Boston, Massachusetts

What a perfect way to start off the trip. After a great night of baseball we wandered to a random pizza restaurant to split a pie and watch the Celtics game. It was a packed crowd and I would have loved for Boston to have won so we could have had wild celebrations all night long with the locals. My highlight of the day was waiting in the office to talk with the principal at North Haven Middle School. A secretary came right up to me and said, "hey you,re that kid from the news, I'm sorry I forgot your name." After introducing myself she proceded to tell everyone else working in the office about my trip by repeating last night's news story almost word for word. I felt like a rockstar. Bike and build here I come!

Today was a long and hot day. Tara and I went to drop my bike off at 8am at the church we were supposed to check in at. Check in was at one so we took the morning to explore Boston. The plan was to grab some food at a sit down breakfast place that wasn't dunkin donuts or any of that garbage, watch the World Cup game, and enjoy each others company before we parted ways until late August. This plan hit an immediate speed bump when the only parking we could find was in a garage charging a 25 flat rate. That was the early bird special too, if we showed up twenty minutes later it would have been $34. After expressing my anger to a worker over the price and lack of an hourly charge option, we were off to search out food with a whole in my wallet and a bad attitude. I probably drove Tara nuts as we walked on a fruitless journey of circles and despair. The day only got good for real when we gave up the search for grub and walked to the harbor to gaze off at the choppy blue horizon. We did the harborwalk and explored the city through increasing heat and mega miles on foot. Finally hunger caught up with me at noon and we went to a little coffee shop to satisfy the craving. With food in my belly I was a normal functioning and rational human again. Tara dropped me off at the Church rendevous point and after saying our goodbyes I wandered into the church and the uncertain world of bike and build.

It was like being a college freahman all over again. 32 new faces crowded into a room and the feeling of awkwardness brewing strong. Ice breakers and activities slowly revealed everyones quarks and personalities. We ate loads of pasta and meatballs the church group cooked and tuned up our bikes together. It's a quick bonding process because insanity is a very strong adhesive. We're all here to do something nuts; to do something our friends and family have all supported us on but also judged us as being basketcases for. So with team bonding in the form of policy skits, camp games, and dinner conversation, group orientation day 1 is behind us.

7am rolled around this morning and we were woken up with a blasting of the theme song from Cheers. Thanks to a year of student teaching I'm on the early rise cycle so I was already awake. This was nice because it allowed me to start singing along. We listened to Shippin up to Boston and Love that Dirty Water during breakfast. The first real activity of the day was a guest speaker explaining basic bike maintenance and repairs as well as cycling safety. It was here I found out that everyone knows a lot more about bikes than I do. I didn't even know how to change a flat but this tuning crash course gave me the confidence to repair my bike in any minor way necessary. We learned some cool safety moves and manuvers today as our leaders put on a small clinic. I may not have all the cool upgrades and customization jobs that other kids have, but I handle my bike pretty well just the same. In the afternoon we donned all our spandex and set up to go on a shakedown ride. This was just a short ten mile ride to get used to small pack riding, communicating with others, and getting a feel for the road. It was a little tease but we did a nice stretch along a beautiful beach in Winthrop and went into the Boston bay area. I've gone by there via boat before but nothing quite matches the majestic view from a bike...simply stunning. The night time was filled with an overview of how the organization uses money raised to make an impact. The had an abrupt transition into a presentation of what happens to your butt after riding 70 miles a day in sweaty spandex and chafing with every pedal stroke. They showed us pictures, but take my word for it that the results are beyond unpleasant. Hopefully I will stay free of saddle sores all summer long. An early happy father's day to all the dads out there. The journey begins for real in 9 hrs 57 min