Video

“OFFICE DAY” (Sunday, October 10, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Pedaled with Democratic State Senator Marci Francisco down to the 41st annual Octoginta to see off 650 cyclists for their 80-mile ride today. Tempted to join, as it was a gorgeous fall day for a ride, but decided to conserve my energy for the many miles yet to come.

While standing there, two kind souls walked up to me this morning, donating $10 each to help me along my way – thanks, guys! Later, had breakfast downtown with Marci and her husband Joe, then back to the guest loft in their home to edit more videos. I can’t express enough how much I appreciate their incredibly generous hospitality. There’s nothing like having a quiet, comfortable place to get some work done during breaks from riding. Was hoping to take part in one of 350.org’s 10/10/10 events today, but couldn’t find any local work parties in which to participate, so kept my nose to the grindstone editing more videos. Did take time, however, to share dinner, and stimulating conversation, with Marci and Joe.

Am increasingly concerned about my website not being up, so I’ve decided not to leave Lawrence until I at least get all my blogs and videos uploaded. Will help me focus on the riding, not having that hanging over my head. So may be here for a couple more days. Will have some serious pedaling in store for me then, however, as time (and the weather) is not on my side if I hope to make DC before the snow flies.

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“BIKE-HAPPY LAWRENCE” (Friday, October 8, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Began the day with a talk to 250 KU college students. Was escorted to campus by State Senator Marci Francisco, who joined me on her bike (she meant roughly 20,000 undergraduate students).

Good reception to the “100% by 2020” message, followed by some stimulating one-on-one conversations. Hugs I received by a couple of the students afterwards were priceless.

Then an interview with Channel 6 TV:

http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/sets/2010/oct/09/colorado-man-cycling-across-country/

Here’s the story from the Lawrence Journal:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/08/colorado-man-riding-renewable-energy-powered-tricy/

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/08/colorado-man-riding-renewable-energy-powered-tricy/?print

After that, pedaled over to the campus news office for an interview with Kansan.com:

http://www.kansan.com/news/2010/oct/10/tricycle-riding-petitioner-talks-wescoe/

http://www.kansan.com/videos/2010/oct/08/1512/

Afterwards rode down to the Sunflower bike shop to show off the trike, where I was told the staff would appreciate it (they did). On the way, was treated to lunch by Craig, who runs a sidewalk food stand – thanks, brother! Got second lunch at nearby Local Burger (the name says it all), where I had a stimulating conversation with the owner, Hilary Brown. I think she’s really onto something with her healthy, local burger joint, so keep your eyes on Local Burger.

Overheard one of Hilary’s customers, Dave Yates, talking about coal plants, and after learning he was a local sustainability leader, decided to interviewed him as well.

Later in the day, rode 6 miles with the KU Bike Club on one of their standard afternoon rides.

One of the students, Jeff Miller, shared some profound observations the importance of communal engagement.

Then rode to the outskirts of town for a pot luck put on by the student group, Environs, but that turned into a wild goose chase. Eventually abandoned the effort and rode back into town before it got too dark to ride. Ran into Brian (who I had met at Marci and Joe’s the night before) on his bike on the way back into town, who was up for a couple cold, local microbrews at Free State Brewing Company.

It’s hard to picture someone as bubbly and upbeat as Marci operating in a formal setting like a state legislature. She must really liven that place up. I learned tonight she not only bikes everywhere, but is such an avid recycler, she stops to pick up cans she sees along the road (and even recycles staples)! I can tell you from personal experience I had trouble finding a single garbage can in her home. Now that’s walking the talk.

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“LAND OF OPPORTUNITY” (Thursday, October 7, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Started the day with an interview with local CBS affiliate WIBW TV:

http://wibw.videogenesis.net/preview?beginminute=9.6&endminute=10.4&startfield=9:36&endfield=10:24&synapses=yes&showstring=20101007_1658-138-Live_at_Five&vote=none&interval=unknown&station=WIBW&btrim=0&etrim=0

Spent the rest of the morning on the phone lining up events and media in Lawrence. Here’s a shout out to Brook Graham (Bruce and Michelle’s daughter) for lining up media and speaking opportunities for me in Lawrence, and for finding me a place to stay.

