The Empire Strikes Back

September 22, 2024

Yonkers to New York City (Moynihan Train Hall)

Residence Inn breakfast done, now to ride the 1.2 miles to the Empire Trail and complete our journey into Moynihan Train Hall.

Within 30 minutes of riding we're into Tibbetts Brook Park. It's hard to believe we're this close to New York City and the vibe here is rather remote.

The Empire Trail wanders through Tibbetts Brook park and then Van Cortland Park

About halfway done with the day's ride we cross over the Spuyten Duyvil Creek using the Broadway Bridge and arrive on the island of Manhattan. We're about 12 miles away from the final pedal stroke of the trip. Now to follow the route on my GPS to the West Side bike path.

Once across this bridge we're in Manhattan.

Our path takes us to the west side bike path but we're greeted with a closure and detour signs. Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future. Similar to the detour signs (or lack thereof) we encountered in Buffalo, it appears the same level of care (or lack thereof) presented itself here in New York City. I'm going to try and find a route on my Apple Maps. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try. I find an entrance further south along Manhattan but that means riding on Broadway.

Another detour. Time to find an alternate route.

We navigate onto Broadway and surprisingly the traffic is not bad. It might be Sunday morning but don't have any problems with vehicles. I figure if we can make it on Broadway we can make it anywhere....

Riding on Broadway! If we can MAKE-IT-HERE we can make it AN-Y-WHERE!

A few right and left turns off Broadway and we find an entrance to lead us to the west side bike path. Quickly we find ourselves under the George Washington bridge and then the Little Red Lighthouse. Judge me by my size, do you?

At the lighthouse under the GW bridge, looking towards our final destination.

At the lighthouse, spin 90-degrees left, and you can spot the high-rises on Manhattan.

The trail follows the west side bike path adjacent to the west side highway SW along the island. Interesting experience riding the trail in one of the busiest cities in the world with the traffic above and the river to the right.

West side highway and bike path share the same strip of real estate.

The path is packed this morning - cyclists, runners, walkers, strollers, in-line skaters. Different speeds, people weaving in and out, all vying to recreate on this one path in a city of millions of people. "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating pedestrians on the west side bike path is approximately 3,720 to 1." "Never tell me the odds!"

You're not actually going to go into this asteroid field, are you? They'd be crazy to follow me, wouldn't they?

To make room for both the highway and the bike path, they go vertical. The highway above and the path below. The sounds of the cars pounding the pavement echo above our heads as we get closer and closer to our destination.

To account for all the people that need to use this space, they mirror the vertical spacing for the apartments on the left, and build the roadway above the path.

Once at the Intrepid, we reach the farthest point south on the trail, and then have to turn left and cycle four blocks to the train station.

The Empire struck back with everything they had at us. Between the multitude of people on the west side bike path to their (star)ships of war, our the rebellion was victorious!

We turned our pedals for the final time up to the entrance to the Moynihan Train hall, and then walked them inside to the Metropolitan Lounge. Sleeper car passengers are considered first class so they get use of the lounge. Complimentary sandwiches, beverages, snacks are all to bad had. We dropped our bikes in the first class storage area, then grabbed sandwiches and a beverage before stocking some snacks into our backpacks for the train journey.

Our train didn't depart until 2:15 so we had several hours to get our baggage tags for the bikes and walk New York and get something to take with us on the train. Although we get dinner on the train, normally it comes to us very late (like 8:00) so we stop in Pret Manger for some pre-dinner appetizer fare, a wine store for a Bota Box to take with us.

That woman on the e-powered city bike just TOOK OFF after the light changed. I'm impressed.

Our roomette on the train was the last car in the consist. It's a half-sleeper car/half-baggage so at the end of our hall we could spot our bikes traveling first class all the way to Atlanta.

Now, if you've never been in an Amtrak roomette, it's an experience. I love it, but it gets tight for 2 people in the same way a 2-person tent is tight. It's almost 4' wide which is enough, but when you have to organize four panniers between two people and there's only room for one person to stand at a time, it becomes a choreographed dance. I stand outside while Kath sorts out everything she needs for the journey, and then we switch places and I do the same. We get it all sorted, use the shower on the train, then settle in and kick back and let the accomplishment of the journey flow.

And as we exchange memories of the trip and drift off to sleep, my princess says, "I Love You" and in my most scoundrel response, I say, "I Know...."

The adventure is what gives a cyclist his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together

Doing the "get the room ready, gear stowed, and change into non-cycling clothes" dance

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Today's ride: 23 miles (37 km)
Total: 466 miles (750 km)

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