I'm trying to write this post and I keep getting distracted by this awesome crepe that's in front of me. And I can't tell if I'm bastardizing this crepe by smothering it in cholula but it's filled with eggs, kale, tomato and garlic aioli so it's practically asking for it.
I'm in boston now. I'd been in New York for the month of May and just got to Boston last night. My graduation was May 4th and my flight to New York was May 7th. At 5 a.m. The flight departed at 5 a.m. It was nutso.
Taking apart and packing my bike was also nutso. I did this on May 5th; started at 11 a.m. and didn't finish till about 6 p.m. My friend Kris gave me an old bike and wheel box he had, which I'm super thankful for since otherwise I'd have had to buy one. I went to the bike shop around the corner from my house to grab a pedal wrench and talked to the dudes there for awhile, told 'em what I was doing, etc. They told me the shop could pack my bike for me--boxes included--for $40. I considered that for a sec (it would free up a big ol' chunk of my day, leaving me grease-free and magnitudes less frustrated), but it wouldn't be such a smart investment on my part.
I followed some basic video tutorials for guidance and did everything slowly and carefully. It's my bike so I'll learn how to take care of it myself. Plus, I'm going to have to take it apart and put it back together at least twice more after this first go. Plus plus, I'm kind of stubborn and I told myself I'd do this all myself in the beginning, so I should still be doing it all myself now. And I did. And I just unpacked it here in Boston and it's fine!
Except I--ugh, okay--I shipped my bike tools and a pedal (one pedal?!) to Seattle. So this is what brings me to this crepe/coffee shop, writing this and waiting for this nearby bike shop to open. I'd been meaning to buy new pedals for the tour anyways, so I guess this all worked out anyway?
And before I go much further, let me just further detail how my move out/ship off day went. Right, all day I was messing with my bike. I finally got the frame and wheels secured in their respective boxes with lots and lots of assorted padding materials. Old bubble wrap, paper bags, slivers of cardboard...all in the mix.
Then comes the part where I cram myself and all my boxes into my roommate's bug (Thank you, Kat, for putting up with my absurdity and lack of move-out foresight). Good thing it was a convertible. I should've taken a picture, but let this provide some guidance to the imagination:
That medium Lowe's box is full of my bike panniers, rear rack, tools, helmet, more ecetera and I guess my other pedal (otherwise I have no freaking idea where it went). Shipped that to Seattle where it'll live with my friend till I'm out there late July. (Thanks, Matt!) The more disheveled looking box on the ground was shipped to my pop's place in DC where it'll live with my other two giant suitcases from The Move until I come pick it up in September. (Thanks, Dad!) And, yep, those last two mongo boxes on the right are my wheel and frame boxes. Shipped those to my friend here in Boston. (Thanks, Elliott!)
Shipping shit is, like, real dang expensive. I have forced the FedEx prices out of my immediate conscious, but I do remember that I shipped my wheel + frame boxes through BikeFlights. It was super affordable. $50 total. I highly recommend.
But anyways, shipping's done and so is my month in New York. It was great I could pick up work back at abc cocina again (restaurant I worked at last summer) for a month to save up more for my tour and cover some of my moving expenses. Plus, wouldn't have rather spent my interim month any other way; I love that place too much.
And now in off to grab new pedals, enjoy the sun and finish assembling my bike. Hope it all comes out in one piece.