My Christmas Day Ride

[Dan-bury]

Being Christmas Morning and above 50deg as the sun rises,  I decided to go for a ride. Why not,,, I have a day off from work and no where to be until afternoon.  So I started out with no direction and a full tank of gas. I started South on RT7 and thought I would take a ride up the Merritt Parkway. Always a nice ride when the roads are empty. When I was about to swing onto the entrance ramp heading North I thought, how about ride down to the beginning and then ride North from the Start. The sky was clearing and through the clouds came a bit of sun that was drying the last on the wet patches so my pace picked up and before I knew it I was in New York and the Merritt was turning into the Hutchinson River Parkway. As I rode I was thinking of where to turn and start my Northbound ride when I had a thought.....What would the "City" be like early Christmas Morning??
So I continued South on the Hutch and over the Cross County Parkway to the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Once on the Henry Hudson Parkway for a few miles you begin to ride along the Hudson River and are able to look across at New Jersey until you come up on the George Washington Bridge. It is hard not to be in awe of the size of the GW as you pass under it. Also along side of me are two large Barges being pushed by Tugboats.  Shortly after the GW Bridge the HH Pkwy rolls along Riverside Park where there are joggers and cyclists on the trail that runs between the River and HH Pkwy but still no other vehicles on the roads.  It is here as I am leaned hard in a long left sweeping corner I realize what beautiful roads NY has built going into the City. Such a shame that this same road will be once again jammed with traffic and crazy drivers that seldom ever get the chance to see it as I am now.
   Once out of Riverside Park and into Hells Kitchen the "City" shows itself and I now begin to see movement on the streets. After I pass the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier and ride over the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel I start to see the people walking about and there are now cars and cabs around me but no honking horns or screeching tires. Just a quiet city walking up and starting it's busy day. As I sit waiting for a traffic light to turn green a cabbie pulls up next to me, says "nice bike" and takes a picture. Maybe he has not seen an F6B before. Or maybe I am just that odd to him? Down along the River I find a spot to stop and just sit. As I sit there for a short time to just look around at the quiet City I think. Nothing deep here folks, I was just thinking that maybe the coffee I had back in Norwalk wasn't such a good idea,, if you know what I mean  hahaha. OK time to head back up before the rest of the world wakes up.
My ride back up the Hudson Pkwy wasn't as lonely but just as nice. The roads (or Parkways I should say)  were actually very smooth, almost never straight and very scenic. I followed the Henry Hudson Pkwy to the Saw Mill Parkway and made my way back home in time to park the bike, change clothes and head over to be with family. I bought my little granddaughter her first tricycle. Maybe she will love riding as much as I do.. I can only hope!
Merry Christmas everyone

[RonBou]

That's a good morning....   

[Tony C.]

Sounds great Dan!  On the way to pick up my parents for Christmas Day, I saw a lot of bikes out, including a black Valkyrie trike on route 27 North in Medfield, MA. What a string of great weather!

 

[BOZ]

That sounds like a real good ride,  Dan. ☺

[Dan-bury]

Thanks guys.  It's a Christmas to remember for sure. 

[Ponte]

Sounds like a great morning Dan...  Glad you enjoyed it.  I have not ridden since early June and hopefully by spring time the knee should be ready to go and get back to some serious riding like the old days...The key word there is OLD  ....How was the bike show?

[Dan-bury]

I'm looking forward to you joining us on rides again.
The show gets smaller every year. There is still just enough to get me back each year but there are less and less vendors. This year we did a bit more walking and went to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center. It was in the 60s so it was very crowded walking around.

[RickT2004]

I managed to get in about 30 miles before visiting my kids on Christmas day. 

[Dave jones]

Good story Dan;  I guess going to the Big-Apple is all about timing.  Last time I went it was by accident and No-Funzies.   About 30 years ago we were cruising down the Palisades Pkwy.,with internsion of visiting my brother in law near Meadow-Lands Stadium in N/J. by car. My wife, daughter & me at the wheel.  From the back seat my daughter kept bugging me to put her tape in the stereo, just at the wrong time and I missed the exit for the Jersey Pike and found myself heading across the G/W Bridge.  What an ordeal trying to get out of the city and back on the right track.  The Lincoln Tunnel was the answer, but I was not prepared for finding the entrance to it.  LOL, looking back, but a night mare at the time.