Monday, September 17, 2007

Miners off to Work

To see a video of the miners riding out to work go to: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8491973480075724288&hl=en

Damascus, VA






The bikeshop boys in Damascus convinced us to stay and do a show at their laundromat so we stayed in the soggy mountains for another day. The show was interesting, mostly men and some teenagers. At first the youngers were really wierded out, and then later seemed interested and inspired. Ate dinner with the nicest guy in town, Larry, who made us two prokchops a piece! We gobbled 'em down and had extra for lunch the next day. We saw a fourteen-year-old country singer, Ashkin, singing about broken hearts and all at the Old Mill where they make some really great potato chips. Met a woman Lorrie who had a broken heart of her own and are hoping to see her up in Ithaca some time for a real nice reunion.


Friday, September 14, 2007

In the Mountains of Appalachia




Here we are, up high in the sky, climbin through rain and wind. We took two separate routes yesterday to experience the separation. It was nice in some ways, Kate didn't feel slow, Emilie got to climb the mountain real fast, but in the end we've decided to ride together. We met a biker who just came in from SF and is two days away from the end of his tour. It took him 50days, with only two days off. We stayed at a lovely little hostel in Damascus, The Place and cooked a meal on our little stove which we packed up this morning and sent off with our computer, the film camera, Kate's sleeping bag liner, Emilie's eye-liner, some clothes, and a couple of tools. Kate's bike is much lighter now and Emilie has a new, true tire. We ripped our the states we needed from the road atlas and ditched the rest. People had been asking us if we were riding for something, and Kate said, without thinking, "We're riding for peace." And that seemed about right since we started riding on September 11th. People ask, "What does it mean to ride for peace?" And we don't have a great answer. It seems like riding for peace means you put a sign on the back of your bike that people see, and simply that seeing makes them feel something or think something. There are signs all over this damn country talkin about Love Jesus and Support The Troops, and so far I think we're the only sign that says anything about Peace. Kate passed a church sign that said, "The things you do in this life, will echo throughout eternity." So maybe our peace signs will echo a little, maybe it means the same thing as Support The Troops, just from a different angle. They also ask, "Do you have a gun? Pepper spray?" We don't have any weapons 'cept our own wit. So far we're doing okay. Keep us in mind, and imagine blowing at our backs to help us battle the headwinds. Love, Both


Monday, September 10, 2007

Hollins University Show






Our second day in Roanoke, one flat tire, one great dance class with Miguel Gutierrez. We doubled the length of our show--took baths in the sinks, kate bruised her bum, emilie got a really bad wedgy. Over dinner we were given great tips on how to avoid sketchy situations on the road. Thanks to everyone at Hollins for hosting us! Especially to Kate Abarbanel and Donna Faye Burchfield.


Sunday, September 9, 2007

First Show in Roanoke!






We arrived in Raonoke, VA at 4:30am and slept in a really comfortable bed... woke before noon and did a show at two at the Grand Roads Laundromat! Thank you Becky for your support, you are as wild as you were when you left home at sixteen! Our new moto is "barefoot and braless!"