Sunday, October 5, 2008
Day 3 - The hills and the Amish
Throughout the whole ride, we were told that day 3 was the day we needed to look out for. Apparently it was going to be the longest day, with the most amount of hills. As we later found out, this was a lie. Day 3 was tough, but Day 4 was more extreme in both regards. Nonetheless, the amount of hills is not inversely correlated with pleasantness of riding!
For most of the day, we were riding through beautiful valleys littered with corn fields and silos. We even saw a ton of Tobacco leaves hanging in storage sheds! Despite the obvious issues with corn (and Tobacco!), the scenery was definitely the most beautiful I'd seen throughout the ride.
(For more info on the 'obvious issues with corn', check out Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma for more info, or watch this video if you don't feel like reading:
If you look at my pictures, you can see some of my attempts at capturing such beauty. Then came the Amish, and with them the scenery became even more interesting and exciting. Amid the small streets and the rolling hills, me and the other riders got glimpses of the simple lifestyle of the Amish people. From the old-school clothes hanging on clotheslines to the horse drawn tractors, we kept on stopping to take pictures, sometimes to the point of annoying the peace-loving natives. The best part of the day was when I was riding with about 10 other people and we all hit the breaks when a sign caught our attention. It shone in the day like a shooting star at night. It was a hand-written sign that read: "Cold Home-made Root Beer". Under the strong September sun, a sign like that feels like a mirage in the desert, but the root beer was really there.It was a great sight, a small garden up front, the root beer stand with the a payment system based on honor, and a couple of dogs barking in the animal stalls. Thirst quenched from the root beer, some of the riders thought they'd take this chance to get a water re-fill, so we went up to the quiet house to see if anyone inside might be willing to give us some water. The door opened up and a young morman girl (16-19) walked out in full attire, including the head cap saying that she would be willing to take our bottles to fill up inside. As the first Climate Rider inched closer, a larger, older woman walked out, looked at what was probably her daughter and pointed inside. Without saying a word, our young friend walked back inside with a sad look. Relieved that she had just prevented her daughter for being exposed to ten secular men in spandex, the old lady pointed to the hose in front of the house and invited us to fill up there.
The lunch stop this day came at the 55 mile mark, way later than any other day. By the point we reached Strasburg for a buttery grilled cheese sandwich and delicious ice cream, we had crossed much of Pennsylvania, including a Morman town called Intercourse: I ate too much. 2 whole wheat bagels, a bag of weird pretzel sticks, an apple, a banana, a nasty grilled cheese (the only vegetarian option at the lunch place), some stale chips that came with the sandwich, and finally, a delicious cup of ice cream. Despite feeling disgusting for having eaten so much, I was feeling entirely healthy. I guess that's what getting exercise does to you, a new feeling for me. While getting ready to leave Strasburg, we came upon this sign (you will have to zoom in to see it):
It is a great testament to the ability of the people of Pennsylvania to live together despite clear cultural differences, and should be an example to be followed throughout the world where the pressures of globalization are threatening local identities and cultures.
After 18 more miles, we finally reached our destination, a Jesus camp operated by the son of 2 Amish people dedicated to helping inner city youth appreciate "god's creation". Despite the recurring religious talk (including the blessing of all of our meals) to which I am somewhat averse, it was an extremely welcoming place, and it was great to see how passionate the camp operators are about solving the climate crisis. The camp also had dorms which we could use if we gave a 6 dollar donation. Considering the welcoming and non-proselytizing welcome we were given, I thought they absolutely deserved it. Plus, I was so tired that I was immensely glad to have a bed to sleep in.
