rainy day

As a team, we've been talking a lot about personal committments to sustainability. Here are a few simple actions I plan to take upon returning to "real life:"

*Outfit my new place with second hand items
*Eat local and organic food as much as possible
*Only drink fairly traded coffee and only eat fairly traded chocolate
*Buy all recycled paper products

What sustainable actions are you committed to? Leave a comment!

We've started doing street/community impromptu performances. Wednesday we performed at the Comox Valley Farmer's Market, after which I danced my heart out to some awesome drumming. We're hoping to perform at the Goats on the Roof Market in Coombs (yes, there are goats on the roof) some time in the next couple days. Folks seems genuinely interested in and excited about what we're doing... it's inspiring!

On another note, lately I've been sporting Pearl Izumi tights with a sun dress quite frequently. It makes me feel like a badass.

On a non-Otesha related note, I've done a bit to make post tour plans. I'm taking a ferry from Victoria to Seattle on July 1. I'll spend a day in Seattle visiting with my friend Erica, thenk train down to Portland to visit friends there, and then it's off to the East Bay to find housing. Finally, I'll head back to New Jersey, where I'll be 'til I drive out to Michigan with my Dad on July 25. Hope to see folks in the midst of all that before I move out West on August 15.

Hope you're all getting the sunshine that we're missing. Cheers!

Photos

photo update here: http://picasaweb.google.com/beccastoloff/VancouverIsland/

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Paradise

Sunday Ashlee and I conquered the 7% grade that we had been so anxiously awaiting / dreading since we so gleefully flew down it just two weeks before. Later that day, after a glorious swim in Keta Lake, we went down the longer 8% grade that we had climbed two weeks earlier. This proves that climbing hills is 99% mental and 1% physical.

Our 240km journey that started Saturday morning brought the team to beautiful Quadra Island yesterday evening. Yesterday's 78km ride in the rain was a challenge, but invigorating too. Last night we all went out to the pub and today Leah and I went for a wonderfully long stroll to and along Rebecca's Spit.

Now, some thank yous are in order. Thank you to...

My sister Sarah for my gortex booties.
Greg for his brakes.
Til and Joby for insisting I invest in good brakes.
John for creatively affixing fenders to my bike.
Jimmy for all his help with my bike.
Alex for my pedals and encouraging me to ride clipless.
My mom and dad for all their support.
Betsy and Sarah for the fun phone convos.
The Sunshine Otesha Tour for being my companions and teachers on this extraordinary journey.
+ many more

Cheers!