2019-03-16 - Shorewalkers 47th Great Manhattan Bridge Walk
On behalf of Shorewalkers, I plan and lead The Great Manhattan Bridge Walk (GMBW) multiple times a year. The plan for this walk, GMBW’s 47th iteration, was for two groups to walk clockwise around the borough of Manhattan, crossing every walk-able bridge along its perimeter, One group would complete the full ~34-mile Manhattan Borough route, and one group the shorter ~31-mile Manhattan Island route.
After 8 months of rest due to knee injuries, I was not sure how I would fare leading the walk this year. Optimistic and hopeful though, I set out across the George Washington Bridge [1] to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal where we were to congregate. About fifty people attended on this beautiful day, including a few who joined up after the start. After a pre-event talk, we set off around 8:30 AM, heading north up the Hudson River Greenway. Ian Hochstead sped ahead with the Manhattan Borough group while I lead the slightly slower Manhattan Island group. Due to the closure of the pedestrian walkway on the Henry Hudson Bridge, both groups this year followed a mirrored route during the first third of the walk.
We all met up at a bathroom stop before Inwood Hill Park, at which point we took the opportunity to take a photo all together before separating once more. The two groups did not cross paths again during the event. Following the Great Saunter route, My group went around Inwood Hill Park and crossed Broadway Bridge [2] from Manhattan proper into Marble Hill, that unique neighborhood of Manhattan nestled on the Bronx side. Oddly enough, this unintuitive example of county line-drawing came about because engineers many years ago moved the river that formed the original boundary. Despite having been bodily exiled, the Marble Hill neighborhood decided to stay a part of Manhattan Borough.
After picking up a late-joiner and a three-member family from Pennsylvania who got separated from the faster group, we then crossed University Bridge [3] from the Bronx back into Manhattan. Three walkers dropped out early as we took a bathroom break, including my co-leader David Hogarty (though he would later rejoin us at the Bed, Bath & Beyond rest stop, ten miles from the end). After the break, our remaining sixteen walkers hiked south on a paved trail through Harlem River Park, to exit which the group had to hop some fences in epic fashion while I, of course, laughed maniacally. Team-building exercise, check.
After 8 months of rest due to knee injuries, I was not sure how I would fare leading the walk this year. Optimistic and hopeful though, I set out across the George Washington Bridge [1] to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal where we were to congregate. About fifty people attended on this beautiful day, including a few who joined up after the start. After a pre-event talk, we set off around 8:30 AM, heading north up the Hudson River Greenway. Ian Hochstead sped ahead with the Manhattan Borough group while I lead the slightly slower Manhattan Island group. Due to the closure of the pedestrian walkway on the Henry Hudson Bridge, both groups this year followed a mirrored route during the first third of the walk.
We all met up at a bathroom stop before Inwood Hill Park, at which point we took the opportunity to take a photo all together before separating once more. The two groups did not cross paths again during the event. Following the Great Saunter route, My group went around Inwood Hill Park and crossed Broadway Bridge [2] from Manhattan proper into Marble Hill, that unique neighborhood of Manhattan nestled on the Bronx side. Oddly enough, this unintuitive example of county line-drawing came about because engineers many years ago moved the river that formed the original boundary. Despite having been bodily exiled, the Marble Hill neighborhood decided to stay a part of Manhattan Borough.
After picking up a late-joiner and a three-member family from Pennsylvania who got separated from the faster group, we then crossed University Bridge [3] from the Bronx back into Manhattan. Three walkers dropped out early as we took a bathroom break, including my co-leader David Hogarty (though he would later rejoin us at the Bed, Bath & Beyond rest stop, ten miles from the end). After the break, our remaining sixteen walkers hiked south on a paved trail through Harlem River Park, to exit which the group had to hop some fences in epic fashion while I, of course, laughed maniacally. Team-building exercise, check.
The Washington Bridge [4] carried us into the Bronx, shortly followed by the High Bridge [5] back into Manhattan. High Bridge is the oldest bridge in New York City, having originally opened in 1848 as part of the Croton Aqueduct. It was reopened in 2015 after 45 years of closure and extensive reconstruction. From there, we walked south through High Bridge Park and exited onto Edgecombe Avenue, where we paused to take a look at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the oldest house in New York City. The nearby Macombs Dam Bridge [6] led us into the Bronx once more where we took another nice bathroom break by the Joseph Yancey Track and Field in Macombs Dam Park. By this point we were down to twelve people of the persistent sort.