That night we heard from some interesting people, including Randy Swisher, the Executive Directore of the American Wind Association, and some people from Point Carbon, one of the orgs in charge of overseeing the implementation of Kyoto and the carbon market. It was interesting to hear the optimism displayed by the Point Carbon presenters, but I was a little disappointed by their blind faith in how the market would lead to just reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. After-all, so far the offset market has been plagued by scandals and corporate exploitation, including the oppression and displacement of native peoples in equatorial forests and the offsetting of 'cleaner-fuels' (i.e. getting credits for building slightly less polluting power plants, including natural gas and coal gasification). I asked them about how they are dealing with claims of CO2LONIALISM, but they didn't really answer the question coherently. I'm glad they are doing the work they are doing, but it seems to me that replicating the failure of our financial market in our carbon market might be a bad idea (and by that I mean the end of glaciers).
Anyways, Day 3 proved to be tough but beautiful, and by the end of the day I felt like I could take on anything. The rumors about how tough Day 4 was going to be kinda scared me, but I felt confident that I was going to be able to pull it off and complete the ride with a large smile!
For most of the day, we were riding through beautiful valleys littered with corn fields and silos. We even saw a ton of Tobacco leaves hanging in storage sheds! Despite the obvious issues with corn (and Tobacco!), the scenery was definitely the most beautiful I'd seen throughout the ride.
(For more info on the 'obvious issues with corn', check out Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma for more info, or watch this video if you don't feel like reading:
If you look at my pictures, you can see some of my attempts at capturing such beauty. Then came the Amish, and with them the scenery became even more interesting and exciting. Amid the small streets and the rolling hills, me and the other riders got glimpses of the simple lifestyle of the Amish people. From the old-school clothes hanging on clotheslines to the horse drawn tractors, we kept on stopping to take pictures, sometimes to the point of annoying the peace-loving natives. The best part of the day was when I was riding with about 10 other people and we all hit the breaks when a sign caught our attention. It shone in the day like a shooting star at night. It was a hand-written sign that read: "Cold Home-made Root Beer". Under the strong September sun, a sign like that feels like a mirage in the desert, but the root beer was really there.It was a great sight, a small garden up front, the root beer stand with the a payment system based on honor, and a couple of dogs barking in the animal stalls. Thirst quenched from the root beer, some of the riders thought they'd take this chance to get a water re-fill, so we went up to the quiet house to see if anyone inside might be willing to give us some water. The door opened up and a young morman girl (16-19) walked out in full attire, including the head cap saying that she would be willing to take our bottles to fill up inside. As the first Climate Rider inched closer, a larger, older woman walked out, looked at what was probably her daughter and pointed inside. Without saying a word, our young friend walked back inside with a sad look. Relieved that she had just prevented her daughter for being exposed to ten secular men in spandex, the old lady pointed to the hose in front of the house and invited us to fill up there.
The lunch stop this day came at the 55 mile mark, way later than any other day. By the point we reached Strasburg for a buttery grilled cheese sandwich and delicious ice cream, we had crossed much of Pennsylvania, including a Morman town called Intercourse: I ate too much. 2 whole wheat bagels, a bag of weird pretzel sticks, an apple, a banana, a nasty grilled cheese (the only vegetarian option at the lunch place), some stale chips that came with the sandwich, and finally, a delicious cup of ice cream. Despite feeling disgusting for having eaten so much, I was feeling entirely healthy. I guess that's what getting exercise does to you, a new feeling for me. While getting ready to leave Strasburg, we came upon this sign (you will have to zoom in to see it):
It is a great testament to the ability of the people of Pennsylvania to live together despite clear cultural differences, and should be an example to be followed throughout the world where the pressures of globalization are threatening local identities and cultures.
After 18 more miles, we finally reached our destination, a Jesus camp operated by the son of 2 Amish people dedicated to helping inner city youth appreciate "god's creation". Despite the recurring religious talk (including the blessing of all of our meals) to which I am somewhat averse, it was an extremely welcoming place, and it was great to see how passionate the camp operators are about solving the climate crisis. The camp also had dorms which we could use if we gave a 6 dollar donation. Considering the welcoming and non-proselytizing welcome we were given, I thought they absolutely deserved it. Plus, I was so tired that I was immensely glad to have a bed to sleep in.
