Would you watch a Liam Neeson movie marathon?

Made west, and made it back east. Undid 70 days of cycling in a matter of 4 hours by air. I learned on my flight that the skinny long haired Christian Bale is strikingly similar looking to Tom Cruise.

Riding down to the Pacific was amazing. We were greeted to a mob of strangers and family cheering and shouting for us as we rolled down to the beach. It is was all a complete blur to me from the run down to the beach to the rocky water we celebrated in. I get chills anytime I think of it. I find it hard to describe the feeling in words so I leave you with a couple of pictures that might scrape the surface.

We biked 3600 miles for affordable housing. We built for 13 days all across the country with Habitat for Humanity. And the word of charity was spread to the thousands of people we met on our trek. It was effective.

Amid our constant wheeling, each of us learned the past, presents, and futures of the 32 others on our team. They're stories and people I'll never forget.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. Thanks to my friends and family for the donations and support. Thanks to all those who donated food and other products to us along the way. Thank you so much to all of our hosts for the hospitality, pot locks, and ground to sleep on. This trip would not be possible without out all ya'll.

"There are no ordinary moments."

Cheers,

Pat

"Guy on a Rock"

Hey, Hi

It's been a second, but I've found some internets. I want to thank Prescott Arizona's public library for the hostitallity and the ability to connect to the world. I apologize for leaving you all back in Colorado. Yup.

Since Monarch Pass. We've had some firsts and lasts. We apologize for jumping to conclusions Dominos, it was Rocky Mountain Fever, not food poisoning. Our bad. We were fortunate enough to experience first hand the sick taking care of the sick as our team in waves battled a 24 hour flu from Durango, CO to Bluff, UT to Kayenta, AZ. But now, appitites are back and Tums are packed.

We're through the Rockies, onto the the deserts. We've never been hit with rain on this whole trip so the desert was kind enough to grace us with a cool down.

I never thought I'd say rocks are beautiful, but first thoughts often change. Monument valley was incredible. The Grand Canyon, theres not much to say. There really isn't. At my first sight of it my stomach dropped, breath ceased, a realization that words are extremely ineffective, and it became crystal clear that there is not need to talk. The ride through the park along the rim was incredible. Helping others get through the last 26 miles of hilly national park roads by picturing myself as them with an overgrown beard and a big sock to pass energy on made it an extremely enjoyable ride.

Commonplaces of the Canyon and surrounding camp area:

-the word "rim"

-RV America (the best way to travel the US)

-a supermarket general store- the only way to rough it is to buy overpriced dried fruit from a flourescently lit super store

-"I'm not from this country"

-french tents, and eastern mini-vans

-"If your going to buy more than one of those beers from our coolers, I will scan the same one to save at least 2 seconds."

Thats that

One week until we drip Pacific blue and dip our toes into west coast sand. One more mountain range.

Cheers,

Pat

New Hampshire's State Motto is "Live Free or Die"

Today was easily one of the best rides of the trip. Skimming sides of mountains as we snaked around swift creeks and placid lakes. Yesterday we conquered the Monarch Pass at 11,000+ feet and saw snow for the first time in the summer time. Today was a 92 mile ride through a couple passes and views of peaks upon peaks. Colorado is incredible and I guarantee a return soon. A couple days we did plenty of work in the beautiful town of Bueno Vista and we're anticipating our next build day in Prescott, AZ.

A couple more days in among the peaks till we start cranking through the desert in the early hours of the morning to dodge the heat.

Cheers,

Pat

Pic: Oliver pondering 12,000 feet low

Cloud Country

Kansas was windy.

The tail wind lasted for maybe 20 miles of Kansas. The entire rest of the 250 miles was full of muffled speech and tilted bikers as we leaned into the wind to stay upright. Wasn't a completely enjoyable time but made everyone a much stronger rider. Colorado couldn't come soon enough.

Tonight we're staying in the fresh air Colorodo town of Rocky Ford. Tomorrow we will be camping out on a ranch in Pueblo and catching views of starlit skies uninterrupted by artificial lights. Colorado springs will end our 9 consecutive days on the bike. I think we're all looking forward to some time off the saddle and some time pumping nails through 2x4's.

"There are no ordinary moments."

Pat

Quentin Williams has family in Oklahoma. They make delicious cookies. I had them once.

