steph's big ride

2011-09-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

It is September 28th 2011. It has been quite a while since my last post. While sitting at the library wasting time (not doing homework) that is, I logged into my blog once again to catch up on some old memories of good times. It is nice to see my photos and read what I had written and remember how I felt at that time. I would like to keep this blog going for myself. Since I am almost certain there is no longer anyone reading this blog I feel I am free to see this as a personal journal, Although for the one or two people bored enough to log in and read my blog I will try to keep the boring stuff at bay. So here is a catch up of everything that has happened since my postings from Haiti last summer. I have moved to Michigan from North Carolina In Jan of 2011. A couple of weeks later I got a job working at a store that sells all things baby! I am also going to school for massage therapy. I will be graduating in December and hope to get back into the cycling world as a massage therapist, possibly going on trips like the ones I have in the past. On July 16th 2011 (exactly a year to the day after getting engaged) I got married to my best friend. Married life is more wonderful than I had ever imagined and I am enjoying every day. Although I dont get to see my husband as much as I would like due to us both having very busy and conflicting schedules it is nice to come home to him at the end of the day. I am also missing my family very much. I get to see my parents in November as they will be stopping by on their way out west for Thanksgiving, and again in December when my husband and I will take a trip down south for the holidays. I am looking forward to that very much!!
Well, time to get my nose back in the books.....

Tuesday, July 20th. Day 4 - Haiti

2010-08-21T06:14:00.001-07:00

Getting anywhere in Haiti seems to be a time consuming process. the streets are busy and problems arise where they are least expected. We woke up early to make the journey to Isle De La Gonave. Got our bags packed, ate breakfast, then waited... and waited. Finally it was time to go. We go out to the truck to load up and not only do we have to fit 15 people in the back of the truck (with luggage) but it is already loaded with lumber! It was a tight squeeze but by Haitian standards... it was quite spacious! we drove to the end of the street, turned around, and when passing the house they informed us that a car would be going to the boat a little later and if anyone would like to wait to ride with them. James and I volunteered (of course) along with three others. (duhh... AC!!) After loading into the car (8 ppl plug luggage) we drove to the dock where the "Breezy Sea" was there to take us to the Island. From the mainland to the Island is only 12 miles, however it takes at least a few hours depending on the weather. After arriving on the island we drove to the Weslyan compound. The little kids were running after us screaming whatever they new in English. It was so sweet to hear them greet us the way the did, and it was so enthusiastic! the island has a different pace then Port Au Prince. Everything moves a bit slower and it is much more relaxed! please click the link for video and pics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NckZ_Qq5RIQ

Monday, July 19th. Day 3 - HAITI

2010-07-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

Today our group of 15 split into 3 smaller groups. Some went on a long drive to try to retrieve a truckfull of building supplies that had been held up in customs for a long time.. some stayed at Carl and Mayas house to help them paint, and the rest of us went to a house built for one of the drivers for the missionaries, to paint. Joe, Tamara, Hannah, Brandon, Alicia, James and I all went, and aside from the heat had a great time! We then had to ride the "Tap-tap" back to the compound. The tap-tap is the local form of public transportation consisting of a small pick-up with a cover over the bed, benches, and as many people that are willing to squish in together. There were 19 in the one that we rode, but it was not uncommon to see people hanging off the sides and sitting on the roof. At one time we saw live goats hung by their legs off the side of one! After eating dinner, having devotional, chit-chatting and goofing around we went to bed . please click the following link for pics and video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWtA4nqFKp8

Sunday, July 18. day 2 - HAITI

2010-07-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

After eating breakfast and getting dressed we all loaded into the truck for the drive up the coast to the church. Once leaving the city it was a beautiful drive with the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. We attended a very special service in which a new pastor was being introduced into the church. A very good meal of hatian food was served after the service. we then went back to the compound, had a time of praise and devotion, dinner then bed.
Please click the following link for pics and video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiHkY85xuH8

