Ninja Games

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-ya! Last night after a great home cooked meal, our gracious Portland hosts learned us the Ninja Game. All players stand in a circle with their hands in the middle (straight arms parallel to the body, hands in prayer). One person yells, “aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh ninja!”, and everyone jumps back, striking a ninja pose. That person then goes first, trying to ninja/judo chop anyone of their choosing. Their move just has to be one fluid motion. As the other ninjas, you are allowed to make moves to dodge this attack. You must stick the move like a statue once you make it. The goal is to chop another person’s hand, and they are out. You go around in a circle until there is only one person left standing. Then over and over again. It’s amazing, and with practice your moves and ninja sounds just get better and better. We played several rounds and probably would have played all night except that we had to get up early this morning to drive to Cali. But have no fear, we did have a rousing game this morning in the backyard before taking off.

Portland is badass. Sarah, Sarah, and Jamie are badass. The brunch we ate was badass. The bike friendly culture is badass, and Portland riding for fun reminded me how much I really do love riding my bike when it’s on my terms, which is badass. (also, raised and moved my seat up, and my knee pain is virtually gone…wish this would have happened weeks ago) Sarah introduced me to zines. I’m going to attempt to write one when I’m home for the next 6 weeks. I’m fascinated by this creative outlet, and am going to try my hand at it. (Kelsey, if you’re reading, you’re going to get your wish of me writing something more than this blog).

I want to move to Portland. I love it.

gimme food

creative cutting of bread in the van with no knife

dinner at thai toms

seattle market

space needle

us at the space needle

aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh ninja!

lighting the housewarming gift

Empty Nesters

We had a blast celebrating and enjoying time with the riders before heading out. Vancouver is amazing. It’s so cool to be in the city and then look up and see the amazing mountainous scenery through the streets. Amazing.

It’s officially over. All our children have gone. Just the 4 of us remain.

I of course bawled my eyes out while saying my goodbyes, after an excruciatingly long church service. It’s hard to believe how quickly the summer went now that it’s done.

Now it’s leader time. Time for us to love on each other for a few more days on an ultimate road trip back to the east coast, as long as Denis doesn’t fall asleep while he’s driving. We’re gonna have fun fun fun till Brendan takes Elvis away!!!!

this is how we're touring the country next time

kels and leg at the bourbon for country night

we did it!!!!

greatest country cover band. amazing dance parties all night long.

me and ak and vancouver

Itenerary

8.29 – Vancouver to Seattle for a few hours to Portland

8.30 – Portland

8.31 – Drive to Redwood Forsest in Cali

9.1 – Redwood Forest then drive overnight to Moab, UT

9.2 – Moab

9.3 – Denver

9.4 – Boulder

9.5/6 – Drive back to Midwest

9.6 – Indiana

East to West - Mission Fulfilled

Today did not start out as ideally as I had hoped. We woke up to overcast skies, and an energy level a little lower than yesterday for our entrance into Canada. I think we had all hoped for that energy level times 1290802398 for our final ride and epic run into Vancouver. I would imagine that a big part of that missing feeling is the realization that this trip is almost over, and soon we’ll have to say goodbye to our little bubble of utopia, and return to what they call “the real world”. Don't get me wrong, there was excitement, but it just didn't feel as lively as yesterday. We still had an hour-long dance party before setting out.

As we rode the previously chalked route (which was unchalked from the rain storm last night), it got colder, and rainier. When we met up at the science center in Vancouver, Michael and I were over it. We were so cold and wet, the last thing we wanted to do was go running into the water at the wheel dip. In an effort to keep my bad energy out of the group, I stood inside sipping coffee, trying to give myself an attitude adjustment. The good news was that the riders had a much higher energy level, and they were pumped to finish the trip right.

After one more quick dance party to Wave Your Flag, we got on our bikes and started the 3 mile trek to the water. As we rode, it just started raining harder and harder. At that point, Michael and I looked at each other and burst into hysterical laughter. Of course this would be how it would end. And we would go running into that water rain or shine and celebrate the fuck out of this accomplishment. Our moods instantly changed. For the love of everything, we just RODE OUR BIKES ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!