That night we heard from some interesting people, including Randy Swisher, the Executive Directore of the American Wind Association, and some people from Point Carbon, one of the orgs in charge of overseeing the implementation of Kyoto and the carbon market. It was interesting to hear the optimism displayed by the Point Carbon presenters, but I was a little disappointed by their blind faith in how the market would lead to just reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. After-all, so far the offset market has been plagued by scandals and corporate exploitation, including the oppression and displacement of native peoples in equatorial forests and the offsetting of 'cleaner-fuels' (i.e. getting credits for building slightly less polluting power plants, including natural gas and coal gasification). I asked them about how they are dealing with claims of CO2LONIALISM, but they didn't really answer the question coherently. I'm glad they are doing the work they are doing, but it seems to me that replicating the failure of our financial market in our carbon market might be a bad idea (and by that I mean the end of glaciers).
Anyways, Day 3 proved to be tough but beautiful, and by the end of the day I felt like I could take on anything. The rumors about how tough Day 4 was going to be kinda scared me, but I felt confident that I was going to be able to pull it off and complete the ride with a large smile!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Day 2 - Crossing into the Valley
Camping is one tough activity. Due to my job and my passion for solving the climate crisis, people always assume that I fit all the stereotypes of the enviro-hippie. Needless to say that people are always shocked to learn that I dread camping and that I have a harsh relationship with the natural world outside of the comforts of the city.
Throughout my first night, I repeatedly woke up hoping for the morning to come and warm up the air and clear the unbearable humidity. Finally the time came to get up and I felt more tired than when I had laid down, and all I wanted to do was to get on my bike and start riding to warm up. While waiting for some friends to get ready, I biked into the town of Princeton to look for a good breakfast place and found a delicious bakery that had an amazing focaccia!
Riding became a little more challenging, with some pretty good hills slowing my pace. Nonetheless, I managed to keep pace with some of the mid-pack riders. The first water-stop was at the bank of the Delaware river, right on the border between the Garden and Keystone States.
As we ventured in Pennsylvania, the landscape started changing into a deeply agricultural one. The towns we crossed were very beautiful and seemed to be teeming with character. We had our lunch stop in Doylestown, a welcoming town where we saw plenty of Obama campaigners and friendly natives. We even received 24 fresh baked bagels for free because the owner of the bagel store liked our story!
The rest of the day was an intense bike ride, the hills were starting to get to me, yet the organizers insisted that the third day was going to be the hardest, so I kept pushing myself. My knees began to hurt halfway through the day, probably because my seat was too low. By the time we got to Valley Forge I was lagging behind and joined a group of slow riders that I had a much easier time keeping pace with despite the pain in my knees. When we finally reached the Freedom Foundation (a convention center in the middle of Valley Forge), I could hardly believe that I made it. I iced my knees, took some anti-inflamatory medicine and raised my seat, hoping to feel better the following morning.
Valley Forge is was an amazing place. As most of the kids I was with learned in school, Valley Forge was the winter camp-site for Washington's Army in 1776, when the revolutionary war officially started. During that dreadful and abnormally cold winter, Washington trained his militia and turned them into the Continental Army. It is a place that reeks patriotism and destiny. Washington's epic encampment became a metaphor for growth of the climate riders and the significance of our ride.
This was our first full day of biking and, despite some structural pain, I was feeling great. I could feel the purpose in my ride, and was feeding off of the amazing energy of my fellow climate warriors. I spent the night talking with other youth organizers about our plans to change the world, and everything seemed to make more sense than it had in ages.
At about 105 miles, we were 1/3 of the way through, but the hardest, hilliest days were still ahead of us!
Throughout my first night, I repeatedly woke up hoping for the morning to come and warm up the air and clear the unbearable humidity. Finally the time came to get up and I felt more tired than when I had laid down, and all I wanted to do was to get on my bike and start riding to warm up. While waiting for some friends to get ready, I biked into the town of Princeton to look for a good breakfast place and found a delicious bakery that had an amazing focaccia!