We enjoyed a beautiful trek down Grand Concourse and the Bronx Walk of Fame past the Bronx Supreme Court. Turning left on 149th street, we crossed the 145th Street Bridge [7] onto 145th Street in Manhattan. At the Madison Bridge [8], we did an out-and-back using both the northern and southern pedestrian walkways of the bridge, finally thereby returning to the GMBW’s usual route (before Henry Hudson Bridge was closed). Everyone was glad when Third Avenue Bridge [9] deposited us in Bronx for the last time, where we took our big lunch break at 2:00 PM. At Alex Gisser’s suggestion, most in my group went to an empanada place called Empanology at 2407 Third Avenue. They said it was awesome. We had by this time reunited with two of the walkers lost previously. One person from the faster group joined us here as well. A few people however finished their walk here. By the time we wrapped up our meal, we had 11 people left.
After eating, we walked across the Willis Ave Bridge [10] to get into Manhattan and then crossed one leg of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge [11] (formerly known as the Triborough Bridge) to get onto Randall's Island. Randall's Island was a gorgeous treat as usual, filled with trees and grass, sandy beaches and marshland. As we walked past Icahn Stadium and the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh, several members of the group shared terrifying tales about the fenced mental institutions also located, somewhat jarringly, amidst the island’s various recreational spaces. The Ward's Island Bridge [12] sped us into Manhattan once more, and from there we sauntered down the riverfront, passing by Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York, and the Roosevelt Island lighthouse. We reached our second big rest stop at Bed, Bath & Beyond at 5 PM where Dave rejoined our group. I learned later that the faster Manhattan Borough group left this location a mere fifteen minutes before our arrival. A few more walkers bowed out at this point so that when we resumed walking, we were down to ten.
A long trek over the East River via the Queensboro Bridge [13] (also known as the 59th Street Bridge) took us into Queens for the first time. From there we walked south down 23rd Street and Jackson Avenue to cross the Pulaski Bridge into Brooklyn. Some went with Alex for a quick alcohol and bathroom break below the bridge before we continued south along Franklin and Kent Avenues to reach the Williamsburg Bridge [14] back into Manhattan. We went to a nearby McDonald's for a bathroom break as another two people left, dropping us down to eight.
The Manhattan Bridge [15] carried us one last time from Chinatown into Brooklyn where Dave left us for the last time. A tough final seven finished the entire walk, which ended on a particular scenic note as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge [16] from the City Hall in Brooklyn to the City Hall in Manhattan -- the breathtaking Manhattan skyline in front of us, framed by a black sky. Congrats to all who made it!
The Manhattan Bridge [15] carried us one last time from Chinatown into Brooklyn where Dave left us for the last time. A tough final seven finished the entire walk, which ended on a particular scenic note as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge [16] from the City Hall in Brooklyn to the City Hall in Manhattan -- the breathtaking Manhattan skyline in front of us, framed by a black sky. Congrats to all who made it!
14 additional people finished the Manhattan Borough route so we had 21 finishers in all out of 50 starters (42.0%). Overall, it was a great success. Few complained and many loved the walk. A few even claimed that it was their favorite bridge walk yet. I want to especially thank Som B., Ian Hochstead, and David Hogarty for their repeated help with this event. It would not be possible without them.
2019 Finishers
Manhattan Borough (14)
Laura Clark
Matthew Dougan
Peter Garzero
Tom Glynn
Virginia Guadagno
Ian Hochstead
Savi Isinkaunan
Bill Liston
Sharon Salmon
Kathy Smith
Bob Wallace
Gloria Yuan
Ling Zhou
Nakis
Manhattan Island (7)
Sheila Chung
Karen De Alva.
Alex Gisser
Tom Higgins
Connie Higgins
Jack Shi
Kevin Wang
Laura Clark
Matthew Dougan
Peter Garzero
Tom Glynn
Virginia Guadagno
Ian Hochstead
Savi Isinkaunan
Bill Liston
Sharon Salmon
Kathy Smith
Bob Wallace
Gloria Yuan
Ling Zhou
Nakis
Manhattan Island (7)
Sheila Chung
Karen De Alva.
Alex Gisser
Tom Higgins
Connie Higgins
Jack Shi
Kevin Wang