The Lakefront Trail in Chicago!
The Pg-13 version involves me groping Kate
Stopped at a traffic light. Pen's slightly frustrated.
You get it where you can.
Cool photo of Erik.
Fording a massive river.
I wrote this; very proud.
Who you gonna call? Why, me of course!First off, big shout out to Laura's grandmother, I hear my blog is being read and there are positive reviews. I'm only sorry I can't update more often (and with pictures). And I'm sorry that the REAL WORLD reference was somewhat confusing (see previous posts). Thanks for the feedback.
So we're in St. Paul right now, chillin' in the Lee's crib (we have host families tonight). Some major updates include the most exciting thing to be planned on this trip: Bike and Build Prom 2008. Calm the breathing, sit down, I know this is a lot to handle.
Basically, much in keeping with the theme of the costume contest, everyone will be responsible for finding a date and cheap outfit to attend prom, tentatively scheduled on July 28th. Bonus points for the person who shows up with a local. And no, Kevin, you can't bring Isaiah's sister.
Tickets will be 50 cents to help pay for the cost of decorations and food (that, along with the $20 donation from my lotto winnings. Yes, Christopher and I played the Wisconsin lotto 2 days ago and I scratched off the winning $30). The theme is HARVEST MOON, which is in keeping with the sights/time of the trip (and I figure corn stalks will be pretty easy to come by). Also, it was a theme Christopher came up with for his Prom (am I at all surprised Christopher was on Prom planning committee? no.), but was eventually passed over for "November Rain." Redemption is ours.
So if you are reading this and thinking, "oh, my child/friend/stalk victim on this trip will never go for this," then think again. I have heard some whining from riders about how lame prom was. I intend to nip that in the bud. Yes, prom is over dramatized and built up to no end. Pressure exists to get a date, find an outfit, figure out which group of friends you're joining, finding a restaurant, limo, hotel, whatever. Then there's paying for it all. This is not that kind of prom. You just have to venture into some thrift stores to find an outfit and show up. The fun's on me.
Actually, now that I think about it, this isn't prom, it's anti-prom. It's going to correct for all that frivolous debauchery you experienced in high school and just be plain debauchery.
Get ready, kids. BBP '08 is coming. SHAZAAM!
In other news, the rides have been somewhat strenuous mentally and physically of late. From Madison we rode into Gays Mills. I was one of the cool, smart kids who stayed up the night before for the midnight premiere of THE DARK NIGHT. I almost didn't make it as I took a nap from 8:30 to 11:30 (the showing was at 12:20). I however had chosen to sleep in a rather secluded part of the church, a room where the priests robes were kept. I also assumed that we would leave that night around 11:45. So when I woke up at 11:35, I was shocked to see the number of voicemails on my phone. I checked my text messages first, and saw that Craig had wrote "Where are you?!" Thinking he had written it moments before, I wrote "I'm coming downstairs as we speak." Two second later, Craig called.
"Uh, we're already at the movie."
"What?!" I screamed in shock and horror.
"Uh, yeah, Christopher's going to come back and get you. Be in the church parking lot in 20 min."
Apparently, the group had hoped to leave around 11 for good seats. I was nowhere to be found. Oh, horrors! I'd been left behind! But all we well as the group who stayed at the theatre brought tickets and saved seats as Christopher tore through the night in the massive group van. Had I seen that white, unmarked van rip through the deserted streets that night, I would not have thought "He's on his way to see Batman." Rather, I would have said, "That driver is on crack and he thinks he is Batman."
But all was solved as we arrived in our seats in time to see the 20 min worth of previews before the film actually began. After the film, we got all of two hours of sleep before waking up to begin the 102-mile ride.
I however was in for a treat as I looked at the cue sheet to see the words:
"Sweeps: Kathleen and Jessica. If you see these two today, give them a hug or a smile, as it's going to be a long one for them."
We woke up at 5:30. We left the parking lot at 7:30. We rode 111 miles through terrain akin to western North Carolina. We arrived at the church that evening at 8:30.
Bedtime: 9 pm.
The sweeps, if you are unaware, are the two riders assigned to the back of the pack to encourage anyone having trouble and basically make sure everyone makes it in that night. The day for sweeps is, by definition, longer than everyone elses'. It was quite a long one (including an 8-mile detour, although nothing compared to Anson's ride of 130 miles due to errors on the cue sheet), but I was blessed with a great sweep partner (Jess!) and surprisingly good energy despite my abbreviated snooze time the previous evening.
Today's ride was fun as we had a scavenger hunt throughout the ride. Photos were proof of seeing/getting an item. Awesome things we got:
-one non-domesticated mammal: gorilla at the local zoo
-cyclist on a motorcycle: Jess jumping on a random motorcycle within someone's yard in a period of 30 seconds
-unicorn: storming every antique store between Pepin and St. Paul, eventually settling on a picture from a book in the local library
Well, I better stop being a-social and join the host family upstairs.
No comments:
Post a Comment