As I’m preparing to check out of the hotel, the owner, Madan Rattan, joked about wanting to keep the trike in his lobby to boost his business. He then asked me about my trip, which sparked a fascinating conversation about his personal journey from India to Saudi Arabia and ultimately the United States (with $6 dollars in his wallet – it’s still there). Madan is now a successful businessman, grateful to be living in the “land of opportunity.” His primary message is we can do anything as a nation and people, if we will but only focus and prioritize. It’s not much more complicated than that.

Rode a relatively easy 31 miles ride today to Lawrence. Rolled into town and walked into a coffee shop to ask about the closest campground. Checking my voicemail, there was a message from Democratic State Senator Marci Francisco – who is an Analyst at the KU Center for Sustainability – offering me a room in her home for the night, only a few blocks away. After being treated to a wonderful home-cooked dinner with her and her husband, Joe, spent the rest of the night holed up in their 3rd floor loft catching up on emails.

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“THE CAPITOL DOME” (Wednesday, October 6, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Kicked off the day with an interview with local ABC affiliate KTKA TV near campus:

http://www.ktka.com/news/2010/oct/06/man-riding-across-country-bring-message-congress/

Then swung by Big Poppi Bicycle Co. to pick up some supplies (thanks for the free chain lube!). Then pedaled over to campus for an interview with the Kansas State Collegian:

http://www.kstatecollegian.com/mobile/news/activist-pedals-for-green-revolution-1.2358207

After that, packed up my gear and was escorted out of town by Zack Pistora on his bike. I want to give a shout out to Zack, Kevin, Eric, Dave, Alex, Shane, Kristen and Bryce for making me feel so welcome during my brief stay in Manhattan. Hope to see you guys in Boulder during Thanksgiving for the CU-KSU game.

On the road to Topeka, dropped into the offices of The Wamego Times and St. Marys Star for more interviews and photos of the trike.

http://www.thesmstar.com/view_article.aspx?id=1039

Also saw one the largest coal plants in the country (over 2000 MW) in the distance riding through the Kansas countryside.  The sight of those three giant smokestacks spewing toxic pollutants into the air was a sobering reminder of how big a job we have ahead of us.

Finally rolled into Topeka (for a total of 60 miles on the day), but after being severely rattled for several miles through a section of Hwy. 24 being repaved, I learned that the campground I was looking for was nowhere near my current location, with the sun already setting on the horizon, so instead of risking another flat tire, I decided to grab my first hotel room of the trip.

After a quick shower, I was picked up by Republican State Representative Vern Swanson (a friend of State Rep. Elaine Bowers), who along with his wife, Susie, treated me to dinner downtown. After an enjoyable conversation over dinner, I was graciously offered a tour of the Capitol Building, which ended up becoming a very special tour, indeed, when the night guard, whose love of the historic building was contagious, proceeded to show us all the amazing things about the rotunda that most people never get to see. I learned a lot about Kansas’ fascinating populist history. Then it was back to the motel, for some badly needed Zs.

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“FUELED BY STUDENT ENERGY“ (Tuesday, October 5, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Kicked the day off with a 7:00am talk at the Concordia Optimists Club. Must remember to get some caffeine in my system before doing early morning talks. Next up was an 8:00am talk to the Chamber of Commerce, both generously lined up by Republican State Representative Elaine Bowers. Was very impressed with the turnout, and deep level of engagement, at both events. Afterwards, did a radio interview with Joe Jindra at Concordia radio station KNCK. To listen, click on the “7:00 Report” at the link below (the interview start at 3:20 and ends at 6:14):

http://www.radiop1.com/mediacenter.aspx?stationid=11&

Then pedaled 20 or so miles to Clay Center, where I experienced one of the highlights of the trip. Rolled the bike up to the front of Lincoln Elementary School for some shots by the Clay Center Dispatch, then the entire second grade class (nearly 100 children) streamed out the doors and surrounded the rocket trike. I told them what I was doing and why (for them) and we had a really fun 30-minute Q & A session. My heart melted when afterwards one little girl hugged my leg and looked up at me with a huge smile of gratitude on her face. That fueled me for the rest of the day.

