We made it!

The ride down the Capital Crescent Trail was wonderful. A nice gentle DOWN slope was quite welcome after the hills this morning. I am afraid I don't have many pictures since I was using the regular camera during this part of the ride. Maybe I will post them in the future.....

It was nice to be met at the Capitol by my friend Susan.

Then after some rally speeches we dodged some rain drops to go down to the Yards to pick up our luggage.

Now after a shower and some food in me the next thing to do is prepare to do some lobbying tomorrow morning.

I hope I can properly iron my shirt!!

One last leg to go.

The Climate Riders gather at the Thompson Boat House for the final ride up to the Capitol. We're tired, but we're energized.

Day 4: The day of hills

The climate riders left Holtwood,PA, with lots of energy and enthusiasm, taking in wonderful views of the surrounding farms and then the Holtwood Dam. With these views came a lot of hill climbing. And I do mean a lot. I am afraid I don't have any extra pictures for the day other than the ones I tweeted, and that's because I spent the whole day pedaling. Okay, I also had to walk some of the steeper hills. Northern Maryland is known as horse country and I think that's because the hills are too steep for tractors to till the soil!!!!
Our ride directions said we had an elevation gain of 2500 ft. I think it was double. But I am not complaining, just commenting. The ride was great. But it was nice to pull into the Pearlstone conference center where a hot shower, good food and a comfy bed awaited.

Tomorrow, it's on to DC.

Anyone who is in the DC area should check http://www.climateride.org for information on how to join us!

Day 3 From fog to Amish country

Well after a quick rain shower that woke everyone up at 6:00, the climate riders broke camp and headed out....... Only to be faced with what I am calling Mortuary Hill.

The bonus on the other side was a chocolate croissant at scenic St. Peter's.

Okay, here's what it looked like without the pastry.

Then it was on to Lancaster county. The fog and the rain let up and it turned out to be a very nice ride. We hit the ride halfway mark at lunch and then it was on to Strasburg where I got to visit with my parents. Lots of family one this ride really helps boost the confidence.

The last 15 miles were a little hard, as I was getting tired. The turn into Camp Andrews was a welcome sight. I have a comfy bunk for the night. I doubt I will wake up early tomorrow.
Next stop: Maryland!

Day 2: The Long Haul

The second day of Climate Ride started out in sunny Princeton. The first 17 miles to Lambertville was familiar territory for me. Some riders strained on the two hills into town, but at least I knew what to expect.

After a very nice visit with the family and friends, it was off to Doylestown.

A nice lunch stop to recharge the batteries. The it was off for the remaining 45 miles.

The it was a nice afternoon of rolling hills.

Okay, I thought there were a few too many hills.

But in the end it was nice to pull into Camp Innabah. A hot shower, hearty dinner and some comfy bunks were most welcome!

Looking forward to day three. My legs not be willing by my head and heart will drag them along....

Day one: The road to Princeton

So all 200 of us got on our bikes to the ferry this morning after a grueling 1.6 mile ride in Manhattan. To get 200 bikes off a boat we had to run a bicycle bucket brigade.

After a nice lunch, the Climate Ride pelleton left Atlantic Highlands.

Then we took a nice ride across central Jersey to Princeton. A sumptuous dinner and good conversation was had by all. And as the sun sets over the Climate Ride campground (AKA the Princeton YWCA soccer fields), the riders listened to speakers from NOAA, the NRDC and the Carbon War Room. We all then settled in for rest and preparations for Day 2!

Family visit to the Big Apple

Well, after drive into the big city, we needed to do something touristy. So the Empire State Building it was.

After climbing a few stairs.

Then lunch at the park.

And then another walk back to my hotel. Yep. We wore out the kids. Hopefully it's a quiet ride home.

So now I am getting myself psyched up for this bike ride. The check in is in a little while. Let's get going huh?

Into the city we go.....

Bright and early on a Friday morning, the family escorts me into Manhattan. Well, okay we're trying to circumvent the peak traffic times. And maybe we'll do something fun while we're in the city......

What kind of training son?

Any training, sir!

Okay, so I mixed the quote up?  Anyone get the reference?

Yes, I am starting to feel just that punchy....  After a ride to and from work on Thursday, I sat in the warm sun and gentle breeze for our Commencement ceremonies Friday morning.  And after bidding congratulations to our graduates, I donned by biking togs and did almost 50 miles in the afternoon through the Sourland Mountains.  Okay, they're really just some sizable hills, but good training.  I did feel it the next morning.  Good training.  Maybe, not army training, but I'll take any training time I can get.

Climate Ride starts in 6 days!

I made the paper!!

Okay, so it was the local paper, the Lambertville Beacon.  And they generated the story from a press release I sent them, but still, it's publicity for the Climate Ride!  And what's more it made a few more of my neighbors aware of what I am going to be doing.  The link to the web-version of the story can be found here.  I hope a few more Lambervillians come out to cheer us on next Sunday morning!

I am not the only one.......

It's always heartening when you work with people who share your values. As a college professor, I am on the same page with my colleagues about education, for example. Bur when it comes to getting from home to our suburban campus, there are a lot of people who opt for the auto. One of my colleagues asked me today, why on earth would I ride my bike when the parking is so easy on campus. Sigh. It reminds me of my graduate advisor who used to ask why would anyone want to go camping. "That's why nature invented housing". -- True quote.

Anyway at least one of my colleagues feels as I do that cycling to work is a good thing. So Tom organized Rider's first bike to school day. Okay, so only four of us made it for the photo, but you have to start somewhere.

But as Arlo Guthrie said "If one person does it, they'll think he's nuts, but if you have four people doing it, friends, they may think it's an organization". And that's just what it is......

Another joy in cycling......

Along the lines of my last post.....One of the best things about cycling is the opportunity to stop and take a look around. You're not moving too fast to stop and say hello. So today I was riding by the high school, which is a couple of miles out of town, and I happen to see a friend coaching his baseball team; unusual only because he teaches at a different school district. In a car I would have sped on by and not even seen Jeff standing with his team. But on a bike, it was easy to stop and say hello.

The joys of the bike lane....