Day 1: sick, excited, friend-filled

We left at 10 am after a yummy breakfast with our parents at the green vine co-op.


Pulling away, I shouted as loud as I could, "we're riding our bikes across the fucking country!!! Yaaaaahoooo!!!!"

Brian, the sickest I've seen him all year, rode steadily along, staying loyal to his dream despite it all.

Jodi and ruby joined us for the first 20 miles of our muddy loaded tour, and it felt like home just a little bit longer--talking side by side on our bikes about normal things like work and relationships. I wonder what form our friendships will take under these conditions. If day 1 was any testament to the way things might look, it's a good thing we've got unlimited texting. Anyway, we trudged on through the wet dirt and pebbles until we finally got to Great Falls, Maryland (which is on the C&O Canal, which we're riding on, by the way).

We stuffed our faces with delicious homemade power bars, then walked the path through the rushing maze of waterfalls.




(woops.. Took waterfall pics w/fancy cam).

After a small birthday celebration, feat. homemade choc chip and pb cookies, it was time to say goodbye.

I basically sobbed on jodi's arms, then got on my bike and sobbed some more. So much that I couldn't shout "I love you too" in response to jodi's "I love you!" which, of course, only made the tears flow louder.

Then, to make a long story short, bc I don't want to kill my battery. We biked 20 more miles, set up camp on the windy river, enjoyed our pre-cooked kale and other treats, and napped in our tent until our second rendezvous with t and Andrew.

They brought everything we could gave ever dreamt of: cute checked table cloth, fried chicken, and birthday s'mores.









Warm sleep with still no serios rain. Hitting the road before rainfall.

Totally thrilled to be here. Bri's feeling more alive than ever.