Knocked out a little over 50 more miles to Manhattan, for a total of 78 miles on the day. More hawk sightings today, with fuzzy caterpillars replacing beetles on the shoulder. On the way, did an interview with the Salina Journal:

http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/tom-weis-trike-journey-10510

Found my way to the KSU campus and “Aggieville,” where I want to give a shout out to Tex at Radinas coffee shop for the mocha on the house, and to Austin Graham (Bruce and Michelle’s son), for offering me a couch to sleep on.

Ruth Douglas Miller , Director of the Kansas Wind Application Center, had generously called a number of media outlets for me and had put me in touch with Zack Pistora, president of KSU’s Students for Environmental Action (SEA). More synchronicity: they just happened to be having their organizational meeting tonight, so Zack invited me to speak. Ruth, her son and the foreign exchange student they were hosting walked me over to where the SEA meeting was taking place, where I rolled the trike into the meeting room and spoke for about 45 minutes. KSU is rocking it. That’s the biggest meeting of student environmental activists I’ve ever seen. The energy I received from the students I spoke with afterwards (like Shelley Fritz) almost defies description and will help fuel me the rest of the way to DC.

Afterwards, knocked back a few drinks with my new KSU buddies at the Purple Pig (thanks, Bryce, for the killer marg), where we had some incredibly inspired conversations on the power of embracing life’s positive potential. Crashed at their pad after Kevin, Zack and I stayed up until 2:00am working on a tracking map for my website, but ended up not sleeping a wink (too much racing through my head), so got out of bed at 7:00 and worked some more on my blog.

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“CLIMBING A WIND TURBINE” (Saturday, October 2, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Easy ride today. Pedaled a quick 23 miles south to Concordia to meet Michelle and Bruce Graham, joined by their teenage son, Connor. Received the red carpet treatment. Started out with a grand tour of the Cloud County Community College Wind Technology Center, where Bruce teaches. Cloud County should very proud to host one the nation’s first and largest certified wind technology schools in the country. At lunch, got an opportunity to interview Tom Cunningham, one of the landowners working with Horizon Wind Energy on the local Meridian Way project.

After that, loaded the trike onto a trailer (to haul it to the Graham’s, where I’ll be staying for the next couple of days) and headed down the road to the school’s two 100- kilowatt wind turbines. After getting harnessed up, Bruce walked Michelle and I through the routine for tower climbs. Then the three of us scrambled 100 feet up the ladder inside the tower to a small platform at the top.

When I popped through, I was surprised by how little floor there was versus the size of the hole (where you could see all the way to the bottom). I guess I was expecting something a little more substantial.

Then Bruce opened the door to the outside of the nacelle (the name for the compartment at the top of the tower) and showed me the tiny ledge.  I asked him if he was expecting me to walk out on that little ledge, and he said, “That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?” He was right, of course, so I clipped in, put one foot on the ledge and shimmied a few feet over to the ladder rungs on the top of the nacelle to check out the view from outside the tower. For someone who’s not a big fan of heights, I sure had a good time out there on that little ledge 100’ off the ground.

Then interviewed Bruce inside the nacelle.

After descending back to terra firma, we drove to the nearby Meridian Way project, a 201 megawatt project developed by Horizon that boasts 3 megawatt Vestas wind turbines (the largest installed anywhere in America). Very impressive. We need lots more wind projects like this, and bigger, and we need them yesterday.

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“CROSSWINDS & PAIN” (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Gusting crosswinds all day made for slow going, especially up the numerous hills that characterize western Kansas.

Late in the morning, the pain in my right knee got so bad I decided it was time to kick in the electric-assist motor for the bigger hills, and I’m glad I did, because the day was full of them. Getting a little electric assist on the tougher hills took a lot of strain off the knee and made the pedaling more bearable. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow. Today was another good media day. Rolled down Main Street in Atwood and did an interview with the Rawlins County Square Deal:

Rolled up to country music radio station KFNF off Hwy. 36 and did an interview there before heading to Oberlin for a stop at the Oberlin Herald where the office cat runs the show.

