Apparently it's only sunny in SoCal after 9am. Just sayin'.

I'm not entirely sure where to begin with this. It seems so much has happened since yesterday after my arrival in San Diego that it's almost overwhelming--but it has been overwhelming in the best way possible. I've pretty much decided that this summer will be amazing. Hard, testing, and painful at times, but amazing nonetheless.

The last two days have been mostly about building relationships. Everyone from the Pacific Coast Tour and the Southern Tour have descended upon sunny, Southern California for a three day crash course on 1) How to survive this summer and 2) to learn what this summer is about, what to expect, and to fully appreciate what it is we're doing. I couldn't be more excited about getting to ride with the group I get to ride with. The only sad part is knowing that I will not be riding with the people on the Pacific Coast Tour as well.

The magnitude of this tour and the cause we're riding for is finally beginning to sink in. In the past few months there was always this idea of what we were doing and this goal I've been trying to reach through fundraising and training, but I don't think it ever really hit me that what we would be doing would be quite literally changing the world for those currently residing in Northern Kenya.

Yesterday and today have been filled with excitement as we've learned a lot about what Blood:Water Mission is doing and what we will be riding for. You can feel the excitement and anxiety building for the start of the tour on Sunday. I think most of us are ready to hit the road and to get this thing going. Although I think we may not be ready to leave the weather of San Diego.

The end doesn't really seem like it's in sight--and I'm ok with that. Maybe this is premature, but I don't think I'm going to want this to end. For the first time in a long time I feel like I'm actually doing something significant with my life--that it will make a difference. I don't want that feeling to end.

Anyway, some of the events that have happened: 1) Crash course on how to ride your bike in a large group in a major city; 2) Surfing in the pacific ocean (YEAH!!!... finally); 3) hanging out with the blood:water and ride:well staff and learning exactly what it is these two fantastic organizations are doing.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is our big training ride. We'll be biking down to the Pacific Ocean and back to the church we've been staying at for the last two nights. We'll begin the tour Sunday morning with an 80-mile, mostly uphill climb to Anzo Borrega State Park.

I'll let you all know if we survive. Should be interesting!

Oh, and apparently we're sponsored by Starbucks, so we have a supply of VIA Ready Brew that will last us the ENTIRE summer. Yeah.