2011 Ride

Day 50: Today was a day for rest and recuperation, devoted mostly to uploading more videos to the Ride for Renewables YouTube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/RenewableRider. Many thanks my friends, Wayne & Leslie Walker, for hosting us in their home and for nourishing us with good food and drink. Tomorrow it’s back on the road. Check out this article documenting all the truckloads of pipe already being delivered across the border and stockpiled in the U.S: http://tinyurl.com/cel7fcf.

Day 49: After saying goodbye to my new friends at the Motel 6, rolled down the road to a local diner for breakfast, where I called The Ponca City News. They sent out a reporter to do a brief story on the ride: http://tinyurl.com/767fmj4. Over breakfast, a family sitting near me queried me about the trike and why I was riding. An older gentleman, Bill Stieber, asked most of the questions. Despite our different perspectives on the Keystone XL issue, he seemed to respect the effort I was making. As I was leaving, Bill approached me to hand me a piece of paper with his name and number written on it. He told me if I ran into any trouble down the road to call him and he would be there. This noble act by a total “stranger” gave me peace of mind knowing that someone had my back. This is just the kind of working together despite our differences that America needs to embrace, and that those clowns running Congress can’t seem to grasp. Maybe it’s time for OccupyCongress.

On my way out of town, passed an oil refinery that could soon be pumping tar sands oil, if Keystone XL is not blocked. A little further down the road, got a call from Ron that his derailleur hanger had snapped, putting him out of commission, but a quick call to District Bicycles in Stillwater, run by Bobby & Crystal Wintle, bailed him out. Despite having only opened their doors a week ago, Bobby voluntarily drove 8 miles to retrieve Ron and bring his bike back to the shop for repairs. As this was happening, I finished slogging out the 43 miles to Stillwater, where we decided to call it an early day.

Waiting for my friend, Wayne Walker, to pick us up and shuttle us to his home for a good night’s sleep, we walked down the street to grab a bite to eat at Boomerang Diner, where the manager, Scott Bainbridge, bought us both lunch upon hearing why we were riding.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: one of the things I love the most about the American people are their great big hearts.

Day 48: . There’s something about getting an early start on the day that makes riding so much easier. The 75 miles to Ponca City, OK today felt almost effortless. Called all the Wichita, KS media outlets early before setting out, with a few friendly bites. Down the road, stopped in for interviews with the Winfield Daily Courier, Arkansas City Traveler, KOSK radio, and KAKE TV before crossing the Oklahoma border around mid afternoon. Four states down and two to go. Lots of engaging conversations along the way, with more feathered friend sightings. Did an interview with the Newkirk Herald Journal en route to Ponca City, where I decided to call it a night. Ron drove ahead today to drop off the support vehicle in Oklahoma and is riding back up to meet me somewhere on the road tomorrow. He industriously rigged up his road bike with a trailer so he can ride with me the rest of the way to the Texas Gulf Coast. Really looking forward to his company. The Ride for Renewables is about to double in size.

Speaking of media, this weekend my hometown newspaper, the Daily Camera, ran an op-ed (http://tinyurl.com/c8xdrd7) I wrote about the incredibly unhelpful and premature declarations of Keystone XL’s demise from environmental groups. Their wishful claims don’t jive with reality here on the ground, or with TransCanada’s own predictions. The worse part is how easily they let President Obama off the hook. Since when did we start giving presidents a pass on making tough decisions until after Election Day? The President owes the American people an up or down decision on Keystone XL.

Day 47: In spite of the passing trains and frigid night air, slept relatively well last night, buried in my sleeping bag. Woke up to a frost covered world.

For those wondering what TransCanada has going in Kansas, the KS section of what would become Keystone XL is already operational and moving some form(s) of crude oil through Kansas to Oklahoma as you read this. I pedaled 50 miles of the pipeline route today and will be pedaling a long stretch close to it again tomorrow.

I learned from my friend Scott Allegrucci at The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy that there was a substantial amount of anger over the project from local governments in the six counties through which the pipeline passes, not so much for environmental or other reasons, but over tax revenue. The state of Kansas originally provided TransCanada with state tax breaks as part of a business development package. Then TransCanada threatened re-routing the pipeline to exclude Kansas if they weren’t given additional tax relief. So legislative leaders quietly circumvented the six counties it would cross and provided this foreign corporation with additional tax breaks against county taxes they otherwise would have paid. This should serve as a sober warning to the states of Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Scott has also heard from reliable sources that the pipeline section in Kansas is substandard vis a vis regulations for pumping tar sands oil. Since it isn’t moving tar sands now, it was apparently built below spec, which begs the question of how it will hold up once tar sands slurry starts being pumped through it at high pressure and temperatures. His sources also indicate there have already been small leaks and spills. All very troubling.