Saturday, July 17th. Day 1- HAITI

2010-07-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

James and I left the house at about 2am to meet Lindsay in goldsboro so we all could ride to the airport together. We flew out of Charlotte Douglas so it was about a four hour drive. We had one layover in Fort Lauderdale FL. then straight to Port Au Prince, Haiti. The airport in Haiti was a bit hectic. Everything was rushed, the baggage claim was interesting to say the least, with people pushing and shoving and men trying to grab your bags to carry them for you so they could get a dollar for that service. After customs and baggage claim we went outside where we were taken to the vehicle (a caged in cattle truck) that would take us to the compound where we would be staying. Stepping into that world I have to admit I was scared. There were people everywhere yelling and screaming, and shoving. The roads were terrible with no order to them and hornes all around you. We hadent gone far when two or three little boys grabbed onto the back of the truck and begged for dollars. It was very sobering and sad to see. We were taken to the compound where Carl and Maya were hosting us, got our beds ready, showered, ate dinner, talked and went to sleep. The compound was an Oasis in the dessert (so to say) it had running water, toilets, showers, beds, and a generator giving us power . Please click the following link for pics and short video clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLc1qPT63ro

2010-07-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

I am having trouble uploading videos directly to blogspot, therefore I have uploaded them to youtube and included the link in this blog. The videos are viewable only by those who get it directly from this blog. please take a look!! simply click the link and it will take you directly to the vid!!

2009-07-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

SARATOGA SPRINGS NY!!!!

just a few of the chosen vehicles

the sign sais it all

this little guy wasnt even an inch long!!

A triple!!!

cornell university

takin a little swim to cool off

seneca lake, one of the finger lakes, in front of it, one of the many vinyards in that area

you see behing my tent?? showers!! they look small but they are amazing!!

SOME MORE PICS FROM THE GREAT BIG FANY RIDE!!

2009-07-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

mark twains grave

the big apple

james and i at henry fords mansion

niagra falls

day 1 of the Great Big Fany Ride (while it was still flat!!)

whew... anyone looking for a relaxing vacation ride, new york is not the place to go. As much fun as the Great Big Fany ride was, I think ill just take the next two weeks to recover. in all seriousness though i had a great time, and an exciting adventure.

I saw lots of hills, mountains, goats, vinyards, and waterfalls. what a pretty ride!!!!!! I also got to see niagara falls, watkens glenn, mark twains grave, canada, Henry Fords mansion, and of course, New York (although not the new york everyone thinks about) and of course meet another group of amazing, quirky, and very interesting people with great stories and adventures to tell.

watkins glen, new york

2009-07-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

we are now in watkins glen new york. nestled right up next to one of the "finger lakes". very challenging ride today and yesterday. there are lots of long steep hills. yesterday we went up lunda hill. the most challenging hill ive ever had. and today was a few at about the same grade but much shorter. this ride is only a week so we will be finished up by saturday and ill post some more pics then.

GREAT BIG FANY RIDE 2009

2009-02-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

it is now feburary 2009. its been 6 months since the big ride across america 08!!! what an experience!!! Although i want to do it again there are so many other rides and places to see that i cant do this one again..... at lease for a while. :) so my next big adventure..... well not big compared to last summer, but just as fun im sure. The great big Fany Ride.

FIVE HUNDRED MILE RIDE
ACROSS
NEW
YORK

James Crosby. a rider i met while cycling america will be going with me, and i will be using this blog the same way i did in the previous ride. although im not sure about the oportunities i will have to update, I will do my best, as I did before.

why am i doing this???
well its certainly not the saddle sore, cold nights in a tent, waking up early, pb&j, oatmeal, countless hills, or spandex pants i crave. its the air, the sights, the people you meet, the things you see that are so often missed while going 60 with the windows up. I love the conversation, and accomplishment as well.
originaly my next adventure was going to be the PALM, (pedal across lower michigan) but after missing the registration deadline, i thought to myself , "i have to ride somewhere Ive never been before" . Well...Ive never been to new york. tell me a better way to discover new places.

