Community Corner

Ted Glick's Climate Ride, Day 5

I'm in Washington, DC at the house where I stay when I'm down here working. I bicycled up to this house from the US Capitol area where we had a closing rally for the climate ride yesterday. A highlight of the rally was the speech of US Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island. He was very strong and clear about the eventual victory that we will win on this critical climate issue.

Today was relatively easy compared to yesterday but it wasn't all easy. There were a number of serious hills, though not as many asTuesday for sure. And there was a great, final 10-15 mile ride pretty much all downhill or level that ended in Georgetown by the Potomac River. It felt great to be moving along at 25 or more miles an hour for that extended period of time to conclude this long ride.

There along the Potomac we high-fived and hugged one another as we celebrated the end of our 300 mile journey. A definite peak experience!

Then we got on our bikes for what was called our "victory lap," riding a couple of miles down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol for the closing rally. Another highlight there was when the guy who has ridden his unicycle the entire way rolled in as we were being gathered together for a group shot. He arrived to loud cheers and applause for his amazing accomplishment.

There are so many emotions as I wrap us this final blog about the Climate Ride.

I feel hope, first of all, that we really do have a chance of ultimately overcoming the power of the oil and gas and coal industries, their up-to-now stranglehold over the federal government. That is what is holding us back from the dramatic and urgently-needed shift to wind, solar, geothermal and other clean and jobs-creating energy sources. But with the power of the people, organized and united, a power that I saw in action for the last five days, we really can move (and ride over) mountains.

I feel such gratitude, such thankfulness, that at the age of 64 I was able to not just do the Ride again but to do it better and stronger.

I feel some sadness that, for at least a year and maybe forever, I probably won't be seeing many of the people who I met, interacted with or just rode behind or next to. We have been such a loving and respectful family these last five days, and that's not an easy thing to leave behind.

But life goes on, so today I return home to my permanent family and my usual work and life. That will include long distance biking on a regular basis. I look forward to getting on my bike early in the morning and, as I ride through Essex County, letting my mind return to these challenging, magnificent, unforgettable five days.


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