On a related note is something I learned through a chance meeting with a local Kansan this afternoon. While grabbing a quick lunch at a Mexican restaurant in El Dorado, I dialed up the local newspaper to let them know I was in town. Returning to my trike, a reporter from the El Dorado Times walked up, with a man standing by her side. Turns out he’s a local schoolteacher and is actually teaching his kids about Keystone XL and the mining of Canadian tar sands. A lively conversation ensued, but what really surprised me was learning that many people working at the local oil refinery (I saw it on my way out of town and it’s sizable) are actually quietly opposed to Keystone XL. Again, it’s not for the same reasons most other people might oppose it. They simply don’t want tar sands slurry running through their conventional oil pipes. Could conventional oil workers possibly become allies against Keystone XL?

50 miles and many hawk encounters later, my sore knees and I rolled into the town of Augusta, where I sought out the Augusta Daily Gazette for an interview. Afterwards, talked with some kids who were digging on the trike, then rolled over to a motel where the owner, like most others I’ve met along the route, gave me a nice break on the room. I’m guessing it’s either because they like the look of the trike, or feel compassion for someone who looks as worn out as me. Probably a little of both.

For anyone wondering how a foreign corporation can get away with bullying U.S. citizens with eminent domain, this NYT article is a must-read:  http://tinyurl.com/d7ha8fa.

Day 44 – Day 46: As we pass the halfway point of the ride, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make the Keystone XL “Tour of Resistance” possible. We have already made a tremendous impact, with much more yet to come. I also want to extend a special thanks to all my friends, old and new, who I’ve been blessed to meet along the way, and who have so greatly enriched this road trip experience.

Friday: Ron and I spent the day enjoying a wonderful second Thanksgiving feast with special friends in our home away from home in Lincoln. As happy as my belly was, my knees were even happier, after a good long hot tub soak. Here’s a short piece on the ride that ran in yesterday’s Beatrice Daily Sun: http://tinyurl.com/6qq67nz.

Saturday: Spent much of today in a studio doing interviews for a possible future documentary of the ride. Tomorrow it’s back on the road. Check out this article on a letter 103 U.S. mayors recently sent to President Obama expressing concerns about Keystone XL’s potential impacts on communities:  http://ecowatch.org/a/195157.

Sunday: Did a little green energy strategizing with Keith & Ruth Douglas Miller at my favorite Manhattan coffee shop (thanks for breakfast, guys) before hitting the road this morning. Good day for triking: no wind, highs in the high 30s/low 40s and sunny. Yet more hawk encounters today. 77 miles later, rolled into the little town of Florence about 30 minutes before sunset only to learn there was no campground or motel, but did find a small, quiet park with a pavilion, where I quickly set up camp before the dark set in. Was happy to find not only working electrical outlets, but running water (and very tasty water at that). In talking with a family curious about what I was up to, I learned this little town was approached years ago by Pepsi (it could have been Coke), which was so taken with the quality of the water here they wanted to build a manufacturing plant in town. I was told the town leaders, knowing they had a good thing going and didn’t want a corporate entity depleting their precious water, told them to take a hike. Important lessons to be learned here from towns up and down the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route. As a special holiday treat, check out this short action film produced by TransCanada (brace yourself for the excitement):  http://tinyurl.com/7ocsgfa.

Day 43: Today was the toughest hill day of the trip thus far. Making matters worse was a 30-40 mph headwind, requiring me to pedal in first gear most of the day, which made for slow going. Word for the day: “pain.”

60 miles later, rolled into Manhattan just in time for a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast at the home of Keith and Ruth Douglas Miller. I so appreciate them making me feel like family. Very happy to be back in my old stomping grounds from last years ride.

In the spirit of this day, I want to thank my friend, Stands Among the Colors of the Sun Woman (Debra White Plume), for her heroic efforts to protect Mother Earth. Watch her talk about Keystone XL and the unconscionable act of tar sands mining in this special interview: http://tinyurl.com/75qjg6h.

Day 42: Feels great being back on a bike. No better cure for the Keystone XL blues. Ron and I had a great time riding together for about 30 miles on the Homestead Trail, an awesome crushed lime bike trail, then he headed back to Lincoln to deal with some things and I continued on solo. Gorgeous sunny fall day. Had more hawk encounters, many up close and personal, than I could count this afternoon. Well over a dozen. I think Hawk Nation is pleased to see me back on the road. I was certainly happy to see them.

While carb-loading up at a Mexican restaurant in Beatrice, dialed up the Beatrice Daily Sun, which sent out a reporter to meet met me there for an interview. Then continued south towards the Nebraska/Kansas border. While pedaling, dialed up my buddy Ryan Van Duzer to say hi and see how his cross-country ride with his friend Nick was going (caught him on his bike near Austin). Really happy to cross the Kansas border – 3 states down and 3 to go.