FANY SUPPORTS....

The Double H Ranch

please if you have time, visit doublehranch.org to learn more about what they do to help improve the lives of cronically ill children by providing them a camp where they can get away and be a kid.

FANY FACTS

July 19-25
500 miles
starts in Niagra falls....500 miles later ends in Saratoga Springs
tents by night..bikes by day
a whole lot of butt butter

2008-08-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

hey everyone. so it has been a while since i last updated....my apologies to those of you who were using my blog to keep up with my progress. well....the ride is now over and although i am glad to be home and to see all my friends and family again i am very sad about leaving the big ride family as well. i feel kindov strange not waking up and getting right on the bike...in fact my first day home i did get back on the bike. people thought i was crazy but it just seemed like the natural thing to do!! all in all the ride was by far an adventure of a lifetime. some of the places i had seen and been i probly will never get a chance to go back, and the relationships that formed will alwase be special. i want to add some pictures from the last part of the ride that i was not able to access a computer, but that will have to wait for tomorrow since i forgot to grab my camera cord. i want to say to everyone that helped my with this journey and sponsored my and prayed for me....thank you, and to the big ride family.... i miss you!!

2008-07-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

speechless......

barb and jim.....again.....speechless

new ulm

one of the propellors for the windmills

i should deff be in bed right now and i really dont have any excuse to be on the computer.....but....figured id add some more pics instead of just wandering around. today was a good rest day, went and had a good breakfast, cleaned my bike, talked to my mom and my sister and matt on the phone, and went to a barbque with patty and kevin and james and pattys family who came to visit us.

2008-07-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

perfect place to escape the sun

there was so much corn around all day we decided to just take a hike in a field

american white pelecan, there were several of them swimming on a lake we passed by this morning

WINDMILLS!!! made me feel like i was in bakersfield

laura ingalls. we went to two of her hometowns, desmet and walnut grove

the fog this morning

our last camp just before bed

yaaaa.....minnesota

the suns finally peeping through the clouds to give us some relief from the rain

very rainy morning i made poor james stop so i could run up the hill and get a pic.

Today was a good day followed by a good day. perfect weather all day, 86 miles, with a rest day to follow, great scenery and good dinner. yesterday we had our first experience on the big ride of riding in the rain. it was a little annoying at first then i decided that i was gonna get wet anywase so i might as well just go. we ended up having a lot of fun. riding in the rain isnt that bad as long as its not too cold and windy, this was just enough rain to ensure cool weather all day although it did brighten up enough to dry us out which was very good. now i am in the martin luther lutherin college in New Ulm minnesota. im having a great time and really enjoying the company of some great people although i miss matt and my family so much. well, think im gonna make some phone calls and go to bed!

2008-07-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

patty just commin into the "badlands"

"now....how do i get down?!"

the sunset on the missouri river was georgious.......

so i got lots of pics, thats james...by the way

this is the restaurant we ate at tonight. the food was great and the poor waitress was amazing

our waitresses at the restaurant...if u guys read this....you were amazing!!!

we are in miller south dakota tonight. today was hot and fairly boring with just a straight road all day, but its the kind that really lets you get into your thoughts....that is until james sais something stupid!! we are staying at miller high. this is the cutest little town in america and everyone is so nice and excited about what we are doing.....it really makes it all worth it!! im tired and not really much to say so .......night all

mt rushmore and bear country

2008-07-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

just comming into south dakota

we stayed at the senior center our last night in wyoming, i thought this was cute

mt rushmore

kevin

this is how i spent my rest day today in rapid city. we went to mt rushmore and bear country usa. now time for bed again!!!

2008-07-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

my tent after the rainstorm at thompson falls......i think

we might have to take up a collection for james here soon!!

