This Past Weekend
FlatIronMike
would. When I got up that morning [Friday] I discovered that rain was
predicted in the afternoon so I decided to cut the ride a bit shorter
and took the LIRR out to Freeport and rode from there. It was about a
2-1/2 hour ride and very nice and enjoyable. Saw several small towns
that looked interesting and the traffic was decent. Brian had in
company from DC and NC as well so we all went out for dinner on Friday
night and had seafood. We rode over to the Ferry on Saturday for the
Invasion of the Pines and got the 10:20am boat to Cherry Grove. We
hung out 'downtown' in the Grove as first a few, and later a hoard of
people dressed in costumes beyond description arrived for the event.
Panzi, the found of The Invasion was in fine form and as silly as ever
as folk lined up and strolled onto the Ferry. As the boat loaded, we
all walked through the National Seaside forest to the Pines and got
downtown there to the Harbour before the Ferry Arrived. It was jammed
to the gills and the guys I was with were wimpy about working through
the crowd to a decent vantage point so we ended up at the end of the
harbour and waited. After about 15 minutes we spotted a ferry boat
down the Bay head to the Pines and expected that it was The Ferry. As
the boat got closer we realized it was a yacht that had screening over
it to make the contraption look like the bus from Priscilla, Queen of
the Desert. There were several drag queens on the roof of the 'Bus'
and they had the Shoe and flowing chiffon as was in the Movie. The
crowd loved it while they went up the Harbour to the bay that had.
And then, in the horizon we spot a second ferry. But as it got closer
we realized there was nary a drag queen aboard. It was the 1:50 Ferry
from Sayville! The moans and groans were audible as the boat got to
the dock and hustled off the passengers. Finally we spotted The
Ferry. As it approached I was able to get several shots of the boat
and a good broadside of the Queens on the top deck. We did not get to
see many make their entrance as it was so crowded but we did hang at
the bar for drinks and then headed to the Ocean. Brian & I went
skinny dipping. I have done that for years in the Ocean as the beach
is clothing optional and nothing is more bothersome than a wet suit.
We ended the evening at Top of The Bay, the premiere restaurant on the
Island. Sunday, Brian & I spent a good time cycling around Sayville.
I enjoyed it as the streets were so deserted and we could ride side by
side and actually talk while we rode. I saw many fascinating houses
and got several pix of them as well.
I got up this morning and got on Herman and rode back. I ended up
stopping at the Freeport LIRR station again as I needed a pee-break
and after checking the scheduled, decided to ride on in as it was
11:15 and I could get back by noon. Lucifer was overjoyed on my
arrival and the prospect of F-O-O-D again. I always leave enjoy dry
food to get him though a weekend but he was more than ready for his
Salmon delight. To reward him, I took him to Madison Square Park this
afternoon. The weather was so delightful we stayed out there over an
hour and a half before walking back to my flat. He loved all the
brushing and attention he always gets in the park. People just seem
to gravitate toward him and he loves it.
I will be posting the photos on Piscasa tomorrow as I have them
downloaded but I am just too tired to do the captioning that makes the
photos into the story I shot. I will share the link with you all
tomorrow.
I know I could NOT have ridden over 70 miles this weekend if I still
smoked and I am loving how much stronger and resilient I'm feeling
now. While I did get a 'bounce' when I took up riding at 49, I did
not know what to expect this time. Finally having all the gadgets on
the bike working I know I will be riding more to enjoy it and get
miles under my belt. My goal this summer is to ride from West
Sayville to Montauk [75 miles] and maybe the North Fork-South Fork-
Ferry ride that is later this summer.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, five days, 3 minutes and 57
seconds. 17520 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,261.76. Life saved: 8
weeks, 4 days, 20 hours, 0 minutes.
DavidL
Congrats on successful completion of your adventure.
I hope it leads to more and longer trips in the future.
You got a trustworthy neighbor could pop in on Lucifer some.
Cats seem to really be more social than dogs.
They just act aloof to piss us off.
Gracenote
I am so jealous. I can't wait to see the pictures.
I just wonder if I could take up biking.
Annette
Sue
Sue
Brenny
Sounds like you had a great time and I can understand just how much
more enjoyable it was now that you don't smoke...
Hugz...
Brenny
Marvin The Paranoid Android
Ride On!!!
Sounds like a fun ride!
Glad to hear the weather held out for you too -- another week of rain
here ... sigh.
Cheers!
