After months of begging people for money, whipping ourselves into shape and doubting the fact that we would actually participate in Climate Ride 2009, on Saturday, September 26, Erik Karwatowski and I embarked on a 300 mile journey from NYC to Washington DC. Fellow junior Emily Conrad followed along by car to document the experience on camera. Our goal? To spread awareness of the current climate crisis through curiosity. It’s not often you see a group of 125 riders in matching attire fly through your sleepy hometown.
The benefit ride took place just in time to bring our message to the Capital, 67 days before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Here is a day-by-day account of our 5-day journey…
Day 1: Saturday morning in NYC, we rise early to meet up at the Central Park Zoo, where registration took place the previous evening. We grab our bikes, fill our bottles and hoard Clif bars into our jersey pockets (Clif sponsored the ride). 125 of us then make our way over to the CBS Morning Show where Climate Ride is featured!
After our television appearance we hit Pier 11, where a ferry awaits us for a 30-minute jaunt over to New Jersey. After a delicious lunch we are on bikes and our way to Princeton!
We hit a rut when Erik’s bike breaks to the point of unsalvageable after the first few miles. The Climate Ride rescue squad brings a replacement after an hour of waiting on the side of the road.
Back on our bikes, we pass the infamous McMansions of New Jersey, followed by some surprisingly beautiful farmland. A fellow climate rider joins us for the second half of the mileage for the day and the three of us arrive at our destination for the evening fashionably late, after a few unintentional detours. The evening includes two speakers and a performance by climate riders and bluegrass band, The Great Salt Licks. Erik’s dad wins “Dad of the Year” for bringing a new rental bike for the rest of the ride.
Day 2: The rain is actually refreshing and as we power up hills, and the soreness has yet to kick in. Best speakers of the week occur tonight: Alison Gannett is an Olympic freeskier who rode the whole way with us. Her website explains her best, as “World Champion extreme big mountain freeskier, competitive endurance mountain biker, and global cooling consultant has spent her life dedicated to solutions to climate change.” Seriously cool woman. Climate scientist David Kroodsma tells us about his bike tour from Washington State to Argentina, then from the east coast back across the country.
Makes me want to do something with my life!
Day 3: 65 miles of biking in 25 mph winds, through the Amish country. It is Amish in its entirety, complete with horses, buggies and some serious hills. Slow day to say the least.
A downpour greets us in the afternoon, but luckily the accommodations for the evening, at a Mennonite camp, include an inside option. The directors of Climate Ride take really good care of us, but at this point, I miss my mattress. Speakers for the night include Roz Savage, a British woman who rowed across the Atlantic Ocean by herself. Totally inspiring. We also hear from Colin Beavan, AKA “No Impact Man” and try our best to stay awake during his movie.
Day 4: Today hurts the most. Still windy, but today is the only rain free day of the trip!
After 55 miles of pain, a Jewish retreat center in Reisterstown, MD is a sight for sore eyes and legs: a beautiful place with hotel-like rooms and bathrooms. Dinner is delicious, and extra special climate rider Friis Arne Petersen, aka the Ambassador of Denmark, tells us about why Denmark is more climate conscious than the U.S. We also watch a really cool music video about bike culture in Copenhagen, where everyone is attractive, and hear from Mike Tidwell, the President of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Day 5: EARLY morning. Today is the day we have all been waiting for – 68 miles to go before the Capital! 46 miles before lunch in Silver Spring is followed by the last 22 into DC, where we are accompanied by numerous ambassadors, family members and friends.
We make a scene throughout the city and do some victory laps in front of the Capitol before we settle down to hear appreciative talks from congressmen Markey, Waxman, Kucinich and Senators Cardin and Shaheen. How appropriate that Kerry and Boxer presented the Senate Climate Bill right as we finished our last miles!
My body may hate me, but Climate Ride 2009 was an invigorating and inspiring way to spend five days of my life. 5 days, $5,367 of fundraising, 300 miles and several newly discovered muscles later, Erik and I are back at Conn to share our experiences. The amazing people and beautiful sights made the pain bearable.
Climate Ride 2010 here I come!
