The official Dancing Deer Baking Company Blog

From my bb again so brief. Grueling day in wind and rain. Kept thinking there must be something wrong with my bike it was moving so slowly. Was caked in mud. Switched it out to the clean alternate with compromised frame (car accident) which gave me a psychological edge and kept riding. Sag wagon fell behind and when it caught up grabbed me to get to Salvation Army where the Mayor was waiting. But traffic held us back and we missed him by minutes.

And then magically all was good again as we were welcomed in to the last shelter of our trip. Same rush of energy and room full of creative happiness. I wish I'd kept track of every time some delighted child or adult told me they'd always wanted to make a gingerbread house. Tonight I was particularly taken with two teenage brothers who made some of the most surprising and wonderful use of found materials and worked meticulously and collaboratively.

Once again the staff was impressive and kind. The stories of how each family became homeless were familiar but unique.

We were thanked generously and yet it felt as always, that we owed the thanks and had so much to be thankful for.

Got to Old Lyme in time to visit with my failing father who was very perky this evening. He vaguely understood something about what I'd been up to but in any case was very proud. I can imagine what Mom would have said and done too. Probably some little hand painted sign and a rhyme and a hug and then some admonitions about being careful and perhaps not being too full of myself. And she'd have wanted to know all about the shelters and have an opinion about the state of the world and the lopsided distribution of wealth. I just remembered Mom's crusade (successful) to bring inner city kids down to enjoy the shoreline. It was controversial. Go Mom!

Not sure what we've accomplished. Will start trying to sort that out tomorrow. 120 mile last leg ride starts at 5 AM. Scott Chamberlin from Wheelworks and Ashley Sanders from the Blue Hills Cycling Club are riding with me. Will be soooo great to have company.

And of course when I reunite with Dimitri (15) and a few days later Eleanna also home from college I will be grateful with a new appreciation of home.