And So It Begins...

Distance Traveled: 10.67 miles


Nothing quite compares with the feeling I get when I walk up the steps of Penn Station out to Seventh Ave. Getting off the bus just doesn't quite hold that same zeal. The picture to the right just doesn't do the feeling justice. As soon as I reach the top it's like stepping into a blanket of energy and excitement. The familiar sites (looking down the endless chasm of 32nd street, the shining blue Fuse sign, the Roy Rodgers, the overhang of the Hotel Pennsylvania, the 123 train sign, the list goes on) makes me feel welcome back in this city of people, icons, bridges, history, steel, stone, grass, culture, and indeed life itself.


I began my journey today with the usual ride down Broadway to get to my good friend Jeff's a apartment in Union Square. Interestingly, since I began bringing my bike to the city, Broadway's bike lane has a similar euphoric feel to it, especially at this location. This intersection of Broadway, 5th Ave and 23rd st is wide open and has a protected bike lane. In the distance is the Flatiron Building, New York's oldest skyscraper.



Despite the rain I decided to take a ride after ditching my bags. I heard someone shouting in another language through a mega phone and decided to head in that direction, down Broadway. apparently today was an immigration rally in Union square. They marched down Broadway, with police escort. Of course after getting half way down to Battery Park the rain picked up into a full-fledged downpour. I sought refuge in one of the windows of Clinton Castle (left). This is one of the original forts constructed to protect Manhattan. As I sat there in the middle of Battery Park, soaking wet in this stone window, I couldn't help but think Can't wait to see how they cram 30,000 people with bikes down here! Sunday is sure to be interesting. Battery Park has a lot of interesting memorials. The one that really caught my eye was the monument to the Merchant Marines (right). It was interesting to see the ocean as part of the memorial. Actually, out of the park I met a couple looking for a bicycle rental location. I took out my bike map, explained how to use it and gave it to them. I hope they found what they were looking for.

Something else I appreciated about Battery Park was its views of both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. My family is not native to this country. We were part of the great wave of immigrants during the late 18th and early 20th century. That being said, I can trace my origins back to this single location. On that same notion, the Statue of Liberty would have been the first glimpse my ancestors had of this new world. I find that fascinating.





After leaving Batter Park I decided to head North West on the Hudson River Greenway. This is a completely isolated path which runs along the Hudson River for pedestrians, bikers, and skaters. There are occasional driveway's for riverside bussinesses and pedestrian crossings. all are very well marked. Larger intersections have bike traffic signals.

I eneded up behind a delivery courrier on the greenway. Of course I choose to tail him. This, however proved a lot more diffucult than I thought it would be. Why? In the simplest terms, they just seem to do unsafe things. For instance: Whereas I would stop if the light had just turned red and was about to turn green for a perpandicular street full of oncomming cars, they don't like to do that. Wheither it's a package or a pizza, those couriers mean bussiness, and do whatever is nessasry to ensure fast delivery. Between the rain and the traffic I lost him. Oh well, I'll follow another one when I get the chance.

Once I got up far enough I cut across 14th all the way East to Union Square again where my journey ended for the day. I would have liked to have gone a little bit farther, but it was raining, and I suppose I shouldn't over do it before Sunday's big bike tour. Depending on the Weather I'm hoping to head up to Roosevelt island.