Welcome to the dust bowl. I'm writing today from the small town of Grove, Oklahoma. The day started in Arkansas en route to Missouri, and ended in Oklahoma. Since we left Memphis several days ago, we spent 4 great days traveling through Little Rock and portions of the Ozarks. Yesterday should be the last climb until Colorado. It's amazing to see how much everyone has improved physically and mentally as everyone attacked the 1100 foot climb and peaked the top with no more than a drip of sweat off our helmets. We had a build day in Little Rock this past week. Rather than building we were doing some deconstruction. There was a very old post office full of nic nacs and treasures. We were basically combing through to find any items of value that could be resold at the local Habitat ReStore. We were invited to a community day for lunch there. There is an initiative to revive communities through block parties and renovations of houses. It was a great time as myself, Chris, and Grace stumbled upon a moon bounce.

Tomorrow we will be heading into Bartilsville, Oklahoma. I believe we will be having 2 build days there. Excitement has risen as we get ready for our Sadie Hawkins dance tomorrow night. Girls ask the guys, it's always a surprise. Ashley asked me in the greatest way possible. I awoke from a nap to find a tire by my head with stickers spelling out her ask and directions to check in the fridge. In the fridge I found a half gallon of chocolate milk. The chocolate milk was reminiscent of the chocolate milk date we were supposed to have for the past week, but that I kept forgetting to do. The theme of the dance is Pirates. Thrift stores are loving our business right now.

We completed our first 100 mile ride the other day as well. It was one our easiest rides surprisingly. I'm excited to see how the next one pans out.



Take care ya'll










This was our crew for the 103 mile day.

"I'm a straight shooter." -Dave of Memphis

We rolled into Memphis, Tennessee yesterday. We started the state of Tennessee in Gatlinberg about a week ago and find ourselves entering Arkansas tomorrow for a total of 2 states under our belt. A couple of us left Swanee the other day and took an accidental turn off the route and ended up at the bottom of a mountain 2 miles from crossing the Alabama state border. Thanks to the very generous Melinda, we hitched a ride back up the mountain in exchange for helping her unload her truck bed full of 2x4's. I been lacking on posts and pictures. The internet in Tennessee is on strike. To remedy this I'll just post as many pictures in this post as I can. -Roofing in Maryville. Colin's jean cutoffs

-After roofing in Maryville

-Somewhere in Tennessee

-Tennessee plagued me with a week full of flats and chain trouble

-Dunlap, TN. Stayed at the TN National Guard Armory

-Go to the Lemon Fair in Swanee, TN

-Poluski was a town of amazing hosts. Their Bike community washed each and every one of our bikes. Thanks yall

-Early morning ride out of Dunlap. Foggy and had an empty construction road to ride on

- Typical Ride

-Juan Valdez of the Coffee Club at Joe's Restaurant in Bolivar, TN.

Sorry for the terrible formatting. I had some trouble trying to figure it out but this is the best I could get.

Take Care Yall,

Pat

It IS illegal to chalk side walks in national parks. You ARE responsible for cleaning it off even if it means draining all your water

Ello,

Maryville, Tennessee today. A couple days ago we passed the state line at some 4000 feet and rolled down into Gatlinberg, TN. An interesting town that was. Take Niagra Falls but drier and enhance the tourist notoriety by 10 and add Dolly Parton's amusement park, and that is what you get.

Yesterday we took a short 45 mile ride to Maryville, TN. My bike was acting up again so I had to play with a stuck chain and a couple flats. It made the day a bit longer but had the company of Nick and Cathy the whole day to keep humidity and heat from getting to me. Maryville is a small town with a big heart. We worked on two houses there today with Habitat for Humanity. 2 walls were raised, almost an entire roof shingled, a shed built, windows installed, siding installed, and a deck framed. Productivity under a hot, hot sun. Turns out it was a great night to be at the church that hosted us. Every Tuesday, they host a dinner open to any and everyone. They call it the "Welcome Table." Everyone from the homeless to middle class families show up and share a meal at the same dinner table. It was an incredible experience meeting a number of locals and helping serve the meal. What the churches of the area hope to do is eventually be able to host a dinner somewhere 7 days a week. Right now there are 2 churches doing 2 dinners per week.

We'll continue to cut through the Tennessee mug as we head to Sweet Water tomorrow. With fresh air pumping through my lungs and a smooth chain cranking my bike, Graceland is only a week away.

The clip below is how we start every morning. I couldn't be more excited that we all believe in lessons learned from a comical masterpiece.



peazy