Less Than 2 Weeks!

So there's about 10 days left until I fly into Seattle, WA. I am SOO excited, and I can't wait to get there! I have been putting the finishing touches on my training, finding as many group rides around the area as possible. I just finished two 50 mile rides over the weekend, each taking about 3 hours to finish, but they felt amazing. The country roads were beautiful, and I loved riding over the rolling hills of North Carolina.
I have to start packing my bags soon, which is making me even more nervous, and that means it is really close. All that is left now is to keep preparing my legs and mind for this awesome trip!

-Eric

Great Weekend!

This weekend has been great for riding and fundraising. Friday night I had a dinner and auction in my town and I raised about $2700!!! We sold hotdogs, BBQ, beans and cornbread, drinks, and desserts. We also had a donation jar and the auction. A lot of the stuff at the auction was donated by local businesses and people from the area. The big salers were, like at most auctions around this area, the pies and cakes made from the locals. Most of them went for over $30 and up to about $55. Saturday and Sunday I got a couple long rides in which was great. Today I rode for about an hour then it started raining so hard that I couldn't really see so I stopped. But I have been really lucky with weather and having really nice, sunny days. I am working on a really good farmer's tan right now. This week I am just going to keep on biking and I am still doing some fundraising and looking for sponsors. The final countdown is beginning!

-Joey H.

Check out that terrain!

Home sweet home. Below is the short preview of the road I'm using for training in West Virginia! You can't really tell that well in the video, but there is a big dip that I ride up and down, which is really building the muscles in my legs. I love it, even though it wears me out. Also, I have realized riding my bike how much I appreciate the mountains and outdoors. Biking is a completely different experience than driving a car. Thinking about this has gotten me even more excited to start Journey of Hope, because I believe I will learn to really appreciate the different landscapes of our country! Thanks for tuning in!

- Joey

Country Roads

Well, I am back in West Virginia. I got in about 7 in the evening and decided to take a late night run around 11. It was great! While I was running, I started getting really excited and pumped about June. Every day that passes, I think more and more about what an awesome experience this is going to be. Check back in soon because I am going to hopefully have a sample video of the rolling hills I am able to ride on for the next month!

- Joey

Parting Friends

Hey, everyone! Finals are over with! Now it's time to pack up my room and head out for a 23-hour drive to South Dakota for my brother's graduation. Fun drive, right? Sadly, this means tomorrow will be the last time I see Joey until August 15th when we arrive in Washington, D.C., so we will just have to say our goodbyes and stay in touch until then. I am getting really excited to leave, though! I can't wait to begin the Journey of Hope and share my experiences with all of you. This really is going to be the journey of a lifetime. Training is going to be kicked into full gear when I get back from South Dakota, and I can't wait. Well, I should probably get back to packing my room up so I don't miss my brother's graduation. Come back for our next blog!

- Eric