With just 2 days to go before the publication of “Rowing The Atlantic”, we are finalizing the details of the book tour. 14 days, 7 cities, 12 book signings and 15 interviews – and hopefully many copies sold! I’ve never done a book tour before, but have been very impressed with Simon & Schuster’s organizational abilities. In each city I have an “escort” (!) to make sure that I am on time for all my appearances.

If I could change one thing, it would be to spend more time in each city. I have friends all over the US – both personal friends and online friends – and it would be lovely to have a week in each location to chill out and catch up, in a kind of lap of honor around the country. But the idea behind a book tour is to have a veritable media blitz, which requires hitting them hard and hitting them fast to keep the momentum going, so alas it is rather a whirlwind of a schedule!

We have entered all my appearances in the Events Calendar on this website, but it is a feature of the calendar widget that all events have to be entered in a single time zone, which currently is set to Hawaii time. Personally, I find this rather confusing, so fearing that you might similarly be confused, I’m taking this opportunity to present a definitive list of the details. The information is also presented more clearly on the Events page of this site.

Book signing in New York

Book signing in Los Angeles

Book signing in Portland, OR

Today has been amazing. the final 68 miles passed like a dream. We brought it on home – all the way to the Capitol. 150 riders all cycling into Washington DC to deliver a message on climate change.

Much more to come, but right now it’s gone midnight and I’ve been up since 6am and it’s been a big day. In short summary, 5 incredible days, many new friends, many miles crossed, many hills climbed. Although I don’t have the energy left for a full post (had 2 meetings this evening as soon as the Climate Ride finished) then check out the official website for today’s news. Tons of photos, blogs, and all-round entertainment. I wish I could keep my eyes open long enough to check it out, but from my quick skim it looks like a fun and rich overview of our incredible final day.

A West Coast Climate Ride is happening next May. I will be on the ocean, but if you can make it, please do! I just wish I could be there. San Francisco to Sacramento – important cause, and your chance to make a difference. Just seeing the calibre and the reactions of the politicians and diplomats who embraced our cause today made me realize just what we had achieved. I can’t tell you what a buzz it was to be a part of this. Do it if you can!

And incidentally, it’s great for your body too – I have eaten for England these last 5 days and have still lost weight. And my thighs have totally changed shape – for the better. This Climate Ride just scores on all counts – good for your body, and good for the planet!

Margo and me at last year's Ocean Champions reception. Photo courtesy of Doug DeMark.

I can’t believe that it’s still less than 3 weeks since I arrived in Tarawa. Already the 104 days I spent on the ocean seem like a fast-fading dream as I get back up to speed and start looking forward in earnest to Copenhagen.

I was delighted with the way that things worked out in Tarawa. Thanks to Nicole, Ian, Conrad and Hunter, I was able to leave the Brocade clean, shipshape and fully functioning, and safely ensconced in the Marine Training Centre.

Getting to meet the President of Kiribati was a very special occasion. We had a long chat about his hopes and concerns for his country. Kiribati really is on the edge of existence, literally and figuratively. Few countries are more remote, and with no point of land higher than 6 ft above sea level, few countries are more vulnerable. It boggled my mind to think how I would feel if my own country was expected to disappear in the next 40 years – the places where I had been born, gone to school, made friends and created a life, all gone. Yet the President is facing this challenge with courage and pragmatic realism. If only all heads of state were as clear-sighted about the impacts of climate change.

The President and I now find ourselves in the same place yet again, half a world away from our last meeting. He is in New York for the UN General Assembly. We’ve been trying to coordinate another meeting, but his schedule has been packed so far – as, indeed, has mine.

Roz Savage with Rep. Lois Capps. 23rd District, Calif, at Ocean Champions reception

It was a last-minute decision to come to New York for Climate Week, but well worth the mad dash to get here. At the Age of Stupid premiere I was able to do a couple of media interviews and also met Ed Miliband, the UK’s Minister for the Environment. Last night I was in DC for the Ocean Champions reception – a fun chance to catch up with friends and fellow ocean campaigners including Margo Pellegrino of Miami2Maine paddling fame. Thanks to David Wilmot and all the Champs for a great evening, and to Shaw Thacher, tireless activist and kind provider of a couch for the night. Great also to see Doug DeMark there, the photographer who earlier this year took some great pictures of a rather tubbier me by Chesapeake Bay.

