Last week, Mark Bittman wrote a piece for the New York Times about savoring the end of summer and escaping to the Northern reaches of Riverside Park–where it seems you leave the city behind. These kind of spots, where the city takes on almost bucolic proportions, are always the most fascinating (and no doubt it’s owing it part to them that so many people can call a relatively small swath of land their home). It prompted me to look back and find some photos of the first bike ride Aron and I took up to the George Washington bridge, a couple of summers back. We had rented bikes at the time, eager to take advantage of a recently opened stretch of bike path along the Hudson that made the route continuous from Battery Park to the bridge. At some point the crowds thinned and the trail became less urban. We even stopped to pick a few raspberries just off the path.
We were especially excited to come upon the little red lighthouse by the bridge–the only lighthouse left in Manhattan–something we’d only read about. Looking back at the city, we were somewhat surprised about how far it seemed. And yet in minutes we were back.
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What a great find…on the edge, but not really!
It does look so far away, doesn't it? I've never been up that way, but I did read the piece and feel like one day I need to just grab my picnic basket and go. I love this city, but sometimes you really do just need some peace and quiet.
I had no clue that's where the Lighthouse was. It's so charming! Great end of summer photos.
I love doing this sort of thing in London – we hired bikes and went for a ride right across the city just a few weeks ago.
yes! ed and i always feel the same way when we ride up. it doesn't even feel like new york up there. and sooo beautiful.
makes me take a deep breath, and dream of those kind of days.
I became close friends with the lighthouse while training to ride out to Montauk. -RS
Ok, so I have been following your blog for quite some time now and feel that I finally must break my silence! It had always been a dream of my husband and I to move to New York, and I have been dying over your blog and dreaming of doing all of the fun things you guys do in the city someday. Well, we officially moved out about a month ago, and this is our neighborhood! (As in, these pictures are blocks away from our place. We love the views of the bridge and going down by the little red lighthouse) It definitely seems hard to believe we are actually in New York sometimes because it's definitely quiet, but then again everything you could want to do is only a quick subway ride (or bike ride along the Hudson) away! Thanks for sharing, and a late congrats on your Hudson!
There's nothing better than a nice bike ride! Wonderful pictures!!
I'm usually a lurker, but I just have to say that although I haven't been there in person, this post brings back so many memories for me! The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge was a nightly read for me, my husband and son when he was a baby. Thank you for bringing me back.
Great photos to share with us as the summer ends. I can't believe you found raspberries along the path!
Congrats on the move, Courtney! That's awesome!
Hope you love it!
It's so necessary to find escapes within the city. We found ourselves taking the train to cold sping one day a few weeks after moving here–the city overwhelmed us t first!
wow! that lighthouse is awesome! i've been up riverside park pretty far, but apparently not far enough! with this cold weather moving in, it will be lovely with the changing leaves very soon!
sarah