Covered 80 miles in about 8 hours today, rolling into Marysville just as it was getting dark. The last 15 were some of the toughest miles I’ve ever pedaled. My legs had forgotten what hard work was like during our 11 day layover in Lincoln. Then as I was checking into my motel room, I met Margaret McIntyre and you’re not going to believe this: her family just delivered a pre-Thanksgiving dinner (homemade lasagna, two kinds of pie and cold beer) to my motel room. WOW. They then invited me over for breakfast and to join their family for a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow, but I really need to make Manhattan while the weather is still good. Anyone who doesn’t think there are nice people left in the world needs to get out on a bike. They’re everywhere!

Here’s an article covering some of what went down at the Capitol yesterday. It mentions our “Kool-Aid” distribution to Nebraska’s Governor and Senators:  http://tinyurl.com/7bgtbtp.

Day 38 – Day 41: The Keystone XL “Tour of Resistance” extended our stay in Lincoln, NE to monitor the unsavory deal-cutting with TransCanada taking place at the statehouse. Not something I would recommended for people with weak stomachs.

Saturday: Spent all day and most of the night uploading more than 50 videos from the Montana and South Dakota legs of the ride to YouTube. Check out these compelling videos, and others from Nebraska I’ll be posting soon, by subscribing to the Renewable Rider YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/7cwd4fd.

Sunday: Spent most of today brainstorming next steps with local supporters. Feel incredibly blessed to be making such amazing friends up and down the proposed pipeline route. Here’s another great interview by Daryl Hannah on Keystone XL:  http://tinyurl.com/bmunmaa.

Monday: Today was devoted to preparing our response to the pipeline legislation being signed into law tomorrow. I’ve seen a lot of politics in my day, but never have I seen such a blatant disregard for the welfare of a state as what I’ve watched unfold here. It’s as if Nebraska’s Governor and Senators are oblivious to the fact that the Ogallala Aquifer is the lifeblood of the state’s agriculture economy. Lest you think most Nebraska landowners are going to similarly roll over and let TransCanada threaten this precious fresh water resource, you might want to think again: http://tinyurl.com/82qxu6o.

Tuesday: This morning, Nebraska’s Governor and Senate leaders held what had to be the world’s shortest bill signing ceremony for a pipeline bill (LB 4) that guarantees absolutely no protections for Nebraska’s fragile Sandhills, let alone the Ogallala Aquifer. To make the point that lawmakers had drunk the TransCanada’s Kool-Aid, Ron Seifert and I brought mini bottles of the sugary drink to the Capitol to hand out. As Governor Heineman passed by me on his way to the podium, I offered him a cherry Kool-Aid Burst. He declined. So did all the Senators I offered them to. Maybe it was the flavor. The low point of the day was watching allied organizations celebrate yet another illusory victory over TransCanada, ala the Obama delay announcement. Don’t get me wrong, I could not respect more the fighting spirit of Nebraskans who succeeded in knocking TransCanada back on their heels, and certain hard-fought concessions were won on other legislation, but the end result of LB 4 was to fast track, not slow down, Keystone XL.

But when it’s all said and done, I refuse to believe the fair-minded and hard-working farmers and ranchers I’ve had the honor of meeting are going to let this corporate bully come into their land. For another perspective on what just happened here in the Cornhusker State, and why, check out this powerful editorial:  http://tinyurl.com/79lznku.

Back on the road tomorrow… really going to miss my new friends here.

Day 37: Here in Lincoln, the back room dealing over Keystone XL continues unabated. We learned that earlier this week, a TransCanada executive showed up uninvited to a meeting with legislators where details were being worked out on a bill regulating his industry. We all know corporations regularly help write legislation behind closed doors. Few are so bold as to actually do it in public.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that TransCanada thinks it is “definitely doable” to begin laying pipe from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf Coast as early as January: http://tinyurl.com/7orouuz. Does Keystone XL sound dead to you?

Day 30 – Day 36: Much has taken place since President Obama’s announcement to delay a decision on Keystone XL until after the 2012 election, little of it good for the planet.

First let me say that everyone who helped slow down TransCanada’s “Keystone XL” tar sands juggernaut should be proud of what we have accomplished. By bravely standing together and uniting our voices against Big Oil, we forced President Obama to react to our demands. His decision to delay a decision on the pipeline until after the 2012 election is a testament to the power of the people.

