*~*~DM*~*~

The support van broke down yesterday, so it was in the shop all day today. This meant that lunch could not be provided, and riders were essentially unsupported. It happens. Anyway, today was just a 50 miler, which is pretty short in comparison to most of our other rides this summer. What were we supposed to eat without the van and trailer parking at our halfway point to break out sandwich supplies?

*~*~DM*~*~

DM stands for *~*~Donation Magic*~*~, and it’s kind of a big deal here on Bike & Build. Since every rider raised at least $4,500 for affordable housing, we want as much of these funds to go towards affordable housing. However, since we have raging appetites, a percentage of these funds must go towards feeding us (and the trip expenses like gas for the support van, etc). Many nights, the church or community center that is hosting us will generously also provide us with dinner, and sometimes even breakfast the next morning. However, sometimes we don’t get dinner provided for us. So, we work on DM-ing food. During ride days, riders ask franchises and grocery stores for donations and discounts to feed a hungry team of cross-country cyclists volunteering for a non-profit organization called Bike & Build, pleeease. The more *~*~Donation Magic*~*~ that happens, the more funds go directly to affordable housing.

Yesterday was a great day for *~*~DM*~*~. Some riders scored coffee at Starbucks, others got bread at Panera, and I got produce, sunblock, quiches, and breads from a local health food store. With today’s lunch not being provided, someone got a Subway en route to give our team 20% off our orders. But as I mentioned, we’re a hungry bunch. I got a 6-inch veggie sub, and when I finished I had to go back in line and get another 6-inch veggie sub. The lady working at Subway said, “I told you that a 6-inch veggie won’t be enough!”

Marcus bought a bunch of stickers, so we all inked up before our ride this morning. I had a glittery skeleton riding a motorcycle on my bicep, and a robot on the nape of my neck. However, they rubbed off by the end of the day, and now I have a faint tan line on my bicep of a skeleton riding a motorcycle. My tanlines from wearing my jersey are coming in nicely!

Stopping at a church for lunch.

The trailer's new paint job isn't finished yet, but the counts have begun.

Seen at an antique store....

Chatted with Trinity in Spanish, and had a bell pepper for an afternoon snack.

Biking over a dam.

The backroads are really calm and rural.

After Memorial Day

We DM-ed access to a private lake!