Day off: Madison, WI

Today was our FIRST day off - wahoo! For the first time all trip we had NO obligations for an entire day : i.e. we could sleep in as long as desired; (this did not end up being that late since we are used to getting up at 4am); eat whenever and wherever ( I had Greek for lunch and Pad Thai for the second night in a row for dinner = yummy); check out the city at our leisure and we did NOT have to BIKE (don't get me wrong, I have developed a love of biking, but after your butt has been sitting on a small leather bike seat for 2000 miles it welcomes one day of true rest).


I had a slow start out of the church in the morning, so slow that I ended up getting into town by myself b/c everyone else had a little more morning energy that I did. but I enjoyed the alone time (which is hard to come by) regardless. I walked and then took a taxi (I am a very slow walker and time was precious) to meet up a with a bunch of people at a feminist book store- it was really cool. After perusing around the inventory, and purchasing many buttons (i.e. pins) we walked along the streets and into other stores other stores enjoying our time to do nothing(and I purchased more buttons - all I need now is a purse to pin them on to).


I spent most of the afternoon with Graham walking around and loooking into every hippie store in downtown Madison is search of the perfect tie-die t-shirt. We ended up spending abotu 2 hours in this once store, and after having tried on pretty much every style in the place we were ready to purchase our new (vibrant) attire. See picture below (we actaully got all decked out and sported headbands and glasses to match! Graham had to purchase his tie-died bandana but I, of course, happened to be wearing one of matching colours to the shirt I purchased. Figures....)


Picutre = Graham and I all decked out. Even thought Madison is big hippie town, we definitely got some interesting stares. This one older man stopped us for abotu 20 minutes to tell us all about the Grateful Dead concerts he used to go to dressed just like us and told us to live up life large while we could. Word.



The store clerks were actaully super nice and fun and one of the guys working there offered to burn us a CD of the music they had playing the background b/c we had enjoyed listening to it so much! Now we own a copy of the playlist and I can't wait to listen to it on repeat.


The day was long and packed ( I also managed to pick up another newsboy cap for my collection..."Now hats a wonderful thing you see..." (Hi any fellow Waldener's out there...), but overall it was a great day off. Tomorrow will be our first century (over 100 mile ride), so I need to get to bed early so that I can finish it inone piece - wish me luck.


Keep it real and keep on smilin'...

Grayslake, IL to Janesville, WI to Madison, WI.

Weather continues to be beautiful. Terrain somewhat hilly, somewhat windy, but nothing too extreme.

We crossed another state line - booya - the dairland of the USA, here we come!
Picture = Max, Carla, Kristian, Sam and me.


Short (but hilly) bike ride into Madison:
Hay, hay, and more hay. Getting up was a challenge - Dan had to hoist me up. Balancing was also more difficult than it looks, I felt very wobbly.


We will be having out FIRST (of two) day-offs tomorow (a REAL day off, no building, no biking, but RESTING), so a bunch of us went out to celebrate Sam's 22nd birthday, which conveniently was today, in Madison.

Pic = birthday boy w/ the lovely Laura @ bar 1 (of 3).


Pic = Kristian, Rebecca, Matt, Matt, Laura, Joy, Thuy-Tien and me @ bar 2. Everyone was wearing their 'Pedaddling to End Poverty Housing" building t-shirts in hopes of getting free drinks (I, however, was not since mine was covered in dirt and food...), which, by the way, did not happen (no surprise there - there were about 10 of us).

Overall, the night was a blast! It was great to just kickback, relax and hangout with the knowlege that for the first time all trip we could actually be greeted by a genuine 'sleep-in' in the morning.

Day 26: Merriville, IN to Grayslake, IL

Mileage = 87 miles. Weather = beeeauuutttiiifffful. Terrain = fabulous (i.e Lakeshore drive is a dream, and traffic lights and cars = exciting).

We finally got out of Indiana - wahoo - to pedall what was a GOREOUS route along Lake Michigan into Illinois. We took a 3 hour stop-over in 'The Windy City' (i.e. Chigago), which happened to be much less windy then our past days in Ohio and Indiana, to see the city. Chicago was definitely a highlight of the trip so far: the city was bustling, the sun was shining, the lake was gorgeous, the food delicious - the only problem was that we had a mere 3 hours to do and see everything, which pretty much translated into eating a really yummy lunch and taking pictures of some key sites (planetarium, the art insitute, millenium park etc.). I decided that I really like the city and it is one I could definitely live in later in life...Slash, city riding was an EXTREMELY welcomed break from the monotomy of cornfields that plagued us for the past week. Being able to biking at 17 mph, as opposed to 10 mph (due to strong headwinds), was not only fun, but also restored needed confidence in one's (read: my own) ability that we (read: I) actually can bike. Yay Chicago!

The border. Urban w/ character. Word. (Pic = Adi and me)

Kelsey, Adi and me w/ the city skyline -oh, so pretty...

A whole bunch of us at the Bean in Millenium Park. Refelection in the statue = nifty.