(he got stopped today for urinating on the side of the road outside of rapid city)

the only tree for miles!! ....literaly

a good view of harden as we were leaving in the morning

getting up to potty at 2

nighttime in billings

WATER!!!!

awesome amy praying for rain!!

nightime at one of the bulldog high schools

somewhere in montana

custer state park

south dakota

he lived!! although his bike didnt

As i said before there are a lot of pictures, these are all the way from montana, which we are in south dakota now!!! today was only a 80 mile day although the first part of the day wasnt that much fun with really long steep uphills and the end of the ride with 15 miles of hills and a very very very strong headwind. it was so strong at some points it almost knocked me off my bike and i was going about 3 miles per hour. the middle of the day although was great with a beautiful DOWNHILL ride through custer state park. i didnt get to see any buffalo :( but the downhill was awesome. about 4 miles till the end of the ride James got busted by a cop for urinating in public, (which was hillarious). he told him he couldve gone in the last town but it was 15 miles back and at 4 miles per hour.......you do the math, and that next time he would just have to pee on himself. hahahah!!!! then about a quarter of a mile from the "south dakota school of mining and technology" (which is where we are staying tonight) i was just riding along at my nice 3 mile an hour pace (due to headwind of cource) and my front tire got stuck in a drainage grate. the back of my bike came straight up vertical and i just fell over onto the ground. i couldnt get up to get out from under my bike for the longest time cause i was laughing so hard i could hardly breathe and i know the traffic was just thinking i was crazy, they were probly to scared of me to help anywase. well, tomorrows a rest day so i think patty and i might go get a pedicure if it works out but other than that just clean my bike and sleep sleep sleep. love you all and miss you!!!!

newcastle

2008-07-10T18:01:00.001-07:00

hey guys, no pics, the comps lately havent wanted to accept my camera so when i do get to download some there will be a lot im sure. today was not bad it was hot but not so many hills and only 75 miles. although the headwind made it seem longer it wasnt as bad as yesterday. yesterday was 112 miles and i felt every single one. it was hot and very little water and restrooms, but other than that it wasnt that bad. I took my time and james and i made a record!!!! we spent more time on our bikes than any other rider yet this year!!! yaa for us!! oh well, im competing against myself and since i finished, I won!! we are getting into south dakota tomorrow and then will have a rest day after that. thats a beautiful thing to look forward to. well we still gotta ride tomorrow so im gonna play some pool and hit the sack. Love yall, miss everyone and my family and matt!!!

harden

2008-07-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

I am a bit pushed on time so this will be short. I am in harden. we had a very relaxed 50 mile day today. but the week will be getting tougher and tougher. i never wouldve thought that riding 50 miles would feel like just going to the grocery store but thats what it was like!! the weather was nice and we had good rewarding hills. still cant download any pics. i miss you all back home. we are making the 1000 mile mark tomorrow!!!! ya!!!! so that is something to look forward to besides the 111 miles the next day!! love you mom and dad and cynth, and love you matt, miss you all, cant wait to see you when i get back!! to all other family members of my adopted family Patty and Kevin are doing good and James hasent changed so.......just kidding, hes good to.

rest day in billings....still in montana

2008-07-06T15:32:00.001-07:00

so i am in billings right now. cant find a way to download some pics but heres an overview......dessert....dessert.....a bike....dessert.....and james doing something stupid. but anywase ill have some pics up next time. im having a great time. its hot and long days but it is certainly an adventure. especially the other day when we were in townsend and a pretty bad storm came through and blew my tent down broke the poles and soaked everything inside. ya i saw other peoples tents go down and i though man , thank goodness mine is ok. then someone came inside the gym that we sought shelter in and said that my tent looked just fine. well...if a pancaked tent looks just fine then i guess they were right. so my tent is in a dump somewhere in townsend montana and i am currently homeless....well...sortov. i have a tent comming in a few days so im good. so the next day with about 2 hours of sleep and a slight cold comming on i decided to sag that day. yes.... i sagged but ya know it was either that day or the next so i rode the next day and felt much much better. so other than some sunburns and missing my family and matt so much i am doing fine. i wanna say hi to all my friends back home and my family and matt and the goldsboro weslyan church and my sponsors and to everyone who is keeping up with my blog. Love yall.

rest day!! yaaaa. missoula montana day 3

2008-07-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

university of montana "M"

Debbie, a family friend from my younger days that happens to work in Missoula!!

