Last September, I spent five beautiful autumn days on a meticulously-planned bicycle trip from New York City to Washington, DC. We pedaled through gorgeous, varied landscapes, from lively New York streets, to pastoral New Jersey farmland, to inviting Amish communities and, eventually, to the grandeur of our nation’s capital. Each night, we enjoyed delicious catered meals, enrichment activities like lectures and roundtables, and the company of our fellow cyclists before zipping into our sleeping bags. The best part of this incredible adventure is that it took place in the capacity of my job as Community Program Manager at Clean Air-Cool (more...)

Thanks to the donations of our 2008 Climate Riders, Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) is charging ahead, providing remarkable educational opportunities for young climate leaders. Thanks to you, Clean Air-Cool Planet was able to provide competitive, real-world Fellowships for eight college and university students in the Northeast. These students worked on a variety of challenging and catalytic projects, including inventorying greenhouse gas emissions in southwestern New Hampshire, creating a New York State climate change toolkit for community governments, and customizing a version of CA-CP’s Climate Change Backpack® educational tool for young people in the Mid-Atlantic states. One inspired Fellow said that (more...)

PORTSMOUTH, NH – Susan F. Tierney, one of the founders of Clean Air - Cool Planet and immediate past chair of the Portsmouth-based climate non profit, will be named as deputy secretary of the US Department of Energy according to reports from sources close to the Obama transition team. Tierney was assistant secretary of energy for policy in the Clinton administration and more recently an energy and economics consultant with Boston-based Analysis Group. “It speaks well for the intentions of the Obama Administration to tackle the climate issue that someone of Sue Tierney’s caliber is named to a top position (more...)

We have arrived! I can’t put into words the excitement, adrenaline, anxiety, and inner turmoil that occurred today. I am still in shock that I made it the Capitol with my only mode of transportation being my bicycle for over 300 miles. My mind may still be in disbelief but my body completely understands . . .(more...)

I have just shared with everyone a preliminary victory dance. I am ecstatic right now that I completed over 65 miles today without having to rely on the Sag Wagon. Today’s ride was the most challenging route we have experienced so far. The hills were grueling and . . .(more...)

We have just completed our longest day of riding! 70 miles within Pennsylvania. Today was an excellent day. I think that many of us paced well and stopped numerous times to stretch and regain momentum. When we arrived in Camp Edward, I still actually retained my communications skills (most of them anyway) and was able to greet others and ask how their riding experience was. I also engaged in one of my favorite activities today: eating. I think . . .(more...)

I am here. In Valley Forge. By my own two pedals! Throughout the ride I was excited thinking about reaching my destination so I could begin to blog a summary of my experience upon arrival. However, even though I actually arrived here, I am not quite sure if I would say I made it in one piece. Yes, all my extremities are still attached and functioning (well, functioning is all relative) but my mind went on hiatus . . . (more...)

I can’t believe it. I have pedaled my way to Princeton. No sag wagon for me. I smugly perched high upon my saddle as I pulled into our YMCA campground. Ignoring my sore ankle and my screaming thighs, I gave others the thumbs up and exclaimed “no problem”. In fact, the last 4 miles I had to ride in mostly silence since every breath counted down distance in minutia. Today was our EASY day. Only 45 miles . . . (more...)

I have arrived! In NYC that is. Still have over 300 miles to get to Washington DC. Oh, and by my own horsepower. You would think getting to the point of departure would be easy. However, I think that was just a test to weed out the ones that won’t make the actual ride. I was flabbergasted at how hard it was to get from southern NH to NYC without taking a single occupancy vehicle. First off, (more...)

Below are my notes from the past five months of preparation - from getting a new bike to tearing ankle tendons to physical therapy. Also included are notes from Clean Air - Cool Planet. A Long, Long Time Ago (May): Well, I have committed. C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-D with all capital letters. To the most, shall we say, ‘different’ thing I have ever done in my whole life. No, not marriage. And no, . . . (more...)