Back on Track

It has been a fabulous week! Why, you ask? I feel like I"m getting back on track with a few things.

Number 1: Run, Cat! Run! 

Ran to the Brooklyn Bridge 

I finally started running again. I have been a serious runner on and off since high school. I have a very bad habit of quitting for months at a time then starting again. Well, this week I started again and it felt great! A friend of Peter's has started a mileage challenge with me so I've got the motivation to keep it up!!

I have been bringing my running things to work and running around there (because the views are much better before going home on the train. My goal, as the weather starts to warm up, is to begin running in the mornings. I have to get ready for that 'Bama summer!




Number 2: Ridin' Dirty

My bike has been stuck inside my apartment through most of this winter.  For a while it was close to impossible to ride with all of the snow and ice. Then I was deterred by all of the salt and how quickly it would eat up my bike. In the past week we've had a few days of above freezing weather, enough to melt away the snow and ice and rinse the roads. Yesterday it was 50 degrees and first on my to-do list was to get my bike tuned up, road ready, and OUTSIDE.  I am so excited to start riding my bike to work again. Bring on the Roads!



Number 3: Organization

This school I work for just opened this September so we are still figuring out organization and storage. We have a room that will be a classroom for summer camp and school next year but currently does not have any children. It turned into a massive storage closet that was a complete eye sore. A co-worker and I decided to stay late and organize. We got so much done and actually ended up organizing all the classrooms as well. The only thing as satisfying as organizing your school, is organizing your apartment... which I did as well. I straight up love organizing. It was also great this happened because I'm having a very hard time curbing my desire to start packing for the move. I really, really like organizing but I LOVE packing... weird I know.



Number 4: Healthy Eating

In addition to getting my exercise routine back on track I finally went grocery shopping and stocked up on lots of healthy food options. I have a messed up metabolism so I try to steer clear of sugars and breads because they make me crash, and crash hard, sometimes into the floor. So I've got lots and lots of chicken and veggies, and some sweet treats like clementines and yogurt. I'm already feeling more energetic and healthy.

In summary, life is good. Preparations for the move as well as some trips we might take this summer are coming along. I've been spending more time with friends. I've got lots of NYC adventures planned now that the weather is a bit warmer and my bike is back in commission. So stay tuned!

Love my Girls! Love my City! 

50 Miles to Montauk And...

I didn't even see the Lighthouse

With the impending move and the (not-as-fun) Moving To-Do list building up, I decided to take a minute to reminisce about one of my favorite (and most difficult) trips from this fall.

Last summer/fall, much like now, I had a very extensive to do list. There were two items that I was incredibly excited for but also dreading... just a little bit. The first was a bike ride around Manhattan. It was a very long bike ride, and during the heat wave of all times.. but I was so glad I did it. The next item was biking from West Hampton to Montauk. It was going to be at least a 50 mile bike ride and I had read very mixed reviews about the bike "path" leading out there. Regardless, I really wanted to do it. It took quite a while to build up the courage but (as per usual) I impulsively woke up on Sunday, October 13th and decided to go! (See my route here)

The weather was absolutely perfect, and along the way I was greeted by an abundance of fall colors.

The ride was absolutely pristine... until I hit mile 35 and my legs gave out. I hadn't been riding as much in the weeks prior to this trip. I also must not have eaten correctly because I hit mile 35 and literally couldn't lift my legs to pedal. I pulled over to the side of the road and just sat there. I chugged water, ate a few cliff bars and waited... hoping that my muscles would recuperate. I had planned to bike all the way to the lighthouse and then back to the train station, which would have added 10 miles to the trip. Obviously... I didn't make it. The ride to the train station was absolutely agonizing despite the beautiful scenery. I also missed the train by about 10 minutes and had to sit and wait for 1 1/2 hours for the next train. Looking back, it's pretty humorous despite my discomfort in that moment.