Dandilions on steroids!!

we thought we were tough

i ran into the runners in wallyworld, and got a pic

the cutest puppy!!, and he does tricks!!

did not do much today, just tryin to rest up for tomorrow!! we went into town though just for a little, took the bus though so not much walking and NO getting on the bike. just gotta do some laundry and get to bed early so i can get up early......again. well...not much has changed, i miss my family and matt but i am still having a great time.

montana, day 2

2008-06-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

Look!! 100 miles in 1 day!!!

playin with my camera at a rest break

me right after 100 miles!!

early morning in montana, tryin to beat the heat (yea right)

Ed was such a great subject

i think he was wondering why i was taking so many pics of him!!

james just being silly!!

look!!! proof we were in the desert

cute little bunnies at one of the gas station.

did my first century today (100 miles) . it was tough because of the heat and the hills and a lot of people seemed to have troubles. i didnt (thank goodness) but my day is coming im sure. am pretty tired so i think im just gonna sneak up to bed. hope everyone is doing well. love yall.

Yaaaa.... Montana

2008-06-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

look closely, haha, i thought it was funny

still in idao

IT EXISTS!!

ya, finally montana

montana

patty and james

idao

idaho

we went from washington to idao yesterday and then from idao to montana today. We are staying at a high school in thompson falls and we can sleep INSIDE!! no tent setting up!! It was a hard day today. in some places it reached 111 and we did 87 miles!!. other than being just a little sunburned compared to most, more tired than i ever have been and have these mystery welts on my legs that hurt so badly when i bump them i am doing well. we have a little over 100 miles tomorrow to do so i better hit the sack. we are gonna get up early early early to try to beat the sun. (right). I am doing well. love you all.

restin in spokane

2008-06-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

well its 10:00 and ive already been up for hours!!! (not like me at all) I got up, took a shower, got dressed, chilled out for a while then walked all the way to the moon for breakfast.(well it was like 8 blocks, but when your hungry it might as well be the moon). My plans for today is do nothing, eat, do nothing eat, and eat some more. Tomorrow we head out again and we actually have only 3 riding days before the next rest day. That could mean we just got lucky, or they are three really hard days. either way im counting it as a blessing. I wasnt able to write much last night ( i was tired out of my mind) but i figured id just fill in the blanks today. I have been doing very well. Like i said, i miss my family and matt so badly but im staying so busy that its hard to even talk to them so that part has been tough. other than that everything is going well. my muscles are a bit achy but oddly enough i feel good. my rear doesnt hurt to bad so i am counting my blessings!!!! the scenery has been so pretty these last 4 days, but its amazing how quickly the landscape changes in front of you!! and the people i have been riding with are such amazing people, (makes for good conversation).
Again i want to thank everyone for their support and the goldsboro weslyan church especially for your prayers. well i think i am going to go take a nap!! with food in my tummy its hard not to think about sleep.

days 1-4

2008-06-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Since the start of the ride I havent gotten a chance to update on my blog and keep you guys posted very well, but everything is so busy of course. but i will try to do better. so here is a recap of the last 4 days.....

the start of the ride in seattle. (im up front in the white jacket)

just a pretty lake and if you look closely in the background you can see some beautiful snowcapped mountains in the distance.

we stopped for a potty break (we got lucky there were porta johns) and took some pics while we were at it.

this is a local little restaurant near one of our campsights where the man that owned it made us a wonderful dinner and breakfast the next day!!

