Nibbling the Apple - 215 miles

Held up a little this morning. We weren't in a big hurry anyhow, but just as we got ready, Jack's GPS decided to play games. Out with the laptop and re-load routes.

Then we were under way and at the first intersection there was a cycle race going on and all traffic stopped.

Under way again and our route took us through several small towns, all full of Saturday Morning Traffic going slow.

Delay Delay Delay. Good thing our check-in time in New York is 4pm.

We had enough and stopped for coffee in Middletown, Rhode Island. Found a store where electrical things were really well priced and bought Charleen a netbook.

Underway again and tried to get to Newport, Rhode Island, scene of the epic win by Australia II in 1983. But the weather was lovely and most of the country was trying to get there as well. We gave up and did a U-ie and headed for New York. Well, we did. Jack and Linda had other plans to go to Philadelphia to catch up on some of their country's early history.

We stayed together until about 40 miles out of the city when we lost them near where they were to turn off. The traffic had slowed to gawk at someone on the northbound lanes who had parked his car upside down. Turns out they were behind us nearly all the way and our paths only parted when we turned left under the George Washington bridge and they continued over it to get to New Jersey.

Our track took us down the west side of Manhattan Island on the Henry Hudson Parkway. We took the 56th St exit, traveled five blocks to 7th Avenue and we were there. Easy. 4:03pm.

The staff at the Park Central Hotel were very helpful. Checkin took two minutes, we got Charleen inside and the valet guy got me to follow him to their garage where they let me put the bike in a corner in direct view of the 24 hour attendant. Moved someone else's car out to make it so. Excellent.

Our 20th storey room is surprisingly large but the view from the dirty windows is what you'd expect. Lots more 20th floor rooms and roofs of lower buildings. We could have had a suite overlooking 7th Ave for another $300.

However, this is New York and the room is just the place to sleep and get ready to go out. So we went for a walk up to Central Park and had a horse-drawn carriage ride. Nice, but we were just part of a procession of about 50 carriages doing the circuit.

Then we wandered down 5th Ave. Most of the big name shops were closed, but several were open. The Lindt shop was open. 36 Lindt balls for $13 is a great price. There goes the waist.

Had a look around for something to eat and weren't too inspired. Back at the hotel the staