Manhattan perimeter ride

Today was a tradition ride with my cycling group who just happens to be entering their 13th year! And the tradition every year, to start the season, is to ride the perimeter of Manhattan. Yep, that means ALL the way around the island, about 40 miles. How do I even describe today besides unbelievable? The weather could not have been more perfect. 70 plus degrees and blue sky. A welcome relief from the past few days of rain.

We started out in Central Park and made our way over to Riverside Park and took the bikeway to Battery Park, the very tip of Manhattan. We muzzled our way through all the tourists and heavily congested traffic in that area and then headed north on the east side of the island. We ran into a small glitch near the United Nations. Seems there was a diplomat making their way to the UN which meant EVERYTHING stopped as their motorcade made their way off the FDR drive. So after waiting about 20 or so minutes we were finally allowed to go on our way. Next up, Harlem. There is nothing more exhilarating than working your way through the neighborhood with all the locals, the smell of fried chicken, doughnuts and barbecue floating in the air. However, WE are the entertainment! People smiled, waved, gave us the thumbs up as we made our way through their hood! We stopped off at a local deli and then on to Innwood Hill Park for a picnic lunch. Heading back south on the west side we stopped under the George Washington Bridge where I took this photo of Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse. This tale of the friendship between the tiny beacon and the George Washington Bridge introduced children around the world to the red, round, and very, very proud little lighthouse in New York. Picture perfect day and one more for the memory book!