Breakfast in flagstaff

The day off in flagstaff means sunshine, breakfast and a bloody mary.

Road rash

Mike at the Big Texan trying to tackle a 72 oz steak

TEXAS!!!!!

Kansas?

Didn't realize we were in Kansas

Delirium

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> At First lunch delirium sets in and we find new modes of transportation to get us across the country wings and a bike with training wheels

Today's lunch stop on the old rt 66!

Laundry is done

Springfield build day

As the heat throws the group into delirium we find new ways to amuse ourselves

Misery or Missouri?

"Cycling through Missouri is like climbing the same flight of stairs for 6 hours in a diesel gas chamber, wearing a full-body sweatsuit while you have 4 hairdryers on high heat blowing in your face"
-dan Northcutt

Highs and lows

So I know I am bad about posting here and uploading photos from the journey has proven to be more difficult than expected, but perhaps now that we are nearly half way through I can get me act together.

If you have been keeping up with other riders blogs then you know the basics of the trip. We wake up early we repack our bags, praying everything will fit back in there. Scarf down breakfast, pray for coffee, and hit the road. Bike, tell each other stories, fix flats, eat lunch, bike and push through the last ten miles of the ride into the host.

For the sake of time I will now bullet point my highs and lows so far.

Lows
-Leaving Pittsburg
-riding in the van for 2 days after leaving Pittsburg
-crying/walking over the mountains in Pennsylvania
-being intimately acquainted with the smell of road kill and its level of decomposition


Highs!
-Mike Griffith applying chamois butter in full view of small children at a gas station
-biking along the ocean in new Hampshire
-naming my bike Mr. Ed because he runs on peanut butter
-the food from all the churches we have stayed with
-banana dogs for lunch (banana in a hotdog bun with peanut butter and honey)
-snuggle puddle
-warpaint wednesdays
-feather Fridays
-playing Ina fire hose
-mardi gras beads
-tie dye
-sleeping in a barn
-Crossing the MISSISSIPPI river!!!!!!

More to come but here ya go!

Love,
Melissa

Location:West Dr,St Louis,United States

Mustache Monday July 4th!

Painting our trailer!


Our first build day in freeport Maine.


Dinner at mike Griffith's


Dinner with the webber family


Pre-ride yoga


Bikers!


We'll ride anything!

On the road

Andover in the rain

Today started of absolutely amazingly. Breakfast was great, everything bagels with CREAM CHEESE! The sun was shining and we rode along the beach for 15 miles and it was flat! Leaving tue beachfront we headed into the trees and the beginnings of east coast hills. A few wrong turns added a few miles and a few hills but i'd like to think of that as prep for the hills and miles ahead of us. As we were 10 miles our from andover the skies opened up and the rain came down.

Tomorrow is a build day here in Andover. I can only hope it will be as great as the build in Portland.

Love
Melissa

I Love Orientation!

Two days done.
Day one was filled with name games and sharing the highlights of life stories. It isn't a surprise that everyone on the trip is amazing, I wouldn't expect anything else. Today we went on our shakedown ride, a short ride to work out any gear troubles and get an idea of riding in a group. We also did a small obsticle course to sharpen up our cycling skills. And finally this evening we began the epic task of paiting our trailer with the help of a projector.

Tomorrow is our first build day right here in Portland. Word is that we will be framing of course I will upload some wicked pictures of that.

Goooaaaaaaaal! and Maaaaaaiiiiiiil!

Big News! We hit my fundraising goal on June 3rd with $4090!  It is because of all the wonderful people who have supported me! Raising that now seems like the easy part. Ahead of me is 4,000 miles and 12 build days. You can be a part of that too by sending a little mail my way. below are the dates and addresses we will be receiving mail at. So drop a little note, postcard, letter or knick-knack in the mail to me. Every bit of encouragement is welcome. Again I CANNOT thank you all enough for being such wonderful supporters!   Bike & Build groups will receive mail approximately once a week while on the road, and welcome letters and packages from friends, family, and supporters. Mail will be delivered through USPS General Delivery. Please be sure to send mail in ample time to arrive prior to the pick-up date and only through the United States Postal Service (The Post Office will not accept mail from any other carrier). Address mail to: Bike & Build Attn: CYCLIST NAME General Delivery STREET ADDRESS (if noted) CITY, ST ZIP Please mark the envelope or package with "Please hold for pick-up on DATE." Late mail will be forwarded to the mail drop two weeks ahead. Late mail from the last two mail drops will be returned to sender.

Maine to Santa Barbara
June 23 20 MAIN ST ANDOVER, MA 01810-9993
June 30 9 PINE HILL RD MOUNT POCONO, PA 18344-9998
July 07 516 CHESTNUT ST FRNT COSHOCTON, OH 43812-9998
July 13 206 E 4TH ST BLOOMINGTON, IN 47408-9998
July 21 1260 E SAINT LOUIS ST SPRINGFIELD, MO 65802-3408
July 28 900 GARTH BROOKS BLVD YUKON, OK 73099-3812
August 04 415 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE ROSWELL, NM 88201-9998
August 11 100 W FRONTIER ST PAYSON, AZ 85541-9998
August 18 22801 W OLD HIGHWAY 66 SELIGMAN, AZ 86337-9996
August 25 23642 LYONS AVE NEWHALL, CA 91321-2542

Seattle University - College of Arts and Sciences - Student Photographers Showcased in BFA Exhibition

Here is a link to the press release for my photography show!


Seattle University - College of Arts and Sciences - Student Photographers Showcased in BFA Exhibition

Life Happens.

Things have been crazy around here lately. My BFA Photography exhibition opened on Friday night and was a huge success. If you are around Seattle stop by the Vashon Gallery in the Fine Arts Building of Seattle University to check out the great projects from the year.

I also got a visit from my 2 biggest fans, Mom and Grandma, this week! it was great to show them around Seattle!

But the biggest news you are waiting for is an update on my fundraising! I only have $100 left to reach my goal!! If you haven't donated yet be a part of this awesome project by clicking HERE!

Best Regards,
Melissa Ettman

Sunday, SUN-day, SUNday.

So it was sunny today. There is nothing quite like a SUN-day in Seattle. It feels like the population quadruples because everyone leaves their cave to feel the sunshine on their skin. The only problem is, we all promptly burn. I look like a par-cooked lobster but we must each make sacrifices for vitamin-D.

But enough about the sun. I woke up this morning knowing it would be an incredible day. So after savoring my sweet potato pancakes (that pancake mix was one of the best Easter gifts ever, right after the Leonardo DiCaprio trilogy I got sophomore year) I threw on my Bike and Build jersey, spandex shorts and helmet and hit the road! After 30 miles, a stop at Matthews Beach Park, Metropolitan Market and a non-stop conquering of one of Seattle's most daunting hills I was back at home. It was my longest ride to date. I was thinking about how far that was back at home and I could go to Geneva and home again and I would still have to pedal another few miles. 


In other biking news

Last night was my 3rd street fundraiser. I pedaled my hardest for 2 hours at the corner of 10th and Pike. I raised just over $100. That puts me at $3,330.  Of course I met some great people and had a great time. And I want to send a shout out to Mary Pauline Diaz for stopping by last night.

If you have a few minutes please go to the Bike and Build website and make as much of a contribution as you can whether it is $5 or $50 every bit helps!

Cheers,
Melissa Ettman