My best ridin buds, Patty, Kevin, and James.

snoqualmie falls. that was worth the huge mountain we had to climb to get to it.

ya see those mountains...pretty hugh??haha

a cute little farm somewhere in washington, (sorry my logistics are bad)

The Columbia river on the left. A road on the right....uphill

somehow we went from beautiful mountains to desert......

to rolling hills and farms

We are staying in the dorms at Gonzaga University tonight and tomorrow night... Yaaaa...no tent setting up!!!

Im on my front porch!!

Me and Cliff. we define the age brackets for big ride 08

We have ridden for four days. monday-90miles tuesday-73 wendsday-84 and today 78. (if i remember correctly). It has been so amazing this past week and although I am so glad we have a rest day tomorrow (with a real bed) I am also excited about getting out there again to see more beautiful america and have more interesting and sometimes just crazy conversation. other than the sunburnes, achy muscles (which is what asprin is for) and missing my family and matt so so badly I am doing good. I also want to thank all of my sponsors again for providing me with this wonderful opportunity for this once in a lifetime adventure. well off to the dorms.....i actually get to sleep in past 5:00 Yaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Some sight seeing before the ride

2008-06-21T21:02:00.001-07:00

Patty took me and Kevin out for some sight seeing and fun before the ride starts on monday. these are just some pics from the day.

here is a dancing girl at the "summer solstice" parade in fremont.

Kevin, me and James at the "troll" dont ask me its just a thing under a bridge and you cant see it but hes got a beetle car in his hand.

This is either the cascade or olympic mountains, but who cares right!! their pretty (as long as your not riding your bike over them!!)

there ya go!! i got my "grays anatomy" shot!!

Ya, we took it easy today!!

In SEATTLE!!!!

2008-06-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

My sister and Matt dropped me off at the airport and after a very emotional goodby im finally in greys anatomy town. well ive been told that they dont actually film it here but i still like to think it is just because thats what they say on tv and i absolutly LOVE that show. but anywase... its 8:30 here which would make it 11:30 back in NC. i flew out this morning at six and im pretty tired but im doin well after a nice nap id have to say. Patty Harm, a very sweet lady that is participating in the ride as well, picked me up from the airport and im staying at her house for the weekend. it is very beautiful here. ive been told it rains a lot but i havent seen any yet. just sunny skies and nice temps. as far as the flights go they were nice, smooth, no terrorists or anything. haha. i did meet a guy on the plane who is from seattle and very kindly explained that i was pronouncing all the seattle towns wrong and gave me a crash course just so i wouldnt look like an idiot, not that any of it stuck but i was grateful. Although the scenes from the airplane window were beautiful they had such a different meaning this time just because i knew i would be riding back in just a few weeks over those same snow covered mountains and flat planes and rolling hills. I would have to say that i think i noticed a lot more little details about the landscape this time then I have ever before.

finally heading out

2008-06-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

HEY everyone!! its been a few days since i last wrote but dont get me wrong its certainly not because nothing worth writing about has happened, its simply because so much has happened i havent had a chance to log on. for starters my wonderful sister threw me a suprise going away party. shes such a sweety.

So other than that i have just been packing and nursing the butterflys in my stomach with " oh itll be alright" to myself.

NC wildfires

2008-06-14T04:27:00.000-07:00

Last Updated: 9:13 PM 06/13/08 - The state says smoke from the wildfire is causing some of the highest levels of pollution ever recorded. This is the first time a Code Purple has been issued. -WITN news

So if you are not from the area or you havent heard there are massive fires occuring in North Carolina. Ive been living here now most of my life and I cant remember this kind of thing ever happening here. I alwase here about them in the mountains in California and Oregon and such but just a couple hundred miles from my house!! However the thing that amazes me the most is the smoke weve been seeing lately! Its the first time that ive seen the weather on the tv and they include smoke in the forecast!! Driving to work a few days ago I could only see about a quarter of a mile.

