Every journey begins with the first step or in the case of 34 cyclists with Bike and Build, the first dip.

On Wednesday morning the cyclists descended on Great Island Common in New Castle and dipped their bike tires into the Atlantic Ocean at the park's beach before they began a 3,800-mile trek across North America to Vancouver, British Columbia.

For the next 2 1/2 months, the cyclists will travel across the country and help out with various Habitat for Humanity projects while raising awareness about the need for more affordable housing. They are scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on August 27 where they will dip their bicycle tires into the Pacific Ocean.

Kyle Smith, a team leader from Mendocino, Calif., said the Bike and Build members helped Southeastern New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity volunteers work on two homes located on Silver Street in Rochester and Reservoir Road in Farmington.

The Portsmouth-based non-profit group and the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church hosts the cyclists for five days before they began their ride on Wednesday. The Portsmouth to Vancouver route is one of eight routes members of Bike and Build travel, he said.

Smith said each member of the group that biked from Portsmouth had to raise $4,000 to participate in the ride. He said the 34 cyclists raised $150,000 and they will donate a portion to various Habitat for Humanity groups, including SENH Habitat for Humanity.

Tim Boisvert, president of the SENH Habitat for Humanity, said the young men and women who are making this trek inspire him and his group's volunteers.

"They're an amazing group of young adults," he said. "When they come here they just inspire us."

Boisvert said this is the sixth year they hosted Bike and Build members and each time SENH Habitat for Humanity benefits from having them around.

"It just energizes ur whole organization," he said.

Rachel Jodway of Detroit, Mich., said she has previously biked the South Carolina to Santa Cruz, Calif., route before joining the northern U.S. route as a team leader.

When asked how she manages to bike so many miles, she replied, "It's definitely mind over matter. If you can ride 70 miles, then you can ride 100 miles."

Along the way, Jodway said they will spend the night at community centers and churches where they will eat dinner and breakfast. She said reaching the finish line at the end of each trek is bittersweet because along the way the Bike and Build members forge close relationships and they often do not see one another again.

Smith said he joined Bike and Build "for a sense of adventure" and then discovered how much he enjoyed biking for a cause like creating more affordable housing.