[gatorbob]

Okay, this isn't actually a <b>run</b>, so I hope I don't get this kicked out of this forum. Since my last marathon (Vermont City) ended more than a month ago, I've been spending less time running and more time biking. And I figure I'll keep that up until training begins for the Philly Marathon some time near the end of July.<br><br>
Well, today I spent my day off from work going on the longest bike ride I've ever done. I live in northern New Jersey, and I will often take my bike to Hoboken (where I lived before I got married) and ride up to the George Washington Bridge, then over into Manhattan, and then south until I can take the subway back to Hoboken for a complete loop. Today, I stretched that out a bit, and I hit all five boroughs of New York City on my loop -- which included the Staten Island Ferry, because there's no other way to get to Staten Island on a bike.<br><br>
My total ride was 55.76 miles, which is far and away the longest ride I've ever done. (The previous long was about 40). I brought along my BobCam, as I often do, and I'd like to share some of the pics I took along the way. I've also got a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=3210645" target="_blank">pretty cool map of my route</a> from MotionBased (as recorded by my Garmin). If anyone has nothing better to do, they can look at the map and see if you can pinpoint the location where I took each shot. They are in sequential order, so that might help. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[gatorbob]

Here's a shot of the Manhattan skyline from Boulevard East in Guttenberg, NJ<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/01-Guttenberg.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here's the George Washington Bridge, dressed up for the Fourth<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/02-GWB.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
I thought this shot on the bridge was pretty cool:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/03-GWB.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here's the new Yankee Stadium, under construction across the street from the old one. (By the way, the Yankees suck <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> )<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/04-NewYankeeStadium.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
And here's the old, crappy Yankee Stadium:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/05-OldYankeeStadium.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[gatorbob]

I stopped for a hot dog and a Gatorade from this vendor in Central Park:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/06-CentralParkHotDog.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here's Times Sqaure. You can even see the Naked Cowboy (if you want to) :<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/07-TimesSquareNakedCowboy.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
The Chrysler Building in the background:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/08-ChryslerBuilding.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
In front of the UN:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/09-UNBuilding.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
After crossing into Queens, and then into Brooklyn, this is the Brooklyn Bridge on the ride back to Manhattan:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/10-BrooklynBridge.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[Frankie71]

<b>Bob</b> great job on the bike ride. And as usual, love the <b>Bobcam</b> pics. Question for you. How far of a ride is it from Hoboken to the GWB? I was thinking when I go back to Philly in November I wanted to take a run across the bridge. My aunt and uncle live in Ridgefield Park but the only road I know of that leads from there place to the GWB is the interstate. I dont want to be running along that if I dont have to.

 

[gatorbob]

This is the site of Ground Zero:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/11-GroundZero.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
At the New York Stock Exchange Building on Wall Street:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/12-WallStNYSE.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Stopped for another Gatorade and hot dog, this time near South Street Seaport:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/13-SouthStHotDog.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
The view of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/14-LadyLibertyStatenIslandFerry.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
And finally back to Hoboken. This gazebo is actually the spot in Frank Sinatra Park where I proposed to my wife back on May 7, 1999. Thankfully she said yes. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/bobmann/Manhattan%20Ride%20July%204%202007/15-FrankSinatraParkGazebo.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
That's it. Thanks for letting me share...

 

[gatorbob]

Wow, quick job checking in there, <b>Frankie</b>! From where I start in Hoboken, it's about 11 or 12 miles up to the bridge. Ridgefield Park is closer than that. And there are plenty of roads that lead there that aren't the interstate...<br><br>
ETA: Heck, just zoom in on the map in my MotionBased link and you can find some streets that'll take you there.

 

[Dankinia]

Great pictures Bob. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Nettie]

I love your expressions in the photos!

 

[Buxtehude]

Neato pics!

 

[Frankie71]

Yeah I was a bit quick on the draw there. Didnt realize you were posting a second batch of pics. I did zoom in on your map and it looks like I can take Fort Lee Rd. most of the way to the bridge. Ill be looking foward to doing that when I am back there. <img alt="cool.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/cool.gif">

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<b>Bob</b> - impressive bike ride, and I always love your pics; nice job!<br><br>
Have you ever thought about doing a duathlon? I saw one that sold out here recently that was a 50-mile bike ride followed by a 12-mile run. Might be something to at least think about considering you're doing this on a mountain bike to boot.

 

[gatorbob]

Thanks, guys. <b>Moon</b>, I think up until now I haven't considered myself a strong enough biker to try a du. I feel better about it now, so maybe it's time to look into one. Maybe. I think I'd want to start off small...

 

[ManAlive]

Great report and great pics... I can practically taste the hot dogs!<br><br>
I love NY. I really must go back for a visit.

 

[ScratchType1]

I think you should have eaten 66 hot dogs along the way in honor of Joey Chestnut's victory at Coney Island. That would have been an epic endurance bike ride, over 50 miles and 66 hot dogs.

 

[winter]

<b>boB</b> Not only are your rides cool but they are inspirational as well.<br>
Thanks for sharing.<br>
I always look forward to your <b>boBcam shots</b>.<br>
p.s. i'm pretty sure that second hot dog was actually a Hostess cup cake.

 

[altoids]

Nice pictures! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[diablita]

Love the report and pics, GatorBob! It sounds like you had a great time. And ate some tasty fuel. I've always wanted to run across the Brooklyn Bridge. someday...

 

[Buxtehude]

I found the naked cowboy.

 

[Nettie]

What does she win?!

 

[Buxtehude]

Finding him was prize enough.<br><br><img alt="love10.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love10.gif">