Day 24: Fort Wayne, Indiana - Build Day

Today was our 5th build day, and a VERY welcomed break (considering our last few days invovled around 90 miles of biking in 96 F degree weather with 12 mile (plus) head winds). Today was also our coolest build day by far: we got to the build site only to find a giant concrete slab, which was soon to become a giant concrete slab with all the walls of a house attached - yes, we did 'framing' and were able to construct all of the frames for the walls, which was pretty neat. The crew leader (Habitat hires professionals (they are still volunteers, but they are professional contractactors) - yes, take comfort in knowing that people with slightly more building experience than I are in charge of directing the building job in order to ensure that the house doesn't collapse) said that the goal of the day was to just lay out the floor plan of where the walls were supposed to go; so, it was pretty exciting that we were able to help them accelerate the building progress, putting them over a day ahead of schedule - today it actually felt that we made an impact b/c we really helped to build (the beginnings of) a house. Side note: I have become very adept at the skill of hammering - I really was able to master the 'swing' of things : ) ....

Before picture:

During picture (it is a video clip - sweetness...):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us-b9YIhXSI

After picture:

Day 18: Lockport, NY - Niagara Falls, NY

I was on 'journal' today for my B & B group, which means that I had to write the online journal entry that is posted on our wesbsite (accessed through either the 'route tracker' or 'joural's button on the left-hand menu of bikeandbuild.org). The entry pretty much described what my day entailed, so I figured I would copy and pasted it below - side note: I wrote it in rhyme, because well, I get long-winded and sappy and include too much detail when given the freedom to write about the daily happenings of my life ( a fact that most of you, I am sure, are familiar with).

N.B. 1. see pictures below!
2. More blog entries to come ( I will get up-to-date soon, I promise). Sorry that they are coming out of order, I will eventually include (almost) all days - so, be sure to check up and don't be suprised if 'Day 22' shows up and the next entry is 'Day 11'.

Independence Day : Hip-hip-hooray!

Lockport, NY - Niagara Falls, NY.
Distance: 22 miles.

Us after our "Maid of the Mist" ride. Oooh so wet, but oooh so fun.


Oh what a day it was, this 4th of July;
A time to celebrate for sure, one could not deny.
The day started off well, we got to sleep in ‘till 8;
What a treat this was, we never rise this late!
After we woke up, a delicious breakfast we were fed;
Complete with fresh fruit, cereal and banana bread.
We then cleaned the church, and got ready bike;
Only 20 miles to go, this short ride we would like.
Up-up above, however, we saw clouds in the skies;
They decided to bring us an ‘independence day’ surprise.
Yes, our gorgeous weather streak was bound to end;
It rained indeed – hopefully, this will not become a trend.
Nevertheless, painless and short was the ride we found;
We all biked in a pack, and arrived safe and sound.
Our destination was the Calvary Baptist Church;
It was easy to find, we did not need to search.
Upon arrival and unable to find showers, we just dried off;
A note to the mothers: we are all still healthy, except for Chris w/ his cough.
Hungry we were, well, in fact, we always seem to be;
So off to ‘Tim Hortons’ we went, for doughnuts and cof-fee.
With time to spare after, we watched TV with the lights on low;
Enthralled by “The Real Desperate Housewives”, oh what a show.
Followed next was a viewing of “Anchorman”, a teenage pleasure;
Having down time to relax is a highly valued treasure.
Maximizing our time, it is something we really like to do;
We trekked to Niagara Falls Canada, it was well worth the view.
Many of us played the role of ‘tourist’ for most of the day;
Went on the ‘Maid of the Mist’, ‘a shower, finally’ some did say.
The boat ride was fun, quite wet we all got;
Close to the falls we floated, the pictures were hot.
After our water adventure, about town we did walk;
Eating fudge, taking pictures, and engaging in small-talk.
Vegas-esque, tacky attractions and candy stores were abound;
A cheap spot for dinner, it was not to be found.
By this point, split up was NUS Bike and Build;
Gallivanting around, looking how to get our stomachs filled.
Some of them were at the casino, they were playing dice;
I was with ten others out for dinner, eating fried rice.
Now satiated and smiling, we were ready again;
On our way about town, our group of ten.
Early it was, so more pictures of the falls we did take;
Up close we were, such loud crashing noises they did make.
Once the clock struck 8, back home we were to go;
Bed-time was nearing, so sadly we saw no fire-works show.
But, to get back to the US, the border we had to cross;
Walking through was bizarre, we incurred a 50 cent loss.
Yes, that was the pedestrian charge, we all did pay;
Kristian was annoyed, “I can’t believe it” he did say.
Ironic, however, was this day of independence;
Since we spent it north of the US-Canadian fence.
And, not only did we frolic about - Canadian style;
But I, the token Canuck, was told to write this journal file.
Overall, fellow readers, this rainy day was quite a delight;
Early to bed we then all went, to prepare for tomorrow’s long flight.


I now bid you farewell and hope you enjoyed this ditty;
Apologies if some of the rhymes were not so pretty.
Postcards you will receive, from all over the (US) globe;
I am now signing off – regards, Jacqueline Loeb.
***********************************************************************
PICTURES!
Me pretending to 'drink in' the falls - awkward, I know...



Having fun with HATS - no one bought one though.


Picture of the falls - the Cnd ones are on the right and are waaayyyy sweeter. Interesting fact: way back when (I don't actually know when), a 7 year old boy fell over the (Cnd) falls only wearing a life-jacket and survived - booya - damn crazy, totally true.

I don't if you can read the sign, but it reads 'International Boundary Line' - I am on one side while all the others (read: Americans) are on the other...


Kristian and me at the entrance to the walkway to the border...Walking through customs = another first experienced on this trip ( in addition to my first sampling of meatloaf, jello pudding, biking 95 miles (well, biking over 12 miles), knee pain, etc...)