2015-10-31 - Shorewalkers 38th Great Manhattan Bridge Walk
On Halloween, my dad and I joined the Shorewalkers on the 39th* Great Manhattan Bridge Walk. I have participated in this walk several times before and it is my favorite walk in New York City. My mom drove our friend, Som, and us up to the NJ side of the George Washington Bridge. It was around 9:15 AM and perfect timing as we saw many fellow walkers headed our way as the first leg of their round trip across the bridge. The air was cool and crisp and many cyclists were spinning across the bridge, one of the last rides of the season for some of them I'm sure. United at the George Washington Bus Terminal, we split into two groups: one following Walter who started and have led this walk for 13 years, and one faster group that will forego public transportation following Ian. My dad and I joined Walter while Som joined Ian.
We went down to the Greenway and then headed northward along the Manhattan shoreline. Varicolored flora blessed our views while the light crunch of leaves befriended our footsteps. We walked pass a columned structure which used to be a two-story building that welcomed visitors to the shore below. Soon we entered Inwood Hill Park and were treated to the not uncommon flock of geese. We climbed up the sloped trails to reach the Henry Hudson Bridge that connected us to the Bronx. The Henry Hudson Bridge is one of many in the city whose construction was driven by Robert Moses. Due to the cheap land and possible use of federal funding, Moses defended his plans against criticisms of destroying the virgin forest in the area, known to be the last wild land left in Manhattan, and also harming the nearby neighborhood.
We went down to the Greenway and then headed northward along the Manhattan shoreline. Varicolored flora blessed our views while the light crunch of leaves befriended our footsteps. We walked pass a columned structure which used to be a two-story building that welcomed visitors to the shore below. Soon we entered Inwood Hill Park and were treated to the not uncommon flock of geese. We climbed up the sloped trails to reach the Henry Hudson Bridge that connected us to the Bronx. The Henry Hudson Bridge is one of many in the city whose construction was driven by Robert Moses. Due to the cheap land and possible use of federal funding, Moses defended his plans against criticisms of destroying the virgin forest in the area, known to be the last wild land left in Manhattan, and also harming the nearby neighborhood.
With two bridges down and in the Bronx, we walked around to the memorable San Franciso-like stairs. While walking down the 300+ steps, I fondly remembered running up them during the first bridge walk I was part of. We soon entered Marble Hill, technically part of Manhattan despite being on the north side of the river. We crossed over the Broadway Bridge back to Manhattan proper, aptly named for running along Broadway Ave. University Heights Bridge carried us back over to the Bronx and we winded down to Washington Bridge.
I heard that Washington Bridge was named after a contest to decide its name was dismissed, much to the ire of many. It is easy to remember it though, as it stands directly opposite the George Washington Bridge on the other side of Manhattan. Walking along this bridge, we got a great view of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and the newly constructed High Bridge above the Harlem River. Joined by two other walkers (who remembered me from my Old Croton Aqueduct Walks), we walked down Highbridge Park to the bridge and spent quite a while there. High Bridge was originally built to carry the water of the Old Croton Aqueduct from the Bronx into Manhattan. Pumped into the water tower and reservoir here, the water then fed into the higher parts of Manhattan. It had finally be restored after decades of disrepair. This was my second time going across the bridge, the first being one week before when I cycled across it on my way home after the Tour de Bronx.
I heard that Washington Bridge was named after a contest to decide its name was dismissed, much to the ire of many. It is easy to remember it though, as it stands directly opposite the George Washington Bridge on the other side of Manhattan. Walking along this bridge, we got a great view of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and the newly constructed High Bridge above the Harlem River. Joined by two other walkers (who remembered me from my Old Croton Aqueduct Walks), we walked down Highbridge Park to the bridge and spent quite a while there. High Bridge was originally built to carry the water of the Old Croton Aqueduct from the Bronx into Manhattan. Pumped into the water tower and reservoir here, the water then fed into the higher parts of Manhattan. It had finally be restored after decades of disrepair. This was my second time going across the bridge, the first being one week before when I cycled across it on my way home after the Tour de Bronx.
In rapid succession, we crisscrossed the river with the Macomb's Dam Bridge, 145th Street Bridge, and the Third Avenue Bridge. During this sequence, we briefly stopped at the Major Deegan Memorial to pay our respects. After a rest at the usual McDonald's in the Bronx we resumed across the Willis Avenue Bridge back to Manhattan. The Triborough Bridge then carried us to the beautiful Randall's Island.
The last time I walked in Randall's Island was in February with my cousin as part of the same Bridge Walk. Trudging through the snow made for slow progress. The weather today was much friendlier and Halloween decorations were littered across the island. I got some great photos and really enjoyed this portion. The beautiful little blue bridge called the Ward's Island Bridge took us back to Manhattan. I was pretty tired by this point and so were some of our remaining members.
We took a Subway down to 59th street to walk across the Queensboro Bridge to go into Queens. It was really dark by this point. We rode a bus (free due to the MTA transfer system) down to the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn and walked across to Manhattan. My right foot was in pain and I had to compensate by pushing more with my left. It was also getting late so we decided to drop off. My dad and I headed home after a break while some of the others pushed on to finish with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. My dad and I walked across a total of 15 bridges, some of the them the first time for my dad. We had a great time and will be back again! The Bridge Walk takes place three times a year and I highly recommend it. Som did finish the entire walk with the fast group and did not take any public transportation. I hope to do the same next time after recovering more of my walking abilities that I lost during my cross-country bike ride.