If you've been keeping up with my NYC To-Do List. You'll see that "See the Montauk Lighthouse" is one of the items. I would absolutely love to do this ride again, but also decided it would be really nice to have a friend (maybe even a special guy) come with me out to Montauk. I have discovered that it is pretty difficult to convince my friends to go on a 50 mile bike ride, so I would be more than happy finding a friend who would take the train out there with me to explore.

I'm very, very ready for this snow to melt, and the salt to be rinsed away so I can get back out on my bike!

Until next time Montauk....

So close yet so far...

So Much To See and Do!

So as you may have read I will be moving to Alabama this summer. Why you ask? Because my boyfriend of 4 years is in the Army, and that's where he's headed.

When Peter found out he branched Aviation in November, I was ecstatic but still not sure if I would go with him or remain here in NY. Life is great here. I love my friends and am absolutely in love with my job, and just wasn't sure if I was ready to leave. After months of discussion, and many pros and cons lists, I decided I was ready to make the move. So when Peter found out his report date a few weeks ago I felt a bit more like this...

So the move is happening. We don't have an exact date yet, but it's happening and I am very excited about it. Before meeting Peter I had made 2 large moves on my own. The first from MN to Charleston, SC and the second from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC. After meeting Peter and graduating with my M.Ed I thought, " NYC?! Heck Yes!" So I packed up once again and drove a large truck from NC all the way to the Big Apple by my lonesome. I like the process of moving, but this time around am a bit concerned about the culture shock of leaving NYC and moving to rural AL ... more on that later.

 In the meantime my desire to explore New York City has gone into overdrive. I have so much left to see and not much time to do it. For me, step one for just about anything is to make a list. So I've revamped my NYC To-Do List from this summer. It's a hefty list but I am confident I can make it happen.

I will keep everyone updated on the moving situation as well as my upcoming adventures in the city. It's going to be a very exciting and busy few months.

NYC To-Do List

Astoria Beer Garden

Ride my bike down the Bronx River Path

Visit the Guggenheim

Explore the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on my bike

See the Montauk Lighthouse

Bike around (not literally) on Staten Island

Complete a 5-borough Bike ride

Explore Pelham Bay Park

Relax at Far Rockaway Beach

Explore Astoria
Explore Central Park above 86th St. 

Take the Staten Island Ferry

Run the steps in Morningside Park

Visit Washington DC

Bike to the North Fork of Long Island

Do more exploring in Fort Tryon Park

Visit Green Acre Park

Visit the Cloister Museum

Go to a race at the Belmont

Visit the Titanic Memorial

Visit the African Burial Grounds

Visit Brooklyn Brewery

Go to the Brooklyn Flea Market

Go to a taping of The Daily Show or the Colbert Report

Go to a Speakeasy Bar

Bike around Red Hook Piers

See more Broadway or Off-Broadway shows

Do more Walking Tours with Nan (Brain Droppings)

Visit Watkins Glen

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Try the Trapeze

Bike from Westhampton to Montauk

Drink at McSorleys 

Explore Roosevelt Island

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram

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

Roosevelt Island

I finally got out and crossed some items off the list!! This weekend I rode my bike up through Brooklyn and Queens and over to Roosevelt Island. You can see my route here. I really enjoyed the ride since I haven't seen much of the waterfront north of Dumbo. I also had never been over the Queensboro bridge!  After some deliberation (but actually just me getting sort of lost) I decided to head from Queens all the way over to Manhattan. Then, I took the Tram over to the island. I have to admit, riding the tram was my favorite part. I was standing next to another man with a bike and he leaned over to me and said,   I've lived here for 10 years and done this numerous times... but this ride never gets old." It was so fun!

The island itself was a very interesting place. I was able to do a loop of the entire island but actually... there wasn't much to see. We all know I love a good lighthouse so getting a closer view of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse was fun. I also got a nice up close view of the "Octagon" as well as the abandoned Small Pox Infirmary . As much as a love a good abandoned over grown building, the coolest thing I saw was the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial on the south end of the island. The cement paving and triangular lined trees were breathtaking with the Manhattan skyline as the back drop. I'm so happy I went but... not really sure I'd go again.

