Rural North Carolina...in the Rain

Since my last entry, we have experienced much rain and rural North Carolina Culture. We are officially on the road! The last three days have included mileages of 67 on Sunday, 35 yesterday, and 50 this morning.

Our first day of riding was great! The weather was amazing and we were all in high spirits. After crossing some loooong seaside bridges, we headed straight, and I do mean STRAIGHT down to Swan Quarter, NC, south of the Outer Banks. I don't think I've ever seen a straighter or flatter road. The people there were really nice and the the Soule Methodist Church hosted us for some incredible meals. We were even able to share a dinner with graduating high school seniors. Fun fact: Swan Quarter has the smallest public school system in the state. Meaning, the have two public schools, total. We had the privilege of showering in one of their gyms at the school across the street from the church. That school held K-12 grades, and had a little over 600 students, total.

After an incredible breakfast (pancakes and sausage and fruit!) we enjoyed the shortest day of our summer journey while we moseyed over to Belhaven, NC. Fun Fact: Belhaven is home of Little Eva, who sang Locomotion. you know- comeon baby do the locomotion! Yea fun stuff. In Belhaven we took a dip in a HOT TUB at a local family's home, played some games and frolic-ed at the community center, and ate DELICIOUS seafood at the local oyster bar. After a great presentation (and goodie bags from the local kids with really cute cards) we had a drink and chill time at the town pool hall.

From Bike and Build (North Carolina)

Fun in Belhaven, NC

Today we headed out with a warm welcome and yummy greasy cheese biscuits from out kind church host at the Trinity United Methodist Church and pedaled about 50 miles in off-and-on rain. We had a few scary but minor accidents along the way due to wet train tracks and some day dreaming. But everyone is fine and Andrew (who I wrote about in my last entry) is officially hardcore in my book. He ended up riding the last 15 miles of the day with some nasty road rash on his leg.

We just settled into the Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church. I enjoyed a pit stop at a nearby Wendy's and inhaled a cheeseburger and fries. You would not believe how much you can eat when you are cycling. And now for tonight's rider profile!

From Bike and Build (North Carolina)

(Sean is on the left in his Lance Armstrong Yellow helmet)

Xiangnan Xing aka "Sean"
Sean is actually my partner for the educational portion of our B&B experience. Every week or so pairs of riders give presentations to the group on topics and issues surrounding the Affordable Housing Crisis. Because the listing are alphabetical, Sean and I will not be presenting until we reach the pacific coast. We will be presenting on Green Homes! yay! Anyway, I first met Sean at orientation, but got to know him better through riding together the first day and today. Sean is an adventurous type. I often catch him weaving pot holes and sprinting ahead, his bright yellow rain jacket unzipped and flapping behind him. Sean was born in Bejing, China and moved to the outskirts of Monteal in Canada when he was four. He lived there for six years until he moved to Ames, Iowa when he was ten and became and Iowa State Cyclones fan, but now he is a die-hard Tar Heel fan/lunatic and student at UNC studying Biology. Half of his clothing/bike accessories sport a beautiful Carolina Blue. Sean has been cycling most of his life, but says this is the first time he has worn spandex and sported clip-on shoes. Sean wants to be an environmental lawyer. Sean has a sister and both his parents here in the US, but the rest of his family is still in China. But his sister is coming to the US for college! Sean likes a lot of sports too including everything from fishing to tennis and basketball. He claims to be "a prince of all trades but a master of none." But I beg to differ. Mastery has many definitions, and I'd call Sean a "master" of many endeavors.