Interesting how the last few days I was constantly dodging grasshoppers in the shoulder. Today there were almost none (due to the wind, I suppose), but lots of black beetles negotiating their way across the treacherous (to them) asphalt strip. Did my best not to add to their troubles. More hawk sightings today.

Didn’t want to spend tonight in another town square, so took a calculated risk and pushed for the turn-off to Prairie Dog State Park, hoping I could make it before the sun went down and it got too dangerous to ride. Was a tough slog at the end of an already long day (8 hours of riding for a total of 82 miles on the day), but only missed my mark by 15 minutes. Wouldn’t have wanted to ride on that shoulder five minutes longer, though. Finally rolled into Prairie Dog State Park just as it was getting dark and the mosquitos were getting active.

They have a beautiful campground nestled next to a reservoir, with free showers and not too many people this time of year. Looking forward to seeing the dogs in the morning.

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“FARMERS GREENING THE GRID” (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Grabbed a quick breakfast at the Wray Diner, swung by the Wray Gazette on my way out of town, then hit the road. Two hawk encounters early in the day, then a bunch of tough hills in SW Nebraska and NW Kansas, making for slow going most of the way. Still knocked out 73 miles. Haven’t used the electric-assist motor yet, but may have to reconsider, given the worsening pain in my right knee. Saw this iconic windmill in Nebraska.

Pedaled down Main Street in St. Francis and found the offices of the St. Francis Herald, where I did a brief interview and they took some shots of the trike.

St. Francis Herald Article

Then hit Main Street, Bird City, where I met some more really nice folks (cuious about the trike – like pretty much everywhere I go) and wolfed down some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Almost everyone I’ve met so far enthusiastically supports the “100% by 2020” goal.

Next town up was McDonald, where I was pedaling down Main Street and received a nice surprise: two very large residential wind turbines at the edge of town.

Popped into the liquor store to ask who owned them, and the proprietor called the owner, who promptly drove down and met me. After a brief conversation, A.B. Fisher invited me back to his house, where he spoke with me on why its important to him to become energy independent. He also had a few choice words for Congress. A.B. personifies the kind of can-do, entrepreneurial American spirit we need to get this country back on track.

That night, camped in McDonald’s town square.

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“A DAY AT THE OFFICE” (Monday, September 27, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Spent all day at the Hitch’n Post Campground editing videos from the ride, with “Dizzy” Dean Burns stopping by from time to time in his cart to lighten things up.

Diz recruited his buddy Bill to give me a lift into town this afternoon to resupply on food, so I’m set for the next few days as I start rolling through Kansas. Got a reaffirmation tonight that its time to keep flying. Looking forward to packing away the laptop and getting back on the road tomorrow morning. Am starting to get inquiries about where I am, so I’m really hoping the site goes live soon. Sounds like we’re getting closer.

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“FIRST WIND TURBINE” (Saturday, September 25, 2010)

Tue, October 12, 2010 No Comments by Tom

Started the day with Cheryl and her husband Jerry treating me to breakfast in downtown Otis (I’m constantly amazed at how incredibly generous Americans are). After breakfast, Jerry rode with me for the first mile out of town on his bike, then after a quick goodbye, I’m solo again east on Hwy. 34 headed to Yuma. Had a strong crosswind most of the day, which showed my progress. Rode down Main Street of the small town of Eckley, but no newspaper to be found. Did try to race a guy on his lawnmower, though.

Rolled into Wray, CO late afternoon and saw the first wind turbine of the trip (built for the Wray School District), which I had heard about years ago and was very eager to see. Had to pedal up some seriously steep hills and gravel roads outside of town to get to the tower base, but finally made it. Then took these two videos:

Pedaling away, had some final thoughts on how more schools across America might get their own wind turbines installed.

As luck would have it, the campground I was looking for was practically next door, so I set up camp there, heated up a freeze dried dinner, checked some emails and called it a night. Pedaled a total of 54 miles today.

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