Night New York Bike Ride

Yes, it is true, we are back from our holiday. But sometimes you realise that you had so much fun, that you forgot some important posts. So, here is the first of a number of catch-up posts that I will make to the blog – so that in the future, I will remember what I did!

Certainly one of the highlights of our trip was a 6 hour night bike tour of New York. We saw a lot of lower Manhattan and experienced the different night life in these areas. The tour is operated by Bike the Big Apple.

While it was a cool night, it was clear and dry – making for some good photographs. I was testing the limits of my Canon EOS M. Greater camera if you can wait for it to focus – whassup Canon? As you will see below, it operates surprisingly well in low light.

Riding the backstreets of China Town
NYC night bike tour

Alongside the Brooklyn Bridge
NYC night bike tour

Riding up the Brooklyn Bridge
NYC night bike tour

Skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge
NYC night bike tour

No Cars on Wall Street – but Bikes are o.k.
NYC night bike tour

I prefer NY traffic over Adelaide traffic.
NYC night bike tour

Washington Square Arch
NYC night bike tour

The Standard of the High Line
NYC night bike tour

Times Square
NYC night bike tour

One flight done, two to go….

Ah… One 4+ hours flight complete (let’s not mention the tarmac sitting, and delays before take off).

As I had seen majority of the movies on the last flight to the USA, I commenced watching b-grade American comedy called episodes. I had already completed one book, and didn’t have the heart to turn on the iPad to read something else. I can also report I’ve watched something called Trollied and On the go…. all of which are unlikely to make it to a free tv channel. However, if you do see them listed save yourselves. Your time is more valuable, so don’t say you weren’t warned.

Okay…. Long flight up next.

LA Qantas Lounge

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Farewell….. North America

This morning we walked to a coffee shop (one we had been to previously) and enjoyed a cappuccino, and a scone. Which looks more like a cake.

Coffee and Scone
Coffee - Friday AM.  NYC

Afterwards we walked down 6th Avenue, then 5th up to the Metropolitan Art Museum as we had a spare couple of hours. The Met is a huge gallery, which I am sure would take all day if you were to do it properly. All I can say it is easy to get lost – despite the map. By the time we left the rain had started again. While we have had a great time (cycled over 600km in the past four weeks), we are looking forward to coming home – okay apart from the flight…..

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Last meal

Our last full day in NYC has us at our starting point 4 weeks ago – sitting and eating fabulous food and a glass of wine and beer in Eataly (Thanks Etica for the heads up!).

Dinner at Birreria in Eataly

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Only decision left is what to have for dessert..

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… and to avoid the rain as the roof has just been opened!

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Goodbye Canada

Thanks to the relatives for making us feel welcome, reacquainting us with butter tarts (these should be illegal), coffee machines, hockey night – being every night (go penguins!) and cycling with and without directions.

We’ve had a great time. We hope to be back one day.
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Coffee and a snack

Coffee in Toronto (well when cycling) selection is Cherry Bomb. We had a great cappuccino, and I enjoyed a blueberry croissant. Which was very enjoyable.

Cherry Boomb
Cherry bomb

Coffee menu
Cherry bomb

Coffee
Cherry bomb coffee

Croissant
Cherry bomb - blueberry crossiant

Last ride

Last full day staying with the relatives…. Rain and thunder threatening, and what do we decide to do? A leisurely ride around Toronto. Not an short dawdle but 59km. The ride was full of construction, detours, map reading problems, roadworks, and the odd hill or two.

We commenced the ride at the Toronto Botanical Gardens…. and we’re soon consulting the map after the route was blocked due to construction.

Car loaded
Ride around Toronto

Directions
Ride around Toronto

Eventually, after some riding, more construction we made it to the waterfront…. and the man made beach. Then hit with more construction we eventually made it up to the music garden area and had lunch.

Toronto
Ride around Toronto

After lunch, we headed back down to the waterfront and up to Fort York. From here we went to High Park, headed over to Ronsevallies Ave for a “good coffee” and a croissant which was pretty good :)

Fort York
Ride around Toronto

Ride around Toronto

To work off the snack we headed down to High Park in search of a pond, but found a few hills. We had a few encounters with the local wildlife, and began the long cycle back across Toronto.

Lake in High Park
Ride around Toronto

local wildlife
Ride around Toronto

Groundhog
Ride around Toronto

Cycling back… Was no mean feet…. It started with a right on Anette across the suburbs, and through a cemetery around the time went he roads were getting busier with traffic. Thankfully a local took us through otherwise we would still be trying to find our way back. However we till had a number of “all way stops” to get through (they need roundabouts), saw a groundhog and made it back to the car all before the rain started! Woo-hoo what a great day out on the bike.

Back to the car
Ride around Toronto