Don't Mess With Texas

This past week we crossed the Louisiana state line into Texas... Naked.

I know, totally crazy and ridiculous and absurd and just ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN AWESOME.
It is a Bike & Build tradition to do a naked mile (or two or seven) and on the peaceful, traffic-free, back road that led us into Texas about eight of us stripped down and pedaled into Texas wearing nothing but our helmets, camelbacks, gloves, and shoes. How badass... until we arrived five miles later at a sign that read "Welcome to Louisiana" (again) and we knew we had taken a right instead of a left.

But all was okay, because that afternoon we arrived at the lovely home of a Bike & Build alum where ice cold beers, sandwiches, and fresh fruit awaited us. Oh to sleep in a house and be fed BBQ and watch television!

The next morning, the gang set out on a 99.1 mile trek to Athens, TX: an all inclusive package with highs and lows (around 97 and 96 degrees, respectively) and ups and downs (the first half of the ride was particularly hilly). No but seriously now, this ride could not have been more chock-full of every blessing and every misfortune you could ever imagine. The roads were bumpy, the rolling hills did not stop rolling, the invisible enemy (wind) demoralized us with every pedal stroke, and at mile 60 I got chased up a hill by an big angry black dog that appeared out of nowhere at my ankle and before I knew it I had accelerated from 8mph to 20mph and my heart was beating out of my chest and screaming and hyperventalating. BUT! at mile 70, a rest stop at the home of a bike&builder on another route came at the perfect time, revitalizing the group with every scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, every handful of trail mix, every fresh strawberry, and every strip of HOMEMADE DEER JERKY (first time eating deer, first time eating jerky. a-mazing). and did i mention the pool!? yyyeeeeppp, there was a pool at the house... and a hot tub!! ohhhh baby. Shortly after leaving heaven (the rest stop) things started to go downhill again and I got my second flat tire of the trip, and then ran out of liquid around mile 80! As if that wasn't enough, when we (myself and the two girls I was riding with) pulled over to check the cue sheet around mile 93, the salt and sunscreen started to accumulate in my eyes and in a desperate attempt to rinse them out, I grabbed Kelly's water bottle and squirted the liquid into my eyes only to realize that it was GATORADE. omg feel the burn. The last six miles seemed like hell on earth and I couldn't stop wondering whyyyy I signed up for this, but alas, we arrived at the church to the most wonderful surprise and all of a sudden, all was worthwhile. Two words: Max and Minna-Jane. Instead of staying on a gym floor, members of the church congregation took small groups of us into their homes, and spoiled us silly! Max and Minna-Jane, my hosts drove Eleni (another rider) and I to their home on Lake Athens, took us out on a boat ride and swim in the lake, and fed us eggs and bacon and biscuits and canteloupe for breakfast in the morning. To say the least, it was the most wonderful night, and our hosts could not have been more gracious, welcoming, and friendly.

Ok I must not hog the computer but more to come soon.
I'll upload some pictures, also.

Till then!
Erica