Peace Rider is in the saddle again for anyone still monitoring the blogosphere for some signs of activity on this sight. Hi oh Silver and away! My new steed is an old, refurbished Schwinn my neighbor gave me.
I joined a 350SolutionsRevoltions ride already in progress. It was a good fit for a follow on to my first ride for the planet that ended in May.
Alec Neal, and Katherine Ball set out from Portland, OR in mid-August to film a documentary on local solutions to climate change. They were joined in Montana by Malcomb Boothroyd from Whitehorse. He actually began his ride from Skagway, Alaska In Edina, MN, a burb of Minneaopolis, they were joined by Paul Thompson, our sagwagon, driving a Toyota Prius.
In one of those coincidences not coincidences Malcomb is the son of Whitehorse friends I knew from flying days in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
I flew into Chicago from Fairbanks on 27 October. Paul met me at the airport thankfully, with none of those anxiety producing moments of arriving "cold turkey" in a new place.
The group had the use of an apartment for the Chicago stay. Kathy had moved out for three days to give the group a place to stay. Just one example of being cared for along the way by the generosity of friends and friends of friends.
We are in another such place this day near Toledo, Ohio the home of Becky and Dean Kasperzak, friends of Alec Neal. Yesterday we put nearly 80 miles behind us so it was slow getting going this morning. Next stop for interviews is Cleveland about 120 miles down the road, a shorter day in the offing today.
I have some inkling of where the expression "Holy Toledo" may have come from. Passing a landfill south of Detroit a roadside nail flattened my tire. Glueless patches failed thereafter and it took several attempts and an hour or so of fussing and glue down patch before the tube to held air. The delay put us into Toledo just at dark.
I should add that Malcomb is 18, Alec is 27 and Katherine 26. Paul and I are men of some vintage with me in the more elevated vintage category. At the outset I was wondering whether I could just keep up with these young folks. Luckily Paul is carrying much of our weight so the bicycles are lightly loaded. I also had two relatively low mileage days at the outset to gather strength after a four month layoff.
There must have been some residual conditioning from the earlier ride because I'm hanging in there, somewhat slower, but at least the rest of the group is still in sight at the end of the day. And after all, as Katherine said to me, they're not going to leave me behind.
It's a good mix of young and old that works well together. I am blessed to have these folks as traveling companions.
The plan is to reach DC on 15 November, spend a few days walking the halls of Congress lobbying members. Afterward, we'll leave by train for the southern coast and take a boat to Cancun or near vicinity. The latter has yet to be arranged. Several leads remain to be followed.
IF YOU CAN HELP WITH A BOAT CONNECTION ACROSS THE GULF TO PROGRESO, ON THE NORTH COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENN. LET ME KNOW.
Through contacts Katherine had developed, I have been able to volunteer with Klimaform, the climate talk organizers. Katherine and Alec are also volunteers as well as delegates to the conference. Food is provide and we will camp together in an eco-village. It should be interesting.
Malcomb is part of the Canadian youth delegation to the talks. Paul is also a delegate. I was too late to apply to attend the conference talks but I am happy to be a freelancer to go where I'm needed.
The talks run from late November thru 11 Dec.
After the talks not sure where the Universe would have me go. This is, after all, a faith walk. But have-wheels-will-travel. I plan to take my old Schwinn with me and will see, perhaps Cuba.
I will continue to add to the blog as computer access allows.
See 350Solutionsrevolutions web site for more information and a Face book page for updates on the ride progress.
Don - Peace Rider
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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