Riding became a little more challenging, with some pretty good hills slowing my pace. Nonetheless, I managed to keep pace with some of the mid-pack riders. The first water-stop was at the bank of the Delaware river, right on the border between the Garden and Keystone States.
 |
| From Climate Ride 08! |
As we ventured in Pennsylvania, the landscape started changing into a deeply agricultural one. The towns we crossed were very beautiful and seemed to be teeming with character. We had our lunch stop in Doylestown, a welcoming town where we saw plenty of Obama campaigners and friendly natives. We even received 24 fresh baked bagels for free because the owner of the bagel store liked our story!
The rest of the day was an intense bike ride, the hills were starting to get to me, yet the organizers insisted that the third day was going to be the hardest, so I kept pushing myself. My knees began to hurt halfway through the day, probably because my seat was too low. By the time we got to Valley Forge I was lagging behind and joined a group of slow riders that I had a much easier time keeping pace with despite the pain in my knees. When we finally reached the Freedom Foundation (a convention center in the middle of Valley Forge), I could hardly believe that I made it. I iced my knees, took some anti-inflamatory medicine and raised my seat, hoping to feel better the following morning.
Valley Forge is was an amazing place. As most of the kids I was with learned in school, Valley Forge was the winter camp-site for Washington's Army in 1776, when the revolutionary war officially started. During that dreadful and abnormally cold winter, Washington trained his militia and turned them into the Continental Army. It is a place that reeks patriotism and destiny. Washington's epic encampment became a metaphor for growth of the climate riders and the significance of our ride.
This was our first full day of biking and, despite some structural pain, I was feeling great. I could feel the purpose in my ride, and was feeding off of the amazing energy of my fellow climate warriors. I spent the night talking with other youth organizers about our plans to change the world, and everything seemed to make more sense than it had in ages.
At about 105 miles, we were 1/3 of the way through, but the hardest, hilliest days were still ahead of us!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Day 1 - From the City to the Gardens
Waking up wasn't easy on the first morning of my ride.
The previous night I arrived at the Climate Ride meet-up in the lower-east side after an arduous bike ride through NYC streets carrying a heavy duffel bag, my sleeping bag and a backpack. Might not have been the ideal time for a first ride through NYC, but I had a blast swirving through cars and learning this other city's bike habits.
The Climate Ride party was exciting at first, but got dull pretty soon. Bored and shocked by the $30 credit card minimum at the bar, I decided to meet up with my NYC host, Lisa, to get drinks in the upper-west side, launching me in my second improbable ride across Manhattan. Highlight of the night: they play Beer Pong in NY bars!!
Back to the morning in question. Not hearing my alarm, I woke up all of a sudden as Lisa screamed: "Tommaso, you are still here!" I jumped up and, without even thinking, started changing into my bike gear there and then. Within 30 seconds I was on my way out of the door, rushing to the meeting place some 8 miles away from where I was staying and already late.
All and all it was an exciting way to start a five day bike ride. Huffing and puffing, getting lost in queens, trying desperately to get a hold of rider friends to make sure they wouldn't leave without me, I made it back to the Lower-East Side with time to spare and pump my tires.
It was an amazing sight, to see 100 people trying to get ready before launching in an amazing adventure. Possibly due to the gust of adrenaline i got from thinking I was going to be missing the ferry out of the city, I wasn't too nervous. I was mostly anxious to get started, already missing having two wheels under my seat, I waited as everyone finished getting ready, and finally, people started clipping into their pedals.
The ride had begun, an awkward spectacle of 100 bikers trying to move slowly through a crowded city, trying not to fall on one another as the clipping and unclipping of pedals grew more frequent.
By the time we arrived at the river, we had already established the need for common calls such as "Car-Back!" (there is a car behind us, stay single file) and "Slowing!" or "Stopping!" (let people know behind you that if they don't hit the breaks, they will most likely run into you).