I was listening to the radio this morning and it told of the over 2 dozen people that have been hospitalized with respitory problems just because of the smoke. Aside from the fact that this is the tobacco capitol of the world these fires are just one more good reason for me to do this ride. Although the health problems from the smoke are horrible i actually felt really good that I am doing something personaly to help these people here in my own home-town!!

HOT HOT HOT!!!

2008-06-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

whew, it is hot here in the carolinas. 100 degrees and a heat index of 110!!! Im sure glad that its gonna be cooler out west!! so, im getting very excited about this ride. i shipped my bike today and im gonna go home and pack up most of my stuff tonight!!! i honestly never really thought id get to this point but its coming so fast i feel like i can barely keep up. i want to really thank bicycle world for all the help they have given me in the past few days and lisa cruse for her help shipping my bike.

A LITTLE ANXIETY??

2008-05-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

So its 25 days till I bored the plane and 28 days till I start riding!!! I am getting a lot of "so are you ready?" "ya scared?" "man, your really gonna do it! are you crazy?".
Im not sure if this is a blessing or a curse, but im not scared, a bit anxious mabee but not scared. I am convinced that the hardest part was raising the money. Even though raising the money will continue to happen, (I hope) It is no longer a stressful thing wondering if I will get enough or not, and worrying about if all this hard work will go to waste because I did'nt raise enough. Although I know that riding my bike for a month and a half in the heat and rain will be hard, as long as I take it one day at a time, one pedal at a time everything will be fine.

Not being scared or stressed out about something is completely out of character for me, (ask Matt, I know I drive him crazy but hes sweet about it). I guess Ive just thought about it so much that it doesnt even scare me anymore. I have to admit, back a couple of months ago i would get butterflies in my stomach when i thought about it, but like i said, ive gotten use to the idea.

well i guess i better hit the sack, my sis and i are planning a little ride in the morning.

My first blog!!!

2008-05-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

First off I wanna say thanks. Thanks to my friends, family, and especially those who sponsored me this far. Without you I would not be able to do this ride and i am so thankful for the opportunity. Also thank you to all who is reading my blog, the interest you are showing by reading this is so encouraging and i am so grateful. So a little about myself, my name is Stephanie Hubbell. I am nineteen year old. Born in Butte Falls Oregon but raised in North Carolina. I work at a Car Dealership (deacon jones) here in Goldsboro and when i get back from this crazy adventure i plan to attend wayne community college for a degree in dental hygiene. I have a wonderful family, great co-workers and church family, and an amazing boyfriend that have been very supportive though all of my craziness lately.

I'm making this blog so my beautiful friends, family, co-workers, sponsors and anyone who is just curious about what this is all about can view my progress as the big ride across America begins. The big ride across America is a 48 day bicycle ride starting in Seattle Washington and ends in Washington DC. It will be a lot of hard work, lots of fun, exciting meeting so many new people and seeing so many great places but most of all it is to raise money for the American lung association.

Although the Big Ride does not begin until June 23rd 2008, my adventure began way back in October 2007. since i signed up and a beautiful woman (anyone at DJ knows who i am talking about) bought me a bike my life has been consumed by raising money, getting the word out, and preparing for this adventure of my life. As of right now i am convinced that the hardest part was raising the money (5500 dollars), although i might change my mind once i am out there riding, lol. Basically I started my adventure with nothing. I had no bike, no supplies, and no clue how difficult it is to raise $5500. I have ridden quite a bit throughout my life with my mother and my sister when we would travel across America with my dads business. It was very fun and I give a lot of credit to my mom. She is the reason that i enjoy riding so much and we would always have fun discovering new places. I am very proud of what i have accomplished so far. I have to admit when i first signed up i never thought i would be able to raise all the money. But you can really do anything you set your mind to.

Lastly... I will be doing my best to add and edit this blog along this journey, so please feel free to check back in occasionaly throughout the next few months and see where im at. whew, im tired, off to bed.