& That's A Beautiful Thing.

The real world is so strange.  In the few days that I've been back home, I've experienced culture shock.  I can't beg for food anymore, I don't need to apply sunscreen every few hours, I have to pay attention to the news, I don't have to call out every pothole I see, and I have to wear underwear again. What!?  I slept in my own bed last night, and for the very first time all summer, I woke up anxious and confused, not knowing where I was.  Being in one spot for more than a night will take some getting used to...

Let me fill you in on our ride to the beach:

It was indeed as epic and emotional as I had dreamed it would be.  We took our time in the morning, watching a picture slideshow and dragging out our usual pre-ride pump-ups.  All summer, we've concluded our pump-ups with a call-and-response in which one person said (for example), "Today is Tuesday July 12, and we live to ride another day." To which the group would respond, "And that's a beautiful thing!"  On our last day, we all chimed in on both the call and the response for Monday, August 8.  I got the chills as all 33 voices reminded me of what a beautiful thing it is to live, indeed.

Waiting at the Cannon Beach cannon!

True to our CUS reputation of having the most mountainous route of the 8 B&B rides, we hit the summit of the Pacific Coastal mountain range on our final day.  In fact, we climbed a massive hill just 3 miles away from the beach.  It was only appropriate after our summer of mountains.

2 miles away from the ocean, we all gathered and waited for the entire group to ride together.  We excitedly waited by the cannon for which Cannon Beach is named.  It felt like Christmas Eve, times 100.

Parading through the streets to the ocean!

We had a police escort (to Timur's delight, sirens and all!) as we descended into Cannon Beach.  We yelled, chanted, and laughed the entire way.  The tourists lined the sidewalks and cheered for us (whether they knew who we were/what we were doing or not, I don't know...) and it felt like a jubilant parade.  Beth started shouting to me that she could smell the ocean (it was definitely low tide!), we caught sight of Haystack Rock (the iconic rock of Cannon Beach that we had painted on the back of our trailer in the beginning of the summer), and I lost it.  I started simultaneously crying and laughing uncontrollably.  The second we hit the sand, we dropped our bikes and stripped off our cycling accessories.  

Celebrations in the water

We ran into the frigid Pacific and tackled, jumped on, and hugged each other vehemently.  We chanted one of our pump-ups, all together yelling that we "Ride til we can't ride no more" so loudly that my ears rang for hours after.  The water was extremely cold, but we were so numb with excitement, joy, relief, and pride that it didn't matter.  I can't remember if I was sobbing or laughing hysterically- probably a little bit of both.  We made it.

Woooooh!

Mom was waiting on the beach with a bunch of other parents, all ready to give us dripping-wet hugs and warm towels.  The champagne-popping (and spraying!), wheel-dip ceremony, and feast afterward were all incredibly joyful.  Surrounded by people we love from both our real lives and from our Bike & Build lives, the celebrations couldn't have been happier.  

Me and Beth touring Portland

That night, I slept in a real bed.  Everybody- please appreciate the comfort of your bed every night.  It's such a luxury!  Beth, mom and I drove back to Portland and explored the next day.  Leaving everyone was very difficult (I'm TERRIBLE with goodbyes), but I'm confident that it was a "see you later" rather than a "goodbye".  I love my Bike & Build family too much for it to have been the latter.

On Sunday night, we all gave confessions, and although we still haven't figured out who ate all the muffin tops, leaving only the stale bottoms, it was hilarious to hear what fellow riders thought and did while others weren't watching.  My confession?  I don't like cycling.  I actually dislike it very much. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can be the 100th person to tell me that if that's the case then I was on the wrong trip.   And you can be the 100th person to be wrong.  Even though I didn't enjoy (and eventually dreaded) the biking aspect of the trip, I never ever even for a second regret doing Bike & Build.  It was absolutely the best summer of my life.  I'm still overwhelmed by the amount that I saw, smelt, experienced of our country.  Also important, I've discovered the best ice cream in the United States.  Even more important, I've learned an unfathomable amount about other people and about myself.  And most important, I know that I made an impact in peoples' lives who need help, and hopefully have inspired others to do the same.  

Haystack Rock

Thank you all, SO much for your love, prayers, and support.  Without you, none of this would have been possible.  I wish I could properly express my gratitude with words, but there's really no way to do so.  I'll be home for a few days before I go off on my next adventures, so stop by and I'll attempt to express my appreciation via hug!


Love love love,
Abby


P.S. Final results & conclusions on the ice cream hunt will be posted shortly!