When we were about 2 minutes from the beach, Denis, AP, KG, and I gathered in the front, to lead our NUS family to the final destination. As we rounded the corner to cheering family and friends, the clouds broke, the sun came out, and it stopped raining. Everyone jumped off their bikes and started stripping down to chamois and bibs. Jamey again played our song, and we ran around dancing and then took off sprinting for the water. We were stopped short by sharp rocks and some sliced feet, and continued into the water very carefully with some choice vocabulary. We spent 30 minutes yelling and screaming and singing and splashing and hugging and worshiping the sun for coming out. We made it. 4000 miles, 69 days, 32 cyclists, 14 states, 9 build days, 3 days off, 2 countries, 1 Elvis, and infinite dance parties. I am so proud of us I can hardly stand it.

I’ve been thinking about this moment all summer, wondering what it would feel like to arrive there and run into that water. And what I imagined could never compare to the actual feeling of finishing and having that epic moment with my NUS loves.

Now we celebrate in Vancouver and enjoy each other’s company until we have to part ways on Sunday. But I refuse to live in that reality until it’s absolutely necessary. Until then…it’s party time.

getting pumped

as the rain started to let up and we took the lead

stripping down to get in the water

circle up and then run for it

nus love

dipping the front wheels

sarah's dad schooling us at lunch

Canadian hills

Are really steep. We foolishly thought we were done climbing after the Cascades. Wrong. Canada had incredibly steep hills welcoming us to 16% grade uphill climbs. Canada, my knees thank and love you. If I didn’t need knee surgery after biking across the US, I definitely need it now.

We woke up with crazy energy this morning. It was wild. (that sounds like something a grandma should say, right?) It was Nolan’s last day with us as he has to leave a day early. In true Nolan style, he pulled the “prank” he’s been planning all summer. He put together a wedding party, bought a veil, played the wedding march, and proposed to Steph, best-man Josh and all.

Team NUS was super pumped for the Canadian border. We basically had a 2-hour dance party to get the day started, complete with a rap from Chris (video also below). After palancing our faces off, it was time to ride the 38 miles to Surrey, BC. The hills were unexpected, but we rocked them out easily. My posse for the day was AP, Beth, Kristen, and Tony.

Once in Surrey, I picked up the van and headed into Vancouver to meet Nolan and the boys for Nolan’s wheel dip. Vancouver is amazing, and I can’t wait to spend some more quality time there. I sat in Stanley park reading and doing yoga, watching the sun set while waiting for them to bike in. They navigated the most frustrating cue sheet, and finally arrived around 7:30. I got some great shots of them celebrating the journey. We will be so indebted to them tomorrow for eliminating a lot of the usual stress of the notoriously confusing Vancouver ride. I can’t believe we will dip our wheels tomorrow. It’s so surreal, and now that it’s almost over it feels like it just started.

the blushing bride

leisl and brendan showing off their similar moves

border crossing - which i later found out no pictures were supposed to be taken

the nolan wheel dip

playin with the boys...like top gun

vancouver sunset

Nooksack

I mean how do you take someone seriously when they tell you they're from a town called Nooksack?

Also, how do you get a job driving the truck that drives in front of an oversize load, warning you of the oversize load that is about to come down the road? I believe they call this an oversize load warner? And how much do you think they get paid? Would I be good at it?

We picked Brendan up at the Amtrak station tonight. We all wore the same outfits, then swarmed him with Palancing when he came out. He seemed overwhelmed, like he had momentarily forgotten that we are crazy and how much he missed us. Then he dropped his bag and joined us. (he was also wearing his orange Sexy hat that we bought in Boston).

Also, in another random bit of news, I LOVE THE F WORD. I do. I can't help it. I say it all the time. My parents don't love it, but it's such a powerful word. It works in any situation. When you're pissed off, it works. When you're super excited and want to express how awesome something is, it works. In any situation it's probably appropriate to use the F word. Except when it's not, which is also common. But I like it. There. I said it.

Tomorrow we make a run for the border. We are less than 75 miles from Vancouver and the end of the trip. My knees and derriere hate me. They will continue to do so for the next 48 hours, at which point I will then take a hiatus from riding for a bit to restore my love for Nina.

sunset view from our host...purple mountain majesty

fearsome foursome

who has the name corky booze?

