Eastern Seaboard!

The wanderlusters have passed the 1000 mile mark as of today! We spoke with Becky this morning, and they are in Virginia and working their way through some really hilly areas. They will be in DC tomorrow, and the national office (RCRC) will be hosting a reception and meeting! Here are some of Becky's thoughts today:

"The area is very beautiful but hilly. There is something about Virginia, that even though we're on back roads, it feels very historic. The road signs, old homes, and historic sites all contribute to the feel of early America. We even crossed the *James River this morning! The river is very wide, but very shallow. It's as wide as the Mississippi, but you can see the bottom. It made me want to kayak really badly! Overall, the hills are making my knees hurt a little but I've found them a lot easier to take than just a few weeks ago. The scenery is so gorgeous that I also don't mind taking my time, even if it means being one of the slower riders. The roads have been shaded by tall trees, and it has also been a lot cooler recently, or at least feels that way. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that everything is relative! All of the riders standards have changed so much during the ride; now we're excited when a campsite has more than one shower, and if there are laundry machines when we stop! At the beginning of the trip I would have considered a 50 mile ride really hard, but now 50 is an easy day, 65 is average an average day, and a hard ride is 85+ miles. It's funny how our perceptions change!"

That's all for today! But check back for more information about the DC meeting, and listen so some of Becky's thoughts below:

Gabcast! 2000 Miles for Justice! #14 - Hilly areas galore







*For those of you who recognize the name but can't place it, the James River was used by the early colonists. Pocahontas, her father Powhatan and the Johns (Rolfe & Smith) all lived in or around the James River and the settlement known as Jamestown.

The ReCYCLEry and Lucy Wilson!

It's a small, small world!

Becky mentioned, in her last Gabcast, that she met the daughter of a St. Louis United Church of Christ minister, Rev. Ann Wilson, at the Chapel Hill meeting with Wanderlust. Here, Becky and Lucy both share their experiences in North Carolina:

Gabcast! 2000 Miles for Justice! #12 - Chapel Hill, NC



Missouri sure knows how to raise 'em well!

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hello! The Wanderlusters are more than half-way to New York City!

The next chance to meet with the Wanderlust team will be in Washington, DC. The reception will be hosted by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice at Acadiana Restaurant in Washington, DC from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2008. Appetizers and drinks will be served. RSVP to info@rcrc.org. Contact 202-628-7700 with questions.

Acadiana is located at:
901 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC
www.acadianarestaurant.com

Biking north

Becky here! I'm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina this morning. We rode 55 miles of rolling hills yesterday and it was beautiful. Today we're taking a day off to regroup, restock supplies, and relax a little. It's hard to believe that we started this journey in New Orleans four weeks ago and that we'll soon be in NYC celebrating our time together. At the beginning it was difficult to imagine the completion of the trip--it all seemed like a faraway dream. But day by day what we have experienced is very real, very difficult, very fun, very rewarding.

The second half of the ride has (so far) been much more relaxed in spirit than the first half. As a group we've solidified how we work together and most tasks have become simple routine. The young women with whom I travel have treated me as a peer, while still occasionally seeking my advice about bikes and life. Spending 24/7 for 4 weeks with a group creates strong bonds and I am glad to be among such strong women. They inspire me every day.

I've taken some great photos this past week, but I've had trouble getting them to send to you. Because we are on the go during the days, taking back roads, and then usually in state parks in the evenings, cell phone reception is spotty at best. But most emails get through to me on my phone anyway and it's an incredible delight to read your kind words of encouragement. I am so fortunate to have such supportive friends!

Seeing the country by bicycle is very different from seeing it by car. Slow travel allows seeing beautiful sights and talking to people. I need to go now...more later!

Upcoming Meetings

We know that a lot of our readers are from outside of the St Louis area! If you are living somewhere along the Wanderlust route, or know someone who is, we hope you'll spread the word about the meetings. Here are the tentative stop dates/locations along the way..


Chapel Hill, NC/Carborro - June 21st
Washington, DC - June 26th
Baltimore, MD - June 27th
Philadelphia, PA - June 30th
Princeton, NJ - July 1st
NEW YORK CITY - July 2nd

Here is the information for the upcoming meeting:

THE WANDERLUST REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE STORY COLLECTIVE AND BIKE CARAVAN IS COMING TO TOWN!

This summer, fifteen women are traveling from New Orleans to New York City with the Wanderlust story collective and bicycle caravan. In solidarity with local activists and rooted in the belief that sharing stories is a powerful way to elevate awareness and create social change, we'll be pedaling from town to town to listen to your stories and document how you and others are working to expand access to reproductive health care, defend reproductive rights, and promote reproductive justice.

The goals of the trip are to document the inspirational, groundbreaking work happening across the country, expand the conversation about reproductive justice, and build horizontal networks to strengthen our collective movement for reproductive health, rights, and justice.

Join the Wanderlust bike riders for an evening of story sharing, delicious barbecua, and good conversation!

WHEN: Saturday June 21st from 6 - 8 PM

WHERE: 117 W. Poplar Ave Carrboro, NC

No parking on the street—park at Basnight and Sons at corner of W. Main and W. Poplar or University Methodist Church (if there's no event going on) or Carrboro Elementary School—on Shelton Street.

At the gathering, you'll be able to:
* Meet the Wanderlust Reproductive Justice Bike Caravan riders
* Share your experiences and talk about what reproductive justice means to you
* Hear from others in your area about what they're excited about and the projects
they're working on