Impulsive Saturdays

I"m on a roll with the 2-a-days! Explored Greenwood this morning before work and impulsively decided to go explore Governor's Island with a friend right after. They were both absolutely beautiful, and offered great views of the city. The best part though (besides the fact that both were FREE) was that there is so much history! Going to places like these gets you to start reading and exploring new parts of history. It can be so much more interesting when the history is sitting right in front of you. What   a fantastic day! 

Summer To-Do List

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram

Explore Randall's Island

Bike from Westhampton to Montauk

Visit Washington DC

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Explore Roosevelt Island

Visit the NY Botanical Gardens

Run the steps in Morningside Park

Try the Trapeze
Explore Governor's Island

Explore Greenwood Cemetery

Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop

Visit Grant's Tomb

Mountain Biking

See Kaaterskill Falls

Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Bike to 2 different beaches in 1 weekend

Bike from my house to the Rockaways

Summit Mt. Taurus

Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck

Explore all the Central Park sites

Governor's Island

Greenwood

Around Manhattan

Roommate: Where did you bike today?

Me: Around Manhattan. 

Roomie: Oh whereabouts?

Me:... No, literally around Manhattan

I did it! To be honest this was the item on my list that I was most excited about but also dreaded the most. The Hudson Greenway is well paved and put together and if you veer off into any of the parks you can easily follow the signs back. I head heard that the East River trail was horribly labeled, paved, and put together..... and the rumors were true.

You can see my route here. It was 30 hot and sweaty miles around "the island" but it was well worth it! The East River ride was not very enjoyable, a very narrow walkway is shared with pedestrians and let me tell you, I had a few close calls. I did get to bike closely around the United Nations and got to see all the east side bridges (I love bridges!!). I also saw the Roosevelt Island Tram for the first time and decided to add that to my list. It looks like so much fun and I recently found out that you can use your Metrocard! Yippee!

I think my favorite part of the ride was through Harlem and Washington Heights on St. Nicholas Ave. It was beautiful and quiet. Good ol' Historic Harlem filled with large beautiful houses, gorgeous parks and churches, and a well paved bike lane. Everyone was very bike friendly as well. I actually had someone "wave me" in front of them! That's the first time that's happened to me in NYC. I had never been all the way up to Washington Heights before (although I was considering living there when apt hunting) It was gorgeous as well! I stumbled upon quite a few public gardens and parks that were some of the most beautiful I've seen in the city (Swindler Cove). They also had most of their fire hydrant spray caps on so I was able to get some cool mists as I rode past. It was quite a relief from the heat!

Tunnel in Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights

Serious Rocks, Washington Heights

After I got onto the Hudson Greenway, I made 2 stops. The first was at The Jeffery's Hook Lighthouse, aka The Little Red Lighthouse. I actually didn't know it existed until a few weeks ago and was so excited to see it! It looks so cute and little underneath the GW Bridge. The next stop I made was to Grant's Tomb. There wasn't much to see but it was beautiful. They did have some old Civil War flags on display which I found fascinating. It was FREE and fun to look around, and a great place to cool off for a bit. After that, it was a straight shot down the Hudson Green way, down and around Battery Park, and under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Then I hopped back on the subway at stop where I started. I was totally the stinky person on the train but it was TOTALLY worth it.

The Little Red Lighthouse

Looking so tiny under the GW Bridge

"Grant's Tomb"

Art around the walls

Today was a fantastic adventure. I saw so much of New York and have even added a few items to the list for the future! I love this city!

Summer To-Do List

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram

Explore Randall's Island

Bike from Westhampton to Montauk

Visit Washington DC

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Explore Governor's Island

Explore Roosevelt Island

Visit the NY Botanical Gardens

Run the steps in Morningside Park

Try the Trapeze

Explore Greenwood Cemetery

Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop

Visit Grant's Tomb

Mountain Biking

See Kaaterskill Falls

Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Bike to 2 different beaches in 1 weekend

Bike from my house to the Rockaways

Summit Mt. Taurus

Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck

Explore all the Central Park sites

So happy to head back to Brooklyn

10 Lessons I've learned from Biking in NYC

Yesterday I rode from Brooklyn to Manhattan (during rush hour) to pick something up from a store there. I learned a few lessons in the process....

1. Rush hour for cars is also rush hour for bikes. 
2. Make the assumption that nobody (pedestrians, drivers, or dogs) sees or hears you because most of the time... they don't.
3. Assume that every yellow cab is actually trying to hit you.  
4. At all times you need to be looking in front, in back, to the left, to the right, as well as down for the random sink holes that I swear have cameras pinned on them so government officials can watch bikers unknowingly fly over them and laugh at their almost demise.
5. The Manhattan Bridge is ALWAYS a better alternative to the Brooklyn.... unless your actual goal is to run over tourists and amateur photographers. 
6. People who bike the wrong way in a bike lane deserve to be yelled at... don't hold back.
7. Citibike riders often have no idea of typical "road etiquette" BEWARE! ( Don't worry I'm still a huge supporter... although those people need to wear helmets!)
8. When in a protected bike lane, you are not safe! Your new enemies are pedestrians, doors, and dogs.
9. Riding your bike is the ONLY way to have complete control over your arrival time. You will not get stuck in traffic or be subject to the whimsical temper of the MTA
10. As long as you're a wise and aware rider. NYC is very bike friendly and you will see things you never would have seen on foot, by car, or by public transportation. 

Ride On My Friends

I also discovered the Allen St Green way which was a pleasant change from the China Town streets!

