For the second year, bicyclists with the Bike and Build program spent the night hosted by the United Methodist Church in Boothbay Harbor.

Thirty-four youthful bicyclists pedaled their way on Sunday, June 12, from Rockland to sleep on the floor of the church as part of their three-week journey from Bar Harbor to New York City. The program raises money and supplies labor for affordable housing projects.

The 816-mile trip called the Coastal Drift is one of the shorter trips organized by the Philadelphia-based nonprofit. “Cross America” routes are more expensive, involve more work days and are 11 weeks long.

"They are a great group of kids,” said Maggie Tourtillotte, who coordinated meals and accommodations for the group. All three Boothbay area Methodist congregations supplied food and support for the overnight stay. The Boothbay Region YMCA was scheduled to provide showers for the group on its way out of town Monday.

Tourtillotte posted a bulletin board that featured a map and some of Maine’s features.

“I wanted them to know something about Maine,” she said. Many in the group had never been to Maine.

Tour leader Robin Dine said the hospitality of the church meant that more of the money raised for the tour can be donated to the various affordable housing programs that Bike and Build supports.

Dine said that 20 percent of the $2,500 tour fee is used for overhead and expenses, with the remainder going toward grants to affordable housing programs.

He said that the need for housing in Maine was different than in other parts of the country.

“Everybody wants to live in this beautiful state but many can’t afford to,” said Dine.

The first work site will be in Portland. Work was set to start on June 14. According to program information, Bike and Build had contributed more than $4.5 million projects as of the 2013 project season. In 2015, Coastal Drift raised $69,996.

For more information, visit www.bikeandbuild.org/