Escapades

Coding
World's worst RNG.
I learned Python a few years back, and just took a course in Java last year. I've also monkeyed around with Processing some. I enjoy programming, both as a useful tool and as a great way to screw around.
Woodworking
Front of the frame
Framing it up
Fundamentally, I enjoy making things. I'm learning how to make things out of wood.
Electronics
World's worst RNG.
I'm majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I prefer to call it SparkE, but people look at me funny when I do. At any rate, the projects below relate to electronics.
Miscellaneous
Colorado!

Odds and ends that won't be written about often, but merit mention. 
Textiles
Pannier, Redux
Metal
Hammer and Anvil
Blacksmithing 101
Bike & Build
Fire trucks behind us
August 9th - Wildfire!

Over summer 2015, I volunteered with Bike & Build, an organization that arranges cross-country cycling trips that aim to involve young adults in affordable housing. Over the course of the summer, we bike cross-country, averaging 70 miles a day (the longest day is 116 miles.)

Some days instead of cycling, we volunteer with local affordable housing organizations (usually Habitat for Humanity). On build days, we work on the build site from 8-4 or so. 

You can track my progress with Bike & Build's route tracker. Bike & Build also has a page describing my route. 

The articles below chronicle my journey in photographs. Hover over any photo for a caption or click to enlarge. I know that some images are sideways; I can't change that with the tools I have. You can click on the enlarged image to view the raw picture, and your browser should autorotate the picture.

July 27th - Fairgrounds!

By Ben Nitkin on

The tents, my friend, are blowing in the wind. The tents are blowing in the wind.

In yesterdays post, I promised more cool pictures of the fairground. Here they are!

When Helen and I woke up this morning, we were surprised to find high winds making life difficult for those in tents. Overnight lows notwithstanding, we all headed out around 9 to work on a build site for a while. They had a little interior work - cutting trim and wiring - that I helped out with. Most of the group was in the front yard landscaping. (I didn't envy them: it was cold and wet.)

We stopped by a bike shop on the way back from the build site and picked up patch kits. The southwestern part of Oregon and northwestern California are desert, so it'll be a while before we hit civilization again.

July 26th - Sweepity doo dah

By Ben Nitkin on

Sleeping out under the stars. Always nice, especially with a warm sleeping bag. Irrigated lawn notwithstanding, we are in a desert.

Rachel and I swept today (we were in back with the spare tire and medkit). In the morning, that meant we had to stop every few miles - someone had to take off a jacket that made more sense in the morning cold, some had flats. The state line was at mile 7, if I recall, and became our fourth stop. Fortunately, people started moving faster after the line; aside from Erin having continuing tire trouble, we didn't see much more till lunch. Robin and Alex both wound up in the van today; Robin's blood sugar was misbehaving, and Alex was just plain tuckered. 

It was a good day. Especially because every time we pulled over, Rachel started singing, then hollering "today is gonna be a good day."

July 25th - Rockets!

By Ben Nitkin on

Helen and I slept out under the stars and got a nice view of the dawn.

The ride today took us from the small town of Brigham City to the smaller town of Snowville. Around here, we only pass towns every 20-50 miles, so anywhere we can stop is a good place. We rode about 60 miles, mostly on a quiet section of I-84W, the same road I take to get from home to school. 

Asking the way we passed a Orbital facility where they built and tested rockets. It's odd, to say the least, to see an office building designed for a hundred people 40 miles from anywhere. Out in front, they built a rocket garden of engines Orbital had some part in building. Their centerpiece was the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster, which was around 100' tall and 12' or so in diameter. It is huge. 

Later in the day, we pulled into I-84 (it's just about the only paved road between here and Boise) for a spell. The interstate wasn't too busy, and had a wide shoulder. For a few miles, resurfacing work forced all traffic into the right lane, so we had a12' buffer from traffic. 

In Snowville, we set up in a small city park, for want of anywhere to camp. It was a little weird. 

July 24th - Bike Trails!

By Ben Nitkin on

We had to ferry all of our bags back upstairs in the elevator, then outside.