WATERFALLS

Finally got up to Kaaterskill Falls.... and it was GORGEOUS! It was a short hike from the road up to the falls (there are plenty of longer hikes but we opted for the short one to leave more time for biking trails afterwards). The trailhead is located right on Bastion Falls where there were lots of people sun bathing and playing in the water. Then it was an easy half mile climb up to Kaaterskill and boy, was it worth it!!!

Kaaterskill Falls

Bastion Falls 

Recommendations: Bring a swimming suit! Go early... it was PACKED when we got there around noon on Saturday.

I also tried Mountain Biking for the first time! After the falls we headed to the Stewart State Forest to bike some trails. It was terrifying at first but I think I liked it! I added it to the list just so I can cross it off, although I'm sure I'll be doing more biking throughout the summer.

Summer To-Do List
Mountain Biking
Bike from Westhampton to Montauk
Visit Washington DC
Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Explore Governor's Island
Explore Roosevelt Island
See Kaaterskill Falls
Visit the NY Botanical Gardens
Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop
Visit Grant's Tomb
Run the steps in Morningside Park
Try the Trapeze
Explore Greenwood Cemetery
Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Bike to 2 different beaches in 1 weekend
Bike from my house to the Rockaways
Summit Mt. Taurus
Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck
Explore all the Central Park sites

Pledging to be active and adventurous this week!!! Cheers! 

Open Minds

"Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because their alive and human" - Albert Ellis

This weekend has left me with a renewed hope and faith in humankind. What was supposed to be a weekend of mountain biking and hiking in New Jersey turned into a cultural adventure in and around Manhattan.

Saturday:

Peter and I had planned to take our bikes out on some trails and maybe even venture up to Kaaterskill Falls but after looking at the weather forecast for the weekend, we decided to stay in the city. Still craving an adventure I was nice enough to let Peter choose an activity from my list.  He chose exploring St. Pat's and St. John the Divine.

On occasion NYC still takes me breath away. To be surrounded by modern architecture and tourist trap shops and then be staring up and the amazing Gothic architecture that has made St Pat's such an attraction is truly amazing. St. Patricks is just as beautiful inside as out! I'm hoping to go back when their renovations are done and there is less scaffolding up everywhere but the structures are still breathtaking. We didn't get to do too much exploring due to the wedding that was going on but it was still great to walk around and see (what we could) of the architecture, Saints, and art.

Wedding Crashers... oops

We walked past a few other gorgeous churches, St. Thomas in particular,  and had a fun time being tourists and standing on the street while reading the buildings' history off our Iphones.

After this we headed up to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine which is the largest Cathedral and Anglican church, and the fourth largest Christian church in the world. And let me tell you.... IT"S HUGE! I mean, it looks big on the outside but you can't get a true grasp of it's size until you're standing inside the hall. What I didn't know about this church is that it was founded on the principles of being a "multicultural congregation." Throughout their history they have been known to support different charitable causes throughout the world and are also supporters and advocates for many different refugee programs. Each of their 7 chapels is dedicated to a different culture and each is gorgeous in it's own way. The church is also known to be extremely progressive and for it's continuing art installations. During our visit the church was hosting a display by Jane Alexander speaking of the "lasting disfigurations in South Africa and raising issues about human nature that resonate with viewers internationally." While the art was incredibly striking and immediately captured our attention, it was even more shocking to see this work in a century old Cathedral. The acceptance and willingness of the church to share this work and stand behind Jane's cause was very moving to me. Where I grew up, well... let's just say you would never see nude art hanging out in the churches. The mission of this church to be a "house of prayer for all people and a unifying center of intellectual light and leadership" really struck a chord with me. The love and acceptance of cultures and different beliefs in the St. John community is magnificent. Oh and the gardens in the back and absolutely outstanding, a lovely break from the dirty city.

One of many, many sections by Jane Alexander

Gardens

Keeping on with the theme of culture and acceptance...

Sunday: 
GAY PRIDE PARADE IN NYC

With the Supreme Court decisions that were made this week (equal rights HOLLA!) Pride weekend in NYC was in full swing. I had the opportunity to attend the Pride Parade with Peter and some of our closest friends here in NYC. While some people look at images from the parade and just see scantily clad men and women dancing and acting scandalous... I saw a celebration of individuality, love, and acceptance. We stood across from The First Presbyterian Church where many members of the congregation were out handing out water, fans, and support! I saw newly wed couples (with federal rights) that couldn't help but share their joy with miles and miles of supporters. I saw individuals with disabilities, Police, military, colorful Latinos, a man riding a Chipotle burrito, couples old and young, all there to share their joy and pride in who they are. But mostly I saw miles upon miles of happy New Yorkers, there for no other reason than to cheer on their fellow human beings. How glorious is that?! I found myself wiping happy tears more than once....

It's so easy to get caught up in the negativity and politics of the world. This weekend reminded me that there is hope out there for us humans. If a million New Yorkers can get together and stand in the hot sun (and then pouring rain) for 6 hours just to show support for their fellow humans.... we're all going to be alright.

Here's to a week of Love, Acceptance, Pride, and Joy! 

** Making good headway but still lots of fun adventures to be had!**

Summer To-Do List
Bike from Westhampton to Montauk
Visit Washington DC
Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Explore Governor's Island
Explore Roosevelt Island
See Kaaterskill Falls
Visit the NY Botanical Gardens
Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop
Explore St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Visit Grant's Tomb
Run the steps in Morningside Park
Try the Trapeze
Explore Greenwood Cemetery
Bike to 2 different beaches in 1 weekend
Bike from my house to the Rockaways
Summit Mt. Taurus
Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck
Explore all the Central Park sites