New York City Trip (2011)
Shortly following our trip to the NY Finger Lakes, we set forth to The Big Apple for Memorial Day for a Met's Game, visiting family and general sightseeing for this non-city boy. We departed at 7PM on a Friday with a monster storm bearing down on us.
Sitting at the traffic light by our house, it began to pour rain as the dark angry front pushed above us. The light turned green and we roared off slowly accelerating out of the storm. Winds howled whipping the bike from side to side in the lane tossing limbs and leaves across the roadway. Each stop light found us slightly ahead of the lightning strikes and terrific winds until we pulled onto 495N and remembered why the motorcycle is the most exciting method to travel between point A to B.
Another Harley rider rolled up right behind us and we both cruised the outer loop into MD at a "brisk" pace watching this in our mirrors.
The remainder of the ride up to NYC was typical 95 aided by Lauren's EZ Pass to speed up the toll nonsense (Thanks!)
As we began to get closer to NYC and rode over The Outer Bridge and the Verrazno Narrows Bridge, she snapped some pics.
I thought these were sorta neat!
Must have missed the "Beware of welding" sign :evil
We made it to Grandma's House deep in the woods of Queens after being chased by the Big Bad Wolf and turned in for the evening.
The following day was spent via train and subway exploring NY (my first trip since I was a child) and Central Park. Here are just a few pics. Album available here.
Then we capped of the evening with a Met's Game at Citifield
And a beautiful sunset!
The following day, I went for a solo ride to get lost around The Big Apple.
My first stop was Flushing Meadows Park, home of the 39/40 and 64/65 World's Fair.
This dude totally photo-bombed my shot and if it wasn't Memorial Day Weekend, I would have totally rolled up that curb and to the big globe.
Then down the BQE (great on a dual-sport bike) to Brooklyn
That looks like fun. Also probably much cooler than this stich' in the 95 degree heat!
Most of these shots were taken with my G9 while riding in traffic. Living on the edge? Maybe...
Then with the temperature gauge on 7 Bars, I rolled into Manhattan in search of a spot to let the bike tick cool. And to get out of the stich for some water and evaporative cooling of the underarmour.
Perfect...a hot dog stand for $1 and some shade courtesy of the sky-scraper.
Oh...what street is this?
Nifty!
I just missed the shot of the Marine (it was Fleet Week) shaking hands with this duck. Drats.
Wow...just a little dense aye?
Closer shot of the Church of the Trinity (I think)
Spotted this GS on Wall Street. Something tells me this stock-broker type may not be as globe-trotting as his bike suggests.
Down by Battery Place
And over to Ground Zero WTC site.
Wish I could have stopped but riding in NYC is um...stressful sorta.
Then over to the West Side where I realized I needed to get back to meet everyone for a dinner of Cuban Cuisine!
30 minutes to get back to Queens...can he do it!?
34th St was a traffic nightmare. Engine Hot. Me hot. Time running out to get back. Who cares...enjoy the scenery. Like Macy's.
And this surprisingly well composed shot. Did I mention I took all of these while riding.
After some time, I made it to the Manhattan Tunnel and scooted back over to Queens direction.
Traffic got backed up like crazy. Total Gridlock on the LIE so I gave good distance and lane-split behind this cruiser for about 5 miles. I ain't proud of it but geesh was it hot and the bike was at 7 bars again. Whatever.
A big glass of Vino Verde and Cuban food was a great end to the day.
We woke up to a passing T-Storm then had Bagels and Lox. MMMmmmmmm!
We loafed around and eventually hopped on the bike for the return trip.
Memorial Day Colors
Grandma wanted to come but sadly not this trip :wave
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It was 100 degrees so we just kept up to speed and made one stop for gas and ice cream in the loudest rest stop EVER on the NJTPK.
Total trip mileage upon the return:
