Rainy days in LA

While the coastal crew was busy with their flat route (hehe) to Marina Del Ray last night, they were no less busy with school visits today. The crew (Kyla, Travis, Danny, Lissa, and Stuart) visited Environmental Charter High School today while some of the inland crew (Sara, Adam, Abigail, and Heather) conquered even more hills today on their early morning commute to Aveson Charter School. The other part of the inland route crew (Kamron, Whitney, Marguerite, Miah, Jacob, and Meagan) were lucky enough to wake up already at Bridges Academy ready to build compost bins and then forged a rainy ride to Ribet Academy to talk about alternative transportation. With three more schools to visit tomorrow among the whole dispersed group, riders are busy readying curriculum, supplies and gear for our final and busiest days of the whole trip. Below, we catch up with the inland crew, hearing each riders highs and lows for the day.

Glows:
Meagan: highly sophisticated and entertaining alternative transportation skits with the 5th graders at Bridges Academy
Heather: when a 3rd grader at Aveson perfectly articulated environmental concepts I learned as a 26 year old
Sara: being back on my bicycle after being out of commission, felt so good to ride!
Adam: students at Aveson were super
Kamron: powering through building a compost bin with power tools
Jacob: clean air and nice views, seeing everything washed from the rain
Whitney: building a compost bin for bridges academy
Marguerite: cycling through puddles
Abigail: getting treated to wonderful food and stimulating conversation with the students at Aveson
Miah: watching the students mull over the design of the sign for their compost bin


Glums:
Meagan: my tire getting caught in a rut and almost crashing into a car
Sara: being back on my bicycle, in the rain, on a mountain (1000ft elevation gain in 3 miles!)
Adam: numb everything on the ride to Aveson
Kamron: wet socks
Jacob: not wearing my rain pants, feeling my tights wick water from my skin and drain into my shoes
Abigail: holy hills at 6am with a belly full of oatmeal, in the rain
Marguerite: frozen numb feet and waking up at 6:30am
Whitney: my jacket not being waterproof
Miah: sitting in 2 ½ hours of traffic (not on a bicycle)


We were all very lucky to interact with amazing students all across Los Angeles today. The rain reminded us, again, of why we are doing what we are doing. The ride was wet, slick, and challenging. As we facilitate and teach students about storm drains and non-point source pollution, it is amazing to see this happening in action. As the rain waters the plants and washes dust off of buildings, leaves, streets, and parks, we can appreciate the beauty in the new life that is inherent after plants get a big drink of water. This same water acts as a catalyst as it also washes the streets’ and fields' oil, trash, soap, dirt, pesticides, and pet waste, along with whatever else is in its path, down storm drains. The storm drains become a passageway to the open ocean, potentially affecting every animal, plant, and person in its path. Like the plants, we, after riding in the rain all day, are refreshed and rejuvenated, with new opportunities to grow and to serve as the catalyst to initiate that growth in young adults across the state of California.

With bellies full and a warm sheltered place to sleep, we are very grateful to the Horner Family and the staff of Catalina Island Camps/ Tom Sawyer Camps for their hospitality.

Miles traveled today: 20
Written by 2nd time bike-tripper: Abigail Johnston