Where the HILL are we?

Sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog, but it has been tough to get computer time and cell phone service around here. We arrived in Portsmouth, NH just last Sunday and started out with our orientation. We did our first shake down ride Monday and did a build on Tuesday with Habitat for Humanity. Unfortunately, I was a bit ill and had to spend the afternoon in the van. We headed out from Portsmouth on Wednesday on some rides through New London, NH, Concord, NH, and Lebanon, NH. One thing I've learned is that the East coast has hills that we've never even seen in Indiana. It has been pretty brutal, but I'm hangin in there. We did a build in Lebanon, NH and landscaped an entire yard for a duplex house. It was a lot of fun, and we were able to see the change from start to finish. New Hampshire provided us with some great times, but we headed out form Lebanon and crossed the state line into Rochester, VT. Along the way, we climbed Bethel Mountain, our first major climb of the trip totaling 6 miles and 2,109 ft. The downhill was so rewarding though even though I thought I was going to pass out on the way up. We stayed at the house of Ginny Bowman, who lives in a former youth hostel. It was so amazing to be able to hear all of her stories and of her adventure biking across the country. She cooked us some incredible food, and we headed off today to cross yet another state line into Silver Bay, NY. We are staying at a YMCA camp and it was such a huge surprise. We all have our own beds, bedding, and fresh towels. We spent the day at the lake and doing some archery and grabbed some Prime Rib from the dining hall. We're all a little spoiled. We then learned that Beth and Jess, two of our riders had a major collision today on a hill. Luckily, they are both okay, but it was scary to hear about it. Hopefully it'll be the last of our crashes. Tomorrow we head into the deep woods of upstate NY, and I will still be without cell service (3 days running). For those who are dying to know, my bike is now named "Sacajawea," which is pretty funny. Although she carries a whining baby on her back (me sometimes), she will eventually get Lewis and Clark (my leg muscles) to the West Coast. Hope you all enjoy. I'll try to send more updates soon, but the line for the computer is long. Hope you all are well!!!