But let’s not kid ourselves: opponents of Keystone XL have “won” nothing, save more time to build on our momentum. Now is not the time for victory celebrations, but for redoubling our efforts to beat back this lethal energy scheme. When you have your opponent staggered against the ropes, you don’t back off and let them recover their strength. You keep on coming until you’ve landed the knock out punch. We need to demand a decision from President Obama on Keystone XL before the 2012 election.

Friday: Woke up this morning shaking my head at all the praise being heaped on Obama for this act of political cowardice. Then broke camp in the front yard of Ron & Joni Clarke after being treated to a hearty breakfast in their earth berm home. After thanking them for their kindness, pedaled the final 60 miles into Lincoln with relative ease, popping into the Seward County Independent for a quick interview on the way. Was relieved to have made it to Lincoln in time for tomorrow’s rally and march. Met up with Ron at the Occupy Lincoln encampment (since disbanded by the police) near the Capitol, where we made some new friends. Afterwards, biked to the home of loving friends who are generously putting us up in their comfy home during our stay in Lincoln. Worked late into the night writing and distributing the press release for tomorrow’s rally. Really appreciated Glenn Hurowitz’s thoughtful response to President Obama’s weak punt on Keystone XL: http://tinyurl.com/7qtca66.

Saturday: Late morning, a group of about a dozen of us, including several enthusiastic University of Nebraska students, gathered at Cooper Park in downtown Lincoln. From there, we marched and rode bikes about 8 blocks to the steps of the Capitol, where we met up with the Occupy Lincoln protesters. Very heartening to see Occupy Lincoln make an exception to their general rule of no issue-specific politics by specifically opposing Keystone XL. A human “line in the sand” against TransCanada’s tar sands pipeline formed on the Capitol steps, followed by interviews with two local television networks. Then about 100 of us slowly snaked our way through downtown Lincoln, with honks of support from passing cars and bystanders joining in. The energy of the marchers and bikers was high, with lots of drumming and “people power” chants. A deeply beautiful show of solidarity, and one that I hope we see more of down the road, as TransCanada is truly a poster child for how corrupt corporations are dominating our lives. The Daily Nebraskan did a good job covering the event: http://tinyurl.com/7p53kaq.

Sunday: Today was a long-anticipated day of rest and rejuvination. At the invitation of Myron Longsoldier, took part in a sacred sweat lodge ceremony. The experience was too powerful for words. Here’s a front page story covering yesterday’s rally in the Lincoln Journal Star: http://tinyurl.com/d28vadj.

Monday: Spent most of today sitting in the balcony of the Rotunda, in support of BOLD Nebraska, Nebraska Sierra Club and farmers and ranchers (thank you Bruce, Scott and Terry for the traveling cash) who had gathered to monitor the Nebraska Unicameral, which was convening a special session in response to deep concerns over the pipeline. With the blessing of the U.S. State Department, Nebraska’s Senators were busily crafting a deal with TransCanada that may ultimately fast track the pipeline through Nebraska, the one place in the country where resistance to Keystone XL was the strongest, a paradox made possible by Obama’s lack of leadership. While good for the Sand Hills farmers and ranchers who fought so valiantly to keep the pipeline off their land, this is bad news for everyone else. The smiles on the faces of TransCanada representatives at the press conference afterwards telegraphed their heady confidence that they will ultimately win approval from the U.S. government. For one more critical view of Obama’s “kick the can” decision on Keystone XL, check out this compelling piece from Tim DeChristopher: http://tinyurl.com/c27kwcb.

Tuesday: Spent today holed up in my room editing videos from the last month on the road. Ironically, the day before Obama’s delay announcement, the International Energy Agency warned that humanity will lose the chance to halt irreversible climate change if we don’t take bold action to cut fossil fuel emissions in the next five years. Yes, Keystone XL must be blocked, and tar sands exploitation halted. But that is not enough. The President must develop a green energy plan that puts unemployed Americans back to work leading a worldwide green industrial revolution. A president with the vision to call for a green energy moon shot for America is a president worthy of our support. Here’s more on the International Energy Agency’s dire warning: http://tinyurl.com/72zum7a.

Wednesday: Spent today again holed up editing videos from the tour. More Keystone XL shenanigans at the statehouse. We shouldn’t be celebrating an illusory victory, but redoubling our efforts to block this lethal energy scheme. TransCanada’s CEO remains extremely confident the U.S. will approve Keystone XL: http://tinyurl.com/88kg2m4.

Thursday:  Spent the morning putting the finishing touches on an op-ed for The Lincoln Star Journal, and the afternoon finally writing this blog and responding to a backlog of emails and phone calls. Anyone thinking the U.S. State Department can be trusted to oversee new studies on Keystone XL needs to think again. Friends of the Earth has unearthed new documents raising new concerns about State Department collusion with TransCanada, as well as a possible cover-up: http://tinyurl.com/72aahqo.