The ferry dropped us off in New Jersey, and that is where we started our 300 mile journey to the heart of American politics. The first stretch of about 43 miles, from Atlantic Highlands to Princeton took us about 4 hours to complete, and had us cross through cute garden estates, manicured seemingly endless grass lawns, and beautiful forested land.
Every day we rode we had a couple of planned water lunch stops on the way. On the first day we stopped in a cute little town called Englishtown, which really did have an English look. Wish I had taken more pictures. Another place where I wish I had my camera out for was Princeton. Coming from a public Californian school built in the 70es, the architectural detail of Princeton buildings was fantastic.
The first night I passed out early, I was exhausted, but excited about the beginning of a wonderful trip.
The previous night I arrived at the Climate Ride meet-up in the lower-east side after an arduous bike ride through NYC streets carrying a heavy duffel bag, my sleeping bag and a backpack. Might not have been the ideal time for a first ride through NYC, but I had a blast swirving through cars and learning this other city's bike habits.
The Climate Ride party was exciting at first, but got dull pretty soon. Bored and shocked by the $30 credit card minimum at the bar, I decided to meet up with my NYC host, Lisa, to get drinks in the upper-west side, launching me in my second improbable ride across Manhattan. Highlight of the night: they play Beer Pong in NY bars!!
Back to the morning in question. Not hearing my alarm, I woke up all of a sudden as Lisa screamed: "Tommaso, you are still here!" I jumped up and, without even thinking, started changing into my bike gear there and then. Within 30 seconds I was on my way out of the door, rushing to the meeting place some 8 miles away from where I was staying and already late.
All and all it was an exciting way to start a five day bike ride. Huffing and puffing, getting lost in queens, trying desperately to get a hold of rider friends to make sure they wouldn't leave without me, I made it back to the Lower-East Side with time to spare and pump my tires.
It was an amazing sight, to see 100 people trying to get ready before launching in an amazing adventure. Possibly due to the gust of adrenaline i got from thinking I was going to be missing the ferry out of the city, I wasn't too nervous. I was mostly anxious to get started, already missing having two wheels under my seat, I waited as everyone finished getting ready, and finally, people started clipping into their pedals.
 |
| From Climate Ride 08! |
By the time we arrived at the river, we had already established the need for common calls such as "Car-Back!" (there is a car behind us, stay single file) and "Slowing!" or "Stopping!" (let people know behind you that if they don't hit the breaks, they will most likely run into you).
The ferry dropped us off in New Jersey, and that is where we started our 300 mile journey to the heart of American politics. The first stretch of about 43 miles, from Atlantic Highlands to Princeton took us about 4 hours to complete, and had us cross through cute garden estates, manicured seemingly endless grass lawns, and beautiful forested land.
Every day we rode we had a couple of planned water lunch stops on the way. On the first day we stopped in a cute little town called Englishtown, which really did have an English look. Wish I had taken more pictures. Another place where I wish I had my camera out for was Princeton. Coming from a public Californian school built in the 70es, the architectural detail of Princeton buildings was fantastic.
The first night I passed out early, I was exhausted, but excited about the beginning of a wonderful trip.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Climate Ride '08 Welcome!
Hey!
Welcome to my Climate Ride '08 blog. I probably should have created this before the ride, but I didn't really understand the power of these new web tools until seeing them in action this week.
Many of my fellow riders were twittering updates, updating their blogs, sending pictures to share, all with their phones. Next time, I'll make sure to plan something like that ahead of time so you don't have to wait five days for any news from me.
This site will grow somewhat slowly, but I hope to have all my favorite pictures, reflections from the trip and videos.
Come back for more!
Welcome to my Climate Ride '08 blog. I probably should have created this before the ride, but I didn't really understand the power of these new web tools until seeing them in action this week.
Many of my fellow riders were twittering updates, updating their blogs, sending pictures to share, all with their phones. Next time, I'll make sure to plan something like that ahead of time so you don't have to wait five days for any news from me.
This site will grow somewhat slowly, but I hope to have all my favorite pictures, reflections from the trip and videos.
Come back for more!
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