2016-05-07 - Shorewalkers 2016 Great Saunter
On the morning of May 7, 2016, I awoke after 6 hours of sleep to make it to the start by 7 AM. United with 4 others, we started around 8 AM. Including me, the four of us had originally met during the last Great Saunter and not seen each other since. The fifth member was a friend of one of them. We were so excited to catch up and do it all over again. The first leg of our walk brought us up the west side of Manhattan by the Hudson River. Light drizzling was the forecast and it never got worse than that. In fact, the weather and temperature was great for walking.
We spotted the Jersey City skyline on the other side of the river, including the Goldman Building where I worked for a few months last year, tallest building in New Jersey. There was also the Colgate clock, one of the biggest clocks in the world, the once key transportation to NYC, Hoboken Train Station, as well as the Holland Tunnel and Lincoln Tunnel exhaust towers. Partway, we stopped briefly to get coffee and sandwiches and to stretch before continuing. Soon, we had reached the impressive Intrepid aircraft carrier. I learned that the explorer space shuttle permanently resides there, and was not a temporary exhibit as I had thought.
We spotted the Jersey City skyline on the other side of the river, including the Goldman Building where I worked for a few months last year, tallest building in New Jersey. There was also the Colgate clock, one of the biggest clocks in the world, the once key transportation to NYC, Hoboken Train Station, as well as the Holland Tunnel and Lincoln Tunnel exhaust towers. Partway, we stopped briefly to get coffee and sandwiches and to stretch before continuing. Soon, we had reached the impressive Intrepid aircraft carrier. I learned that the explorer space shuttle permanently resides there, and was not a temporary exhibit as I had thought.
We continued past the art sculptures and projects beside the river. Erika and Katalina lagged behind at certain parts and seemed to be on their phone for hours. Under the George Washington Bridge by the Little Red Lighthouse, Sam, Emily I waited for the two others to catch up. Unbeknownst to all of us was the ominous reason for their slower speed. About 3-4 additional miles brought us to the midpoint rest stop in Inwood Hill Park. Emily left us to get lunch and study for her finals. We hugged and said goodbye. Sam and I bought food from the outdoor food market. I enjoyed a delectable vegetable focaccia.
Erika and Katalina caught up after stopping for coffee at the same place Emily was eating lunch but did not see her! Erika's feet was hurting by this point, unused to her relatively new boots, but she was determined to finish. Katalina's hips also troubled her. We continued under the bridges I walked across during the triannual Great Manhattan Bridge Walks. Although Sam found it boring compared to the west side, I liked that about this portion. We stopped at a bathroom spot and uncovered the reasons for Erika's discomfort: multiple blisters on her toes and feet. Yikes! With a little help from us, she retaped her toes and applied moleskin. Katalina changed her socks. Sam had already changed into sandals and would walk about 20 miles in them by the time the day was done. I was travelling light wihout a backpack, extra socks, nor extra shoes but I kept switching my socks between my feet which helped.
Moving faster, Sam and I walked ahead. The Harlem River combined with the East River as we reached Carl Schurz Park. Sam hunted for dogs to capture (on camera) as I used the disgusting bathroom I definitely do not recommend. We waited here for Sam's cousin who lives nearby as well as Erika and Katalina to join us.
Moving faster, Sam and I walked ahead. The Harlem River combined with the East River as we reached Carl Schurz Park. Sam hunted for dogs to capture (on camera) as I used the disgusting bathroom I definitely do not recommend. We waited here for Sam's cousin who lives nearby as well as Erika and Katalina to join us.
Reunited and once again a party of five, we pressed downward through several turns as I heard tales of Sam's and Erika's family. We passed the UN and Sam's cousin eventually left to go home.
The sun finally went down by the time we reached the East River Park under the Williamsburg Bridge where I volunteered to garden once. A group of walkers asked us to take a photo of them in front of the Manhattan Bridge. We gently told them that we still had a mile to go before reaching Chinatown and the Manhattan Bridge. Sam's 8-month pregnant sister called him back and told him everything was fine. No Uncle Sam yet! Sam stopped for me to capture him perform pull-ups on an exercise bar but his phone unfortunately ran out of battery and shut down before it saved the video.
We chose a spot to wait for Erika and Katalina about half mile from the finish. They were so glad to see us. They seemed in bad shape. Erika thought Katalina had been kidnapped when she turned onto a parallel path. Katalina was hobbling with hip pain. Regardless, we had survived and finished at the historic Frances Tavern together. Almost 1500 walkers had registered and 630 finished. It was an epic walk and left me nervous but looking forward to the 50 mile Freewalkers Big Walk two weeks away. Erika and Katalina took Uber home, joking they would bribe the driver to carry them up to their apartment. Sam took the subway two stops away to his temporary stay with a friend in Brooklyn. I, however, missed my train home and had to wait for an extra 40 minutes. Worth it.
We chose a spot to wait for Erika and Katalina about half mile from the finish. They were so glad to see us. They seemed in bad shape. Erika thought Katalina had been kidnapped when she turned onto a parallel path. Katalina was hobbling with hip pain. Regardless, we had survived and finished at the historic Frances Tavern together. Almost 1500 walkers had registered and 630 finished. It was an epic walk and left me nervous but looking forward to the 50 mile Freewalkers Big Walk two weeks away. Erika and Katalina took Uber home, joking they would bribe the driver to carry them up to their apartment. Sam took the subway two stops away to his temporary stay with a friend in Brooklyn. I, however, missed my train home and had to wait for an extra 40 minutes. Worth it.