Happy Endings

Not the kind of happy ending you're thinking of, sicko. But the best kind, the kind of long day on the bike that couldn't have a better ending if you planned it.

Today started with me overpacking my Camelbak with cold-weather gear in fear that it would be freezing at the top. I climbed slowly but surely with Sarah and Abby. The scenery was beyond amazing, as was the weather, and as usual, I found it pretty tough to capture on camera. I prepared for the worst climb, and found it easier than I thought. I'm happy about that. We took over the overlook, and then took off for our second "climb" of the day of Rainy Pass. Easy Peasy. You literally go downhill for a few miles, then climb for one mile. It's simple comparatively.

I struggled a bit between the second pass at lunch. I believe I killed a total of 17 flies in this time period. They were everywhere, and I was losing my patience. I was killing them left and right, and actually taunting them out loud. They landed, I attacked. Climbing can make you lose your mind. We had about 15 miles downhill to lunch, and my chest was acting as a car windshield. Bugs were slamming into me at alarming speeds, which caused me to freak out a little bit. There's nothing like reaching into your cleavage at 30mph to retrieve flapping bugs.

Needless to say, by lunch, and shortly after, I was over riding my bike for the day. I had a 20 minute period where I seriously considered throwing Nina over the side of the mountain and vanning it. Thanks to Kira for putting up with me for those moments of weakness. After Lake Diablo I ended up riding with Denis and AK, and they saved me for the day. The afternoon turned into one of the best rides I've had all summer. The weather was perfect, just the right amount of sunshine and shade, breezes, berry picking, 2 ice cream stops, tunnels, etc. We got into camp a bit late at 6:30, took our $1/4-minute showers, and got to cooking dinner. Tent crew spent our last night together, and tomorrow is our last longer ride day and last full day in the U.S. Canada we're coming!

early winters

beginning of washington pass

me, abbs, sarah

ak and i loving the elevation action

michael and i at the top of washington pass

kate and i at rainy pass...nbd

lake diablo

it's turquoise

looks radioactive

denis picking blackberries

great ride

our own attempt at a tent crew photo...we all look like stoners. we made a pact to then sleep like this. it was broken.

tent crew hilarity before barfing commences

love

Nature Lover

Today we did Loup Loup pass in the Cascades. At the top of the climb, Kelsey and I stopped for a snack and a bathroom break. After finishing the most delicious nectarine I've ever eaten, I turned to her, holding the pit, and said the following, "Do you think I can throw this in nature or should I just throw it in my tampon bag?" This is the beauty of being a girl on the bike. Because I don't want to destroy national parks with trash, because it's that time of the month, I have to carry around a plastic bag with dirty feminine products in it until I reach a destination where I can dispose of it correctly. That's dedication to Mother Earth if you ask me. It's also a reminder that we have to prepare ourselves for entering back into the real world where you don't usually just say things like that to the person sitting next to you.

We have one more day of climbing tomorrow, then we're pretty much home free for the last 3 days of biking before Vancouver. My last driving day was yesterday, so I have a full 5 days of riding in a row, which is exciting to me, but not so exciting for my knees. I must be getting better at biking up mountains, because when I got to the top of Loup Loup today, I thought, "this is it?" Never thought I would see that day. Actually never thought I would see the day that I would attempt to bike up mountains in the first place.

We're camping tonight and tomorrow. Tonight is Early Winters, electricity-less, shower-less, and for the most part people-less. Just us, the mountains, and FREEZING cold river showers, which are entertainment each time someone emerges from the water for the first time. Tent crew is reunited and happy. Tomorrow we climb Washington Pass. Tonight we award grants. Life is good.

my driver's side view yesterday

they finally got nolan good by replacing his clothes at the showers with this dress, then hiding his bag after he walked back from the showers. priceless, and something we've been waiting for all summer

loup loup posse...leisl, beth, ak, jess, paul, ap, me, jillian, and kyle lee...photo compliments of kels

me, leisl, and beth at lunch time

jamey as a rock in search of drugs in our tent trap door