The 2013 NYC-DC Climate Ride consisted of 186 riders, riding 320 miles over 5 days, from New York City to Washington, DC, to raise money for climate-policy organizations, bike advocacy and alternative transportation.

The first leg of the journey took us from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, over the Williamsburg Bridge, in a stunning and emotionally inspired peloton of riders. We made our way to South Street Seaport, and the SeaStreak ferry to Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

On the ferry itself, we had time to see the Harbor, to contemplate our moment in history, and to get to know some of the other riders. Our team's illustrious Danny Richter educated NJ rider Rachel and me about diatoms—the single-celled photosynthesizing organisms that fill almost every drop of surface seawater and produce 20% of all breathable oxygen on Earth.

Each night, we arrived at a campsite and pitched our tents. It was a good way to feel in touch with the landscape we were riding through, and to have a sense of scale. But night 4, when we all had beds, in warm rooms, was more restful. Comfort comes with a cost.

Our bikes were always watched and taken care of by Climate Ride staff. You develop an important connection to the vehicle that travels the hard climbs and open downhills with you, and to see them all bunched up together at night helped to build a sense of community.

In Princeton, we had the first of our evenings with expert speakers. Here, Antonia from the World Bank talks about the connection between energy, temperature, water and poverty.

Our first water stop on Day 2 was in Lambertville, NJ—recently named one of the 10 most beautiful towns in the United States. We would then cross the Delaware River into New Hope, PA, and push through Bucks County, to lunch at Doylestown and our 2nd campsite, Camp Innabah in Spring City, outside of Phoenixville.

A break near Morgantown, PA. It was necessary, after the relentless workout of Day 2, to break up the long stretches of "rolling hills" that took us into Amish country.

Coming out of camp on Day 4, we dove into the woods, with a series of long, curving, downhill runs on quiet almost untraveled roads. It was one of the most enjoyable parts of the ride itself, letting us catch our breath and gear up for a long day of climbing.

The Susquehanna River is the longest North American river that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. As we crossed the river, high above, we had the sublime experience of riding almost next to turkey vultures—soaring birds of prey with wing-spans of between four and five feet. One of them glided along with us for a quarter of a mile, just 10 to 15 feet up.

Sunrise over Pearlstone, Maryland, on Day 5 was extraordinary. It felt like a good omen and had people buzzing with the energy we knew we would want to have with us for the 70-mile dash into DC. (We had to make it to the Thompson Boathouse, on the Potomac, by 3pm, to be part of the final procession to the Capitol.)

Each morning, we were briefed on the particulars of the day's ride... the route, questions of timing, safety instructions, and information about our various destinations. This was our last morning briefing, as we enjoyed the delicious Kosher food at Pearlstone—the only place many of us did not pitch tents (though some, insistently, did).

For the last leg of our journey, we were escorted by Washington, DC, police, from the boathouse to the Capitol Building. Traffic was stopped at every intersection, and we were given a warm welcome by people all along the route. This was an important moment, because it allowed us all to ride together, in one long column, and then to wind our way into the traffic circle at the edge of Capitol Hill for a really emotion-filled show of self-powered nonviolent force.

Jim Sowers inspired us all throughout the ride, doing all 320 miles on a unicycle! He had only two gears, which meant relentless pedaling, at all times, even on the steep downhill runs. Here, you see him arriving on the Capitol lawn, literally right before the group photo. (Photo credit: Brian Fung, Brianfung.org)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), possibly the most vocal Congressional champion of action to prevent catastrophic climate destabilization, spoke to us, thanked us for our service and urged us to remember the inspiration and the significance, and to carry it forward into a collective effort to build political will to solve the mounting climate crisis.

Sen. Whitehouse posed for a photo with Team CCL, saying "I love you guys" and thanking us for our leadership as an organization, as we thanked him for his inside the halls of Congress.

The experience of lobbying, as a citizen advocate, is always fun in a hard-to-explain way. We get to participate, to shape the debate, to build relationships, and to guide the hand of government. This is why we came to DC, and we believe Congress can act according to the informed advice of engaged citizens. (Photo credit: Spencer Schecht, of CCL LI and DC)

Citizen volunteer lobbyists walking the halls of Congress, and filling meeting spaces inside the offices, advising staff and elected officials, are a vital part of our democracy. We often forget this, but without this lever of democratic supervision, we are, actually, much less free. (Photo credit: Roshni Karwal)

Here, the Climate Ride New York delegation meets with Senate staff. It is the staff who will ultimately write the bills that become law, so one of the most important aspects of citizen lobbying is building relationships with key staff members, and then helping them to connect with other staff who can build the coalition needed to make new law. (Photo credit: Roshni Karwal)