Friday, August 10, 2012

8-8-2012 East River Esplanade and Central Park

Tuesday I was feeling stir crazy. All of the heat and humidity has kept me from putting in the usual mileage on my bike that I prefer. Though the weather was as hot and humid as ever on Tuesday I forced myself to get out and sweat out my cabin fever.

I decided to do one lap around Wards Island, cross the 103rd street bridge, and do a lap around Central Park, before coming back to Astoria via the Queensborough Bridge. All together this was only 20 miles but in this heat it felt like much further.

I'm still significantly overweight (though cycling is slowly changing that), so the heat is extra debilitating, and at times I felt some mild heat exhaustion. Being acutely aware of this I made sure to hydrate often, stopping where I knew the water fountains were along my route.



Descending the Triboro Bridge to Wards Island.





From Hellgate Bridge to the entrance of the Triboro.





Wards Island, in the shadow of the Hellgate Bridge.





Wards Island, in the shadow of the Hellgate Bridge.





Wards Island Bridge





Wards Island Bridge





Myself in front of the Wards Island Bridge



From here I crossed over to the East River Esplanade and made my way downtown, along the river. As I came around a turn I found a girl on the side of the path trying to dab at the skinned elbow of a little boy who had just fallen off his bike. I pulled over and offered the use of my first aid which is always in my backpack. After applying some triple antibiotic with pain relief and large a Tegiderm pad to his elbow I suggested that they all wear helmets and said goodbye.



After patching up a young boy's elbow I suggest that they wear helmets before bidding them good day.



I then continued to a scenic point overlooking the East River where one can view 3 iconic bridges with Roosevelt Island at your feet. Fortunately I was able to capture a nice progression when a tugboat and police boat passed right in front of me.



The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street





The East River Esplanade at 80th Street



From here I continued to the foot of the Queensborough Bridge at 59th Street. A sculpture park sits in the shadow of the bridge and offers more beautiful views of the city and the East River.



In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge





In the shadow of the Queensborough Bridge



Leaving the sculpture park I made my way across town to enter Central Park near Columbus Circle. By this time the heat was beginning to take a toll and my pace and energy levels were decreasing in concert. I had decided to keep my time in Central Park short only just completing one lap before exiting the park to head back towards the Queensborough Bridge, this time with a mind to cross it and cut my usual path through Long Island City and back to my apartment in Astoria.



Descending the Queensborough Bridge.





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