I slept of the 4th celebrations and made my way to New York City with a later-than-usual start. Unfortunately, for the time being, I think the wide open roads with little traffic are behind me. High volume traffic and crowded rest areas are what lie ahead. No more finding an empty picnic table under a a tree at a rest area, and listening to the birds. Now there are people every where, and a distinct lack of what I was enjoying so much. Solitude. I really enjoyed taking a break and sitting under a tree for a while just soaking in the quiet. Maybe I'm a country boy? Cities and states flew by on the 239 mile trip. Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey were gone in a flash and soon I was crossing the Verrazano-Narrows bridge from Staten Island into Brooklyn, where my friend Rich lives. The Brooklyn-Queens expressway may have been the scariest piece of driving I've done so far! I've visited Rich a couple of times before in Brooklyn. I absolutely love his neighborhood, and am happy to be back.
Wednesday I took my laundry in to be washed, got a huge turkey sandwich from one of the many delis in the neighborhood, then took a long nap. I'm tired. Tired, tired, tired. That night I met my cousin Beth in Manhattan for dinner. It's really nice to see family along the way. Thursday was a bike maintenance day, although I only planned for it to be a bike maintenance morning. I needed an oil change, and a new set of tires. I had called the three closest shops to Brooklyn, but they were either booked solid til the next week, or closed. A shop in Rahwah, New Jersey, 20 miles from Brooklyn, could get me in for an what needed to be done. I got there at 8:45 am, like the guy on the phone had told me the day before. He said I'd be first in and would be out of there in a couple of hours. But that was not the case. After more than 4 and a half hours, and the mechanic finding a thing or two wrong I was unaware of, my bike was finally ready. 25,000 mile maintenance, new tires, new horn, new brakes. The cost of which I do not wish to share, was a lot more expensive than I thought! I left Rahwah at 2 pm, not happy with the time or money I spent there. But, knowing my bike was as healthy as an ox, and more than capable of finishing this epic adventure, I guess it had to be done. My afternoon plan of going to Coney Island and relaxing on the beach was shot, so after fighting traffic and getting back to Rich's at 3:30, I took a nap. Then met another friend of mine, Mike, who lives in Manhattan, for dinner. Specifically, the meat packing district, which I recommend checking out. I thought I'd seen everything I'd wanted to see in NYC on previous trips, but this was pleasantly surprised by the Highline.
The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan's streets. Section 1 of the High Line is open as a public park, owned by the City of New York and operated under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Friends of the High Line is the conservancy charged with raising private funds for the park and overseeing its maintenance and operations, pursuant to an agreement with the Parks Department.
When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park.
Thanks to Rich, Ivy, Beth, and Mike for another great trip to the best damn city in the world!
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