Marvin The Paranoid Android
Only one way to find out Annette! :-)
Start off easy -- use easy gears at first (it's a good cardio workout)
then when you get more comfy and you find you can bike longer start
using some harder gears near the last half of the ride to build up
some muscle. You'll be burning carbs & calories and building
muscle :-)
The fun thing with biking is that if the biking bug bites, you'll
start looking for different and further places to venture to. It
becomes a personal challenge -- at least for me it has and from
reading Mike's posts for him too :-D
Big Hugs Mon Ami!!
FlatIronMike
door, the question is, do I walk or ride my bike to where I'm
heading? I find a short jaunt of a mile can be as much fun as a
longer ride and certainly practical if I would end up taking a train
back as I had been shopping and it's too far to haul back stuff from
there.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, five days, 13 hours, 53 minutes
and 37 seconds. 17551 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,265.22. Life
saved: 8 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 35 minutes.
kestrel
Mike,you party animal! Sounds like you and your friends had a rare
and wonderful time. Priscilla is one of my all time favorite movies;
it is so outlandish and I don't mean in an Australian kind of way.
Can't wait to see your pix. I'm going to see Priscilla Queen of the
Desert again, and will probably move it up on my netflix queue right
now. Just finished watching Cabaret again; I never tire of that one.
Me, I had a quiet as usual Fourth. Didn 't even watch the Macy's
fireworks. Second son, Evan, and his lady, Debbie, came to town, and
then took the bus up to Fleischmanns, NY, where the clean up of his
father's house is still progressing. They met No. 1 son, Chris, and
his wife, Melinda, up there and they all got some more work done on
the house. The painter is supposed to start this week. After that
they will put it up for sale. Evan & Debby came back to the city on
Sunday and left on Monday to go back to Chicago. Chris called me, as
he often does, from his car on his way to work this morning.
I will continue to kick back and enjoy this summer weather for a
while. Congrats on your steady progress on your quit. It's good to
watch you forge ahead.
Joyce
11 Years+
FlatIronMike
summer unfolds. I am envisioning more serious riding as my skills
sharpen and my strength builds.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 2 hours, 54 minutes and
59 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.48. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
http://picasaweb.google.com/FlatironMikeNYC/TheInvasionOfThePines2009#.
Enjoy!
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and
9 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.48. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
that already. <G>
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 2 hours, 57 minutes and
20 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.49. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
Freeport on Monday morning. I could have ridden on to Jamaica -
another 15 miles or thereabouts, but i figured I needed to get back to
town to take care of Lucifer. You are so right though. I would NOT
be doing this if I still sucked poisons.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 2 hours, 59 minutes and
0 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.50. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
Today was off & on and I took off riding. I do plan to ride over to
Brooklyn to Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens there though. It's
a fun ride and I plan on riding both the Brooklyn and Manhattan
Bridges since I finally figured out where the sidewalk on the
Manhattan bridge was. <G>
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 3 hours, 1 minute and
11 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.50. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
Brian. By August days of 90+F temperature with 95% humidity are more
common than not. You do have to build up toleration to it during the
riding season or you are cooked as you say. The first year I rode for
the AIDSRide was one of the hottest summers in the '90s. I rode on
the 5th of July when it was 101F in the afternoon. I waited until 6pm
when it had dropped to 97F before taking off to ride. Crazy, eh?
Winters here are not as cold as you get but you do have to have the
right clothing or riding is horrid.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 3 hours, 5 minutes and
3 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.52. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
do watch some of the routines from time to time for amusement. It was
one of my favourite movies of the '90s and certainly gave me
encouragement to explore the Imperial Court at that time. LOL
One of my few regrets this past weekend though was seeing the
fireworks over the Hudson River this time. I have discovered so many
places there that could be great for watching that could avoid most of
the crowd I expect they had. Definitely seeing them on the GW Bridge
could have been splendid if they allowed it. I do suspect that they
closed the bridge for then though?
I can appreciate what your sons are going through. My last lover's
Mom died while we were living together and he, his brother & sister-in-
law & I took nearly a year to clean out her 7 room house and get it up
for market. She was a world class clutterer and the insane stuff we
found still amazes me. I do think that they probably do have some
interesting stuff with his photography.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, three weeks, six days, 3 hours, 12 minutes and
42 seconds. 17562 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,268.55. Life saved:
8 weeks, 4 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes.
FlatIronMike
was just cold. I did have an all-weather riding suit but while almost
all of me was covered, my cheeks certainly could feel the cold. The
ride was from Prospect Park to Coney Island and back along the New
York Harbour and the sky was crystal clear.
FlatironMike
Two years, four months, four weeks, 2 hours, 51 minutes and 39
seconds. 17582 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,274.46. Life saved: 8
weeks, 5 days, 1 hour, 10 minutes.