Bike train

Endless bikes for miles and miles! Just like the corn fields!

Peace flags

Shenendoah was a great little town to ride through.  The them there was "Peace, Love, Bikes." They painted little bikes and wheels and hung them from the light posts, these peace flags were down in the center of town, I really enjoyed the theme there.  There was a car filled with flowers and I got my face painted with flowers.

It was the only place I was able to get a free shower (with a hose, and a suggested donation).  It was all I needed though, wash the shorts off at the same time.  

There was also a double rainbow while we were listening to a band play Purple Rain.  It was a really great night there.  

There was also a train in the middle of the night.

Outhouses

We were lucky enough to have these outhouses available on the route!  More privacy than a corn field, and soy bean field! A lot of people were signing their names.  There were a few places to sign your name in different towns on quilts, maps, poster board, signs.  It was pretty cool to be able to leave your mark.  

Bike law gear

My new #BikeLaw gear.  They help with advocacy and legal issues across the country.

Loading up in Muscatine

At the high school in Muscatine, Iowa. Got here a little early, but we'll be able to sleep on the bus. The airbnb was great, no trains in the middle of the night this time. It's hot... And muggy. It will still be fun though. We'll take the bus to Glenwood and see the madness that ensues there!

Journey to Iowa 7/21

We're still on the road, in Illinois on I-80. The bikes on the back of the car make me a little nervous, but they're hanging in there. The closer we get to Iowa, the more corn we see, and also soy beans? Landscape is really flattening out here now too.

Climate Ride Northeast!.

The biking continues... After getting back from the bike trip I started working for Next Step Living, performing energy assessments.  This required driving to peoples' houses with a car full of light bulbs and advising them on how they can save money by completing retrofit projects on their home.  The work was great but the driving part was a big down side.

About a year ago, I started designing solar systems, again, still for Next Step Living and this allowed me to bike to work again.  And this time the commute is much shorter; 6.5 miles each way as opposed to 18 or 30 each way.  So, much less time commuting, which is good for allowing time to cook meals or join an ultimate frisbee team.  This also allowed me to become more involved with the biking community at NSL and all over Boston.  There are a ton of organizations that encourage biking. Being involved in the advocacy side has been a great experience.

Another way that I'm getting involved in the advocacy side is by joining the Climate Ride with Next Step Living.  We're raising awareness about the need for sustainable transportation and raising money for SAHA global, a non-profit organization currently bring access to clean water and electricity to rural areas of Northern Ghana.  Both of these are important issues, so I'm raising money to support them.  The money I raise will go to both organizations and the goal is $2,800.00 by September 17.  If anyone is able to contribute please clink on the link and it will take you right to my page on the Climate Ride website.

I appreciate any support I can get.

Happy Riding!