In SEATTLE!!!!

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

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

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!!!

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??

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!!!

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.