Into Americus

FCBA Day 3- Claxton to McRae, GA

Today I volunteered to be “sweep”. There are two riders who remain last, making sure all are accounted for. Riders carry a piece of chalk to mark the road if they leave the route for whatever reason, and the sweeps make sure they rejoined the ride. That also means the sweep can’t go any faster than the slowest rider, and the other sweep with me volunteered today for she figured she would be in the rear anyway. I normally like to maintain a traveling speed around 16-18 mph, but as a sweep the speed averaged 12mph, making for a long day. Taking it slow was a good experience for me.

FCBA Day 4- McRae to Americus

I can’t keep up with this blog as I’d like. The days are incredibly long, and so full. We were up at 4:30 this morning for a 90 mile ride, and I made up for the lack of speed yesterday. I’ve been filming as much as I can so was the last rider out before the sweeps today, but before ending the day caught up with the front. It was a tough day; first getting up that early, then hills, hot, and headwind. I’m looking forward to the day off the bicycle tomorrow. Instead we will be re-roofing one of the early homes Millard Fuller built with the help of Jimmy Carter in the 70’s.

Entering Americus today we assembled on the outskirts of town and had a police escort to the Fuller Center headquarters for a reception. I wish we could spend more time here, for the place is like a museum to the incredible accomplishments of Millard Fuller with his first organization, Habitat for Humanity, and then the Fuller Center for Housing. From there we rode to the First Presbyterian Church of Americus, and were shuttled to the athletic facility of Georgia Southern College for showers, and then to dinner provided by another local parish. I’m beat.