastardization of my nickname "Clark the Shark" has taken a vice like grip on the group. That may or may not have something to do with the Sweet kick ass shirt my sister, Sara made for me. With sharks on it!

Chris Jochem, a very talented runner and quickly progressing cyclists has been a wonderful riding partner when the hills and town line sprints come around. Some serious Tour de France type competition has spiced up the repetitive miles.
This sign, at the bottom of the climb up to Tennessee started off the demise of my soul.
As the next photo, taken moments later shows.



The day ended with the crossing of the state line. Of course I must say hello to my main man James Mchone's Jewelry who has a sweet sweet shirt!


So far my favorite day of the trip was the ride which took us from Linville Falls North Carolina to Asheville NC. The website says it was a 50 mile ride. Not true my friend it was easily 75 miles over the Blue Ridge Parkway which is totally hilly/mountainy. Luckily for me that day I was literally floating on my pedals.
This was not my real reason for loving that day. Seeing the sense of accomplishment among the rest of the trip after completing what was clearly the hardest ride of the trip so far, blew my mind. After that day everyone in the group should know they can concur anything. On top of that the group recovered well from the 12 mile climb the day before only to reach an altitude of well over 5,000 ft the very next day. But we were surely blessed with wonderful sights.


The start of the ride was all happy go lucky.
I was to busy climbing well to take pictures of the higher elevation but these pictures do look sweet. And yes dad I see that there is a spot on my camera lens messing up the pictures. You'll have to deal.






So, I realize I've neglected to post any pictures of building. But there are several of me doing some mean work with power tools, hammers, and nail guns! For now...I'm Sorry these blog posts are tiring and dinner is almost ready. Peace out home slice.

And So It Begins

Zach, Kim, Molly, and Dr. Thunder riding like champs.
Our hosts for the night. That day life could seriously not get better.
Dave was hit by a sniper. Fell trying to unclip.
Dipping the rear tire in the Atlantic Ocean.
Check the team love in this pic!

Hello, to all those reading my blog! Please enjoy these professional shots taken by yours truly. The trip has begun. As it has progressed I have felt increasingly more at home, honestly if this trip crossed the country several times I would be totally excited about that.

Lights out time is quickly approaching, and thus this post will be short. Don't worry better more detailed posts will flow from my ever creative mind. For now, please visit the bike and build website to see my journal update for the trip. It tells the story of today's biking and awareness raising efforts.

Before I leave I'd like to thank all of those who donated to my trip. Your total donations have made me the most profitable fund raiser of the entire trip. A total of $6,700. Thank you so much. It is wonderful to have so much support.

In closing I'd like to take this chance to challenge all of those reading this blog to take a moment and think about the housing situations in your local communities. Please comment with your reflections.


C.Clark

Ready to Go

Have you ever seen a bike more ready to embark on an epic adventure? I think not. In fact this bike not only looks ready for epic adventures filled with raising awareness about affordable housing but it also seems totally prepared for Battle with mythical creatures and maybe, just maybe, the building of affordable homes. Don't you agree?



Tomorrow Bike and Build North Carolina to California begins. It's possible the my veins are pumped completely full of adrenaline. Sleep is next to impossible. Which is a good thing because I have completed about 5.6 % of my packing. And you guessed it... that 5.6% consists mostly of taking pictures of my bike for this blog update!

Tonight I enjoyed a lovely dinner with my family. As I sat there, eating my boca burger, I remembered how truely hilarious my family is. My mom's memory of her childhood is uncanny. I love those stories. I also look forward to a care package from my family. One filled with veggies things I really dislike. Thanks family.

The real purpose of this update other than showing off Candy my wonderful bike, is to thank all my friends. Everyone who has called/emailed/texted/shared conversation over the past two days to wish me luck on this Bike and Build adventure...you are also awesome. My family thanks you to, because it gave me a chance to share excitement. Otherwise I'd surely be running around the house screaming and shooting nerf guns. Like I did three days ago.

Well its time to pack. Cya tomorrow BIKE AND BUILD!

C.Clark

Six days untill awesome

For all of you keeping track, the Bike and Build adventure is just six days away. As you may have guessed my excitement continues to grow at an alarming rate. Very similar to my little brother, MAC man. The kid is seriously a weed, he doesn't stop growing.

Since the last post I've under taken several epic adventures. Most notably a bike ride from Harrisonburg to my home town in Northern Virginia. Please enjoy the picture above; notice the smiles because they slowly disappeared from our faces once the trip progressed. Julie my accomplice proved to be an excellent riding partner. Her locomotive like legs powered up hills and even managed to demolish me in the all important home town line sprint. Yes, she was like a fat kid and her chocolate cake after that. Julie, please enjoy it; It will never happen again!

For now, one shout out to those who have donated to bike and build in support of me. Each of you are awesome. And once again my traditional closing statement.

Now its time to ride some Bikes. HECK YEA~!

If you are reading this, You're awesome.

Yes that's right. You my friend are awesome.
Above I am screaming. The picture above is only a small sample of my general level of excitement as the Biking and Building days approach.
Please check back as my blogging ability beings to flourish.
Now, it is time to ride some bikes! HECK YEAH!

C.Clark