Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Exploring NYC by Bicycle - The Coney Island Loop

Ahhh, sinking toes into sand.
For something completely different we saved the last item on my agenda for the warmest day of our trip: riding to Coney Island by way of the Brooklyn-Queens bikeway section called Ocean Park Greenway. We ate breakfast at Terrace Bagels en route, then my son navigated by Google Maps all the integral turns to get us on the straight 5-mile path to the ocean. 

A mile from the ocean the breeze was noticeably cooler and we smelled the salty air. Conversely, my son wondered whether people who lived by the sea could perceive the difference when traveling to a freshwater body of water, for example, anyone visiting where we live near Lake Champlain.



I walked barefoot, sometimes plodding through the cold water until we arrived at Luna Park. The amusement rides open late May so it was relatively quiet on the boardwalk, however a few concession stands were open.


My son and I retrieved our bikes and returned for lunch and respite from the hot sun.

Thank goodness for umbrella covered tables!

Approaching the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
We considered visiting the New York Aquarium, adjacent to the park, but reviews provided insight into current renovations and suggested waiting until all exhibits were open. In spite of Google Maps not being entirely accurate, their reviews have been very helpful on this trip. And, after our rest, because my son was lagging in the navigation department to get us off the island, I used the GPS locator (my first time!) to backtrack and get us headed in the right direction. It's all well and good to ask locals where to go but for expediency, a smartphone is at our fingertips.

Consulting the paper map ahead of time (and referring to it also periodically) we agreed to return to Park Slope via the Shore Parkway Greenway, which passes beneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and should provide nice water views.

The underbelly of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
We reached the path after two miles of riding along a busy road, but once that was past it was a pleasant, if somewhat noisy ride with the Beltway also close to the shore.

Views of  Jersey City and Manhattan.
We both enjoyed the massive tankers plying the waterway.

With a thunderstorm brewing, the temperatures reached 85F as we pedaled inland, riding busy 5th Avenue northward. We took a break for ice cream then braved the last miles to our accommodation and lay down in our, thankfully, cool apartment for while.

Thunderstorm and rain rolled over the city. Later, we ventured out for Chinese take-out and walked back beneath the most amazing sky at sunset. This was our last full day in New York City and it seemed a fitting finale.

10 comments:

  1. Now you're on my stomping, or pedaling grounds!

    Coney Island is quite the contrast from downtown Manhattan, isn't it? I prefer to ride in it during the off-season because, as you noticed, it's quiet--a good place to ride and contemplate.

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    1. I liked the beach and boardwalk very much. The boardwalk is massively wide, but so is the beach. So wonderful to be on a beach that's not in NH or ME.

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  2. Thank you — and your son — for sharing your interesting journey in NYC! Courageous is a word I assign to you both. Good for you to be able to navigate the busy streets and crowded paths of the city. I enjoyed your posts very much. Wondering if your son will end up moving to live there!

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    1. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Sure NYC is busy but we found it much safer to ride in than where we live. This trip has opened new possibilities for my son, so who knows where his game programming degree will take him?

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  3. How did your Dahon perform on this trip Annie? I had a Dahon Speed 7 years ago that did surprisingly well on a trip riding the GAP trail.

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    1. The bike worked very well! For me it was the perfect compact bike to zip around traffic, store indoors, wheel on Amtrak, etc. It's proven it's worth as a travel bike and I would certainly do a similar tour in the future. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  4. Nice pics, Annie. Makes me want to go there and try it myself! Some day...

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  5. Sounds like it was a nice trip. Great photos.

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  6. I've really enjoyed reading about your trip Annie. I bet your son will talk about this in the future as one of the parts of his life he remembers with affection.

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    1. I imagine he will remember this adventure. He's a very appreciative child and a great person to be wit with and it was very insightful to watch him handle certain situations.

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