A BOY AND HIS BIKE
My love for biking came from an injury weirdly enough. When I started going to college in Bellingham my brother’s friend gave me his old college bike, a Windsor Wellington 1.0 without a front tire. After fixing it up I had a new way to get to school and groceries.
After two years of riding that bike around town I was hit twice. Both in the middle of the day and both not my fault. But the frame held true and I was able to keep riding it, rightfully earning the name, Rocky, because it kept on getting hit and kept getting back up!
Junior year I sprained my ankle badly. I was going absolutely stir crazy not being able to walk! So once I was able to put pressure on it I decided to go on a bike ride to indulge my sense of adventure but not reinjure myself.
On a whim decision I decided to bike to Canada, about 60 mile round-trip. At 11 that night I scribbled down the directions on a piece of paper and packed my bag. I left before the sun rose because what better way to wake up then with the sun? The journey was eye opening, I got lost, I felt free, and I did it all on my own. When I reached the border I couldn't help but laugh. Here I was, at the border of another country, and done so by my own power! If I can pedal to another country, I can do a lot of other things.
After that trip biking is no longer just the way I get around town, it has become a passion. Bike & Build enables me to combine that passion with my strong desire to help others. I have little doubt that this summer will be my best so far!
