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.

I rode for Team Citizens Climate Lobby (from left to right: Ashley, Sieren, Erica, Danny and myself). We donated our funds to the Citizens Climate Education fund, and we all volunteer for CCL.

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.

The riders make their way from the ferry to the mainland, at Atlantic Highlands, NJ. We are about to have lunch, get a briefing and then head into the hills for our first day's journey to Princeton.

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.

The Climate Ride is a big organizational challenge, and also a fabric of interesting stories. Ashley—three-time rider unable to ride due to injury—was our tireless "social media guru", working hard late into the night to make sure the story of our adventure was told in real time across the web.

We were fortunate that friends and colleagues came out to support us along the way. Here, Callie Hancock, the Citizens Climate Lobby group leader for Princeton, brought some supplies, and the support of her volunteers, and we held up the CCL banner with Dr. James Hansen's explanation of why we are so committed to CCL and to helping each other.

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 long stretch of the afternoon of Day 2 took us through historic Valley Forge National Park and along the Schuylkill River Trail, into Phoenixville. The hills, toward the end of this 78-mile ride, the longest of my life, were daunting, but riding with an experienced companion made the difference. We rolled into camp just after sundown.

Danny and I proudly donned our "Bill Barron for United States Senate" jerseys on Day 3, to honor the courage and service of our good friend Bill Barron, who after three years of working to organize volunteers in Salt Lake City, ran as an independent, to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch. During his campaign, he rode his bike throughout the state of Utah, to explain carbon pricing and the democratizating effects of a true clean energy economy.

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.

There are covered bridges throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania countryside. They are quaint, historic, charming and iconic, and the enclosed structure gives the wooden bridge more protection against the ravages of the elements.

One of the luminous particulars of riding through Amish country is the experience of chasing horse-drawn buggies. It turns out a cyclist with the latest equipment is a lot faster than one of these traditional carriages. We were always respectful, and tried not to make anyone feel like a spectacle, but Sieren did get a tip of the hat from a young buggy driver.

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.

To cross into Maryland, we first came up on the Mason-Dixon Line, that once separated slave-owning states on the southern side from free states to the north. The edge of this cornfield lines up with the border, and it was surprising to see a Pomeranian keeping watch. Facing the other way, we could ride along the line itself, with Pennsylvania to the right and Maryland to the left.

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).

Hilge Hurford is 68 years old, and she has ridden both Maine to Florida and 1,000 kilometers through the Alps, in the last decade. For the Climate Ride, she rode with her daughter Jennifer, who follows her here along the tow-path that runs along the Capital Crescent Trail. Hilge defied the suggestion that she be brought in by van on the last day, after getting slowed down by some morning bike trouble, and we all made it to DC on time.

When you have ridden more than 310 miles, by bicycle, and you make it to your destination with almost an hour to spare, you feel a need for some lighthearted fun, so we took turns riding through this fountain, because it basically felt this good to have made it! (You can see the Kennedy Center in the distance.)

Before our ride over to Capitol Hill, Geraldine gave us the history of how Climate Ride came to be, and everyone applauded all of the hard-working volunteers, staff and riders. (Deutsche Welle was there filming for a newscast.)

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.

Here, you see Team Citizens Climate Lobby celebrating our arrival on Capitol Hill.

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)

The halls of the House and Senate office buildings have an energy about them: big things are decided here, and the process is arduous, complicated and fraught with perils of all variety. It is sometimes necessary to take a moment and think about the importance of the place, center yourself, and then move forward with hope and renewed drive to make positive change happen.

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)

A final shot of Team CCL on Capitol Hill. We stayed until late in the day, and got in 15 meetings, including one we arranged at the last minute. "Sure, come right up" was the instruction from staff in one of the most important offices we would visit all day. We have a system of open government, but we have to engage, and go pay them a visit, and speak intelligently and with respect about matters of policy, and do so with persistence, if we want to keep it that way.