It's been a while some we were on dedicated bike trail for any length. Back in Aspen, I think. Today's ride covered a lot of trail on - I think - the same trail line as the trail into Carbondale: the Rio Grande Railroad. In a few spots, we actually passed old rail segments, exposed when the paved path turned to meet a road. As usual, the rail trail was very flat and covered some pleasant suburban scenery. It's been a little funny: this trip covers a lot of wilderness and occasionally routes through cities, but we rarely encounter suburbs. The cities just kinda peter out into farmland. 

July 23rd - Salt Lake City!

By Ben Nitkin on

Sunrise! People should watch sunrises more often.

We ride Salt Lake day before Pioneer Day, which is a queer little state holiday. Pioneer day looks an awful lot like the 4th of July; they have fireworks, a parade, and tons of events. And everything is closed. 

A bunch of people out on the sidewalk overnight in preparation for the parade tomorrow. 

The ride into Salt Lake was nice, but unremarkable. Pleasantly easy, if anything. 

July 22nd - Building Fences

By Ben Nitkin on

We rode to the build site in the morning. In a large group, we make quite an impression.

Literally. In the past three years, Bike & Build has rehabilitated this house from the ground up. Around five years ago, a developer bought the land around the house with plans to demolish the block for an apartment complex. Fortunately, the building was on a historic register and the developer was blocked from demolishing the building. They elected to sell the house to Habitat and develop the remainder of the block. In the past three years, Habitat has completely rehabilitated the house, replacing windows, removing lead, and  the interior. Bike & Build helped start the rehab two years ago, and we finished it. 

With a fence for the yard. 

The owners have already moved in, so we chatted with the wife. Her children helped a little bit with digging fenceposts. 

July 21st - Provo

By Ben Nitkin on

Sunrise at the campground. A perfectly uneventful night. Neither to cold nor too windy.

We left Starvation campground today for a very tiring 100 miles to Provo. The ride was very pretty, but also climbed up first 40 miles. Alex (leader) warned of a climb, but thought the peak was early in the day. Unknowingly climbing all morning was a smidgeon demoralizing. 

But it was pretty. After the peak, we descended about 10 miles down a narrow mountain valley. After a final highway stretch around a lake, we jumped onto bike trail for the remaining milage and passed a tall waterfall. 

Provo itself is nestled in a floodplain between two mountain ranges - wherever you look, cliffs tower overhead. 

July 20th - Starvation Campground

By Ben Nitkin on

These road cuts reminded me of a scene of of Pixar's Cars. I love the sedimentary lines on the dunes.

Today's ride brought us from Vernal to Duchense, something like 65 miles. We've been going back into a quiet part of the country, so the ride was mostly empty space. Valleys usually has small towns and farmland; hills were barren. 

July 19th - Tenth State!

By Ben Nitkin on

Sunrise in Meeker. I live how our trailer looks now.

I biked to Utah. Weird. 

Bike & Build lists the route from Meeker, CO to Vernal, UT as 109 miles. I think that's what the cue sheet said, too. 

In Dinosaur, just before the state line, a liquor store crowed "last chance to buy real beer!" I think Utah has a 4% maximum rule. 

The ride was barren, but pretty. As we entered Utah, the terrain changed from rocky metamorphic mountains into something like petrified sand dunes, slow rolling sandy perks with only a hint of shrubbery growing on them. 

July 18th - Smile in the Sky

By Ben Nitkin on

One last look at our quadruple bedroom in Carbondale. The house, as you may have read was huge: 20,000 square feet and 8 million dollars.

As I warned before, swathes of the country don't really have internet access. The past few days (before August 8th, I mean) have been a lot of camping and long days. I'll tell you about it when I get there. But for now, back to Colorado!

We headed out of Carbondale today, bound for points west (Meeker, CO). The morning was fairly uneventful, but lunch was definitely an event. Two Bike & Build alumni invited us over to their house in Rifle; since Zoe Goldberg had a birthday, we had a cake, too!

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