We're Halfway There

Yankton, South Dakota


Miles: 1952/3947
Days: 39/70
Build Days: 6
Rest Days: 1


 We've reached our halfway point with less than 35 days until we reach Seattle. It seems like yesterday I met Ted Danson in Kent, CT! Weren't we just in Ithaca? This summer has flown especially fast as we're removed from any typical summer routine, and society in general through the Bike and Build bubble. While the milage remains a bit daunting with the daily distances growing longer I would say that P2S can only grow more amazing. 

P2S Prom 2011

 Amazing. Unfortunately I revert to this word all too often. While in the saddle I feel so expressive and eloquent, yet I find myself searching for words when faced with a keyboard.

Spa night. So needed.

Today we  crossed the Missouri into South Dakota in route from Sioux City Iowa. Its unbelievable how far we've come in such a short amount of time. South Dakota. I'm in South Dakota! Today was perfect, and I was transfixed by beauty of meadows, distant hills, and the sky with its many shades of blue. The moon was still visible in the bright morning sky and mist rose from the fields. My riding buddy and I stopped numerous times for photo ops and it seems the whole team was just, well, happy.


 Iowa was quite the experience, though I'm glad to be riding into new lands. Whoever said Iowa was flat was entirely wrong. Talk about some climbs! Many of us broke personal records, riding distances of 100 and 108 miles in the same week. From wind ravaged houses to overwhelming 100+ degree heat we've seen and done it all. For the past week we've been waking up at between 4:30 and 5:30 to beat the heat. I think this brings new meaning to being a "morning person."Many riders, including myself, were a bit overcome by the heat. We had a few bonking* and Herman was a full and stinky van. We're all ok now though it took gallons of gatorade and lots of naps. Overall I loved the riding, give me hills over headwind any day. 

Wind destruction in Iowa.

Herman braves the Iowa roads. Will he make it?

 Our last build was very productive as we worked on two separate houses. I spent the morning scraping paint and priming. This included successfully climbing a ladder. :-)


 Cheers,
Muffin


*Bonking: Experienced by cyclists and endurance athletes across the globe, a phenomenon in which you're pretty much just donezo. Sometimes you just can't stop crying, sometimes you're too hott, sometimes you're seeing Rambod riding a unicorn. Time to get off your bike.