I am writing this blog on the train on the way back to New York to meet with my editor at Simon & Schuster as we prepare for my book tour. You might have noticed we have a new section on the website for upcoming events. You’ll see details there of the book tour, as well as my forthcoming presentations – one for the Ocean River Institute at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and for National Geographic in Washington, DC. Both are open to the public, so I hope to see you there!

Tonight I’m having dinner with Naomi, one of Roz’s Regulars. This will be the first time we have met in person. We’ll be eating at Pure Food and Wine, a rawfood restaurant in Irving Place, NYC. Looking forward to it. See you tonight, Naomi!

Tomorrow I’ll be packing for the Climate Ride, a 300-mile bike ride from New York to Washington DC which starts on Saturday. I’m a bit worried about it – I’ve been pounding the exercise bike in the gym this week, trying to rediscover my cycling muscles, but I think I lost them somewhere mid-Pacific! I’ll be blogging and Tweeting from the road, so you can find out how I get on.

With Dave Wilmot of Ocean Champions and Rob Moir of Ocean River Institute

Assuming I survive the ride, the event culminates in a bike rally in front of the Capitol next Wednesday. All are welcome to come and join me and the other 150 riders. Attendees include Bracken Hendricks, senior Fellow at Center for American Progress; an architect of clean-energy portions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; founding executive director of the Apollo Alliance, Betsy Taylor, founder and President of the Center for a New American Dream, co-founder and now President of the Board of Directors of the 1Sky Education Fund, and various Members of Congress (TBA).

So life is hectic – but very good. No time to rest on my laurels when we have a planet to save!

Because I haven’t had enough exercise for one year (?!) I am going to be taking part in the Brita Climate Ride, a “climate conference on wheels”, riding 300 miles from New York City to Washington DC to deliver a message to the Capitol on climate change. I’ll be giving a presentation to the other riders on the 28th. I will, of course, be blogging and tweeting from the road. Follow me here to find out if I manage to rediscover my biking muscles sufficiently to keep up with the crowd!

If you’re in the DC area, you can join in with the final rally, and make your voice heard at the Capitol. Here’s what you need to know…

Join Climate Riders as they arrive at the US Capitol on Wednesday, September 30th!

Pedal with 100+ Climate Riders, several ambassadors from around the world, and supporters from the DC area to bicycle the final three miles of their 300 mile journey from New York City. We’ll pedal up Constitution Ave to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the Climate Ride finale and rally, where we will be calling for action in the Senate and at COP15.

Here is the Climate Ride bike rally information:

WHAT: Climate Ride, a 300-mile benefit bike ride to raise awareness of climate change and clean energy opportunities and COP15, beginning in NYC and ending with a rally at the U.S. Capitol.

WHEN: September 30th, 3:15pm.  Riders will gather at Thompson Boat Center (corner of Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Ave NW) at 3:15pm for a 3:30 en masse departure to the US Capitol. see map below.
You can also meet us at 3:45 PM on the West Lawn of the Capitol for the rally.

WHERE: Riders will pedal up Constitution Ave. to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for a rally.

WHO: Audience: 100+ Climate Riders,  Ambassadors riding bicycles from Denmark, Switzerland,  Liechtenstein, Romania, Azerbaijan, New Zealand, Slovenia, Luxembourg, (and more), non-profit partners and supporters from the DC area.

Speakers include:  Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR), head of the Congressional Bike Caucus, Congressman Dennis Kucinich; Betsy Taylor of 1Sky; Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director Green America; Keith Laughlin, President Rails to Trails Conservancy and more members of Congress (TBA).

WHY: To call for action in the Senate and at COP15 on climate policy.

Media will be there–this is a great awareness-raising event, so don’t miss it! We will have a photo opportunity at the Capitol with an Associated Press (AP) photographer and other professional photographers.

If you believe that the time is now to take bold action on climate change and renewable energy, join us and make your voice heard!
CONTACT: Caeli Quinn, Climate Ride Co-Founder, at [email protected]

My Pacific row is a “project” of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a US nonprofit organization that supports grassroots marine conservation efforts, and organizes global conferences that encourage collaboration amongst the multitude of ocean-focused nonprofits.

In early March there will be a major get-together in Washington DC. I am honoured to be one of the members of a panel discussion on the opening day, alongside such marine luminaries as Philippe Cousteau and Dr Sylvia Earle.

The event is open to all who care about the oceans – a perfect opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, and to help support future oceanic endeavours.

By combining efforts we can achieve so much more. If we pull together, we can save the world – including the oceans!