On the ride home I also got to see the tops of some more abandoned buildings inside the Brooklyn Navy Yards ( I smell an adventure). Since I've accomplished so much on my list... I decided it was time to add some more items (in italics). Cheers Everyone!

Summer To-Do List
Astoria Beer Garden
Drink at McSorleys
Visit Watkins Glen
Visit Hart's Island
Try to obtain a permit to visit North Brother Island

Bike from Westhampton to Montauk

Visit Washington DC

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Visit the NY Botanical Gardens

Run the steps in Morningside Park

Try the Trapeze
Explore Roosevelt Island

Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram

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

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

An Unexpected Adventure

Yesterday was a very, very rainy day! I have actually come to enjoy rainy days in the city. The fog and rain have a very strange way of changing the city. It's seems so much smaller and much more peaceful. The streets are less crowded, you can't see the top of the skyscrapers, everything is just a bit more calm.

After a weekend of staying in my apartment doing absolutely nothing, I was ready for an adventure. Rain or no rain I was getting out there, So I decided to ride my bike to meet a friend in Manhattan (See my route here). The only problem was that I got off work at 5:00 and my friend didn't get off until 7:30... so I had some time to kill. 

DISCLAIMER: I tried to take pictures but I didn't want to destroy my phone in the rain and the pictures weren't turning out that well anyway...

I started off and stopped by Barnes and Noble to buy Storm of Swords (I stayed up until 3:00am finishing the second GOT book on Sunday). I can't wait to start it! Then I headed off to the Brooklyn War Memorial. It was a gorgeous small park/memorial that I'm sure looks even more beautiful when the sun is shining.

After that, I hopped onto the Brooklyn Bridge. It was my first time going over it on foot or on my bike so it was a fun experience. I did get stuck in a torrential downpour when I was in the center. The winds also made it a bit painful, but hey... pain just adds to the adventure right?

View of the Manhattan Bridge

Lots of construction on the Brooklyn Bridge

After making it into Manhattan and letting out a sigh of relief that I didn't run over any tourists (seriously, even in the storm they were out taking pictures in the middle of the bike lane), I crossed through Manhattan and after exploring the sculptures at Rockefeller Park I hopped on the Hudson Green way.

Memorial

Now, I've walked and run bits and pieces of the Green way before but I never paid much attention to what was around me. Since I had so much time to kill I made sure to stop and explore. There were so many things I would have typically just zoomed by! For example, a very moving memorial for a man who was struck while riding his bike. There were also moments when I had to pull over and just admire my surroundings. This is truly a spectacular city. It's so astonishing how one minute you can be surrounded by hundreds of people, skyscrapers and filth, then the next you're in a park surrounded by trees, flowers, and beautiful sculptures.

My plan had been to stay on the Greenway and then cut over on 56th st and hang out by my friend's work until she was ready. What I ended up doing was getting so caught up in my surroundings that I didn't realize how far I'd gone until I saw a "Riverside Park" sign. Oops. Seriously guys, you can forget you're even in the city. Riverside park is absolutely beautiful. After that I carried my bike up some stairs and got back onto the roads. I headed towards Central Park where I saw "The Reservoir" for the first time (it's much larger than I expected) then rode down to 7th Ave and waited in the Brooklyn Diner (ironic?) drinking hot tea and constantly apologizing for the puddles that my backpack, helmet, and clothing were leaving on their floors. My plan had been to ride home on a different route but, after sitting in a restaurant soaking wet for an hour or so I decided to hop the Subway home.

What a great night!!! You've got to love unexpected adventures. 

NYC's version of Cherry on a Spoon?

Random/sorta creepy sculptures

Seriously.. Am I still in the city?!

Riverside Park

Did I accidentally bike to Greece?!