DirtDrift 2018: Build Days (9/14 & 9/15)

Morning Huddle with NeighborWorks

Unlike other Bike & Build trips, our build days on this trip were not spread out over the week. Due to the remoteness of the areas where we'd be biking and the general brevity of this trip, our build days were scheduled for the first two days that we'd be together in Boise, ID (9/14 & 9/15).

While our rider numbers would eventually grow to 12 in total, our first build day on Friday, 9/14, had a few less people due to scheduling and travel conflicts. Regardless of this, we went to work supporting the organization NeighborWorks and their goal of building a weather-resistant shelter for use by residents of one of their low-income apartment complexes. This would provide a safe place for children waiting for the school bus and other residents to seek shelter from the elements.

At the site, the corner posts had already been set in concrete and the materials were on their way, but nothing else had yet been done. Although we got off to a slow start with leveling the ground for paving stones, we quickly picked up the pace and by the end of the day had completed this lovely shelter:

With the shelter completed, the next day we split into two teams to volunteer at a pair of local Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations. The Habitat ReStore is a great source of home furnishings and construction materials at a low price, though sometimes they get pieces of furniture donated that are not in good shape or so outdated that they never get sold. As our supervisor said, if you wouldn't put it in your own home or the home or your siblings, parents, or grandparents, it may not be worthwhile to keep in the store.

We quickly found that there is a lot of interest in maximizing sales and turnover of donation stock at the Habitat ReStore, where proceeds from sales go to support Affordable Housing causes. Our goal there was to clear out space for new donations to come in and to help de-clutter and reorganize the display isles. The rest of the day went by very quickly as we re-arranged their showroom floor and broke down a number of old cabinets to make room for newly donated items.

With two good days of labor behind us, it is time to look towards the upcoming ride...

On The Road!

Update From The Air

...and I'm off!

As I type this, I'm currently on a plane flying somewhere over Colorado on my way to San Jose, CA then to Portland, OR. I've left the East Coast a week early so that I can join my fellow Bike & Build SUS 2014 riders Laura & Dusty at their wedding this weekend in Portland! I can't wait to celebrate with the happy couple!!

Next Friday, our DirtDrift group will start off our trip with the first of two back-to-back build days. Following this, we'll hit the road and disappear into the mountains for our 250-mile ride.

Despite the extensive cumulative experience of our group of Bike & Build alumni, I can't help but be a little nervous about this trip. Contrasted with the long days spent riding on highway and side streets in 2014, we will be out on the wilderness and expect to have little to no communication with the outside world until it is over. This will be a great test of our group dynamics and capability to deal with any incidents and accidents (hopefully not!) completely by ourselves. Nevertheless, I'm still excited!

Stay tuned for more info and pictures!!! A big thank you to everyone who has donated to my trip so far :) I am still taking donations up through the trip, so if you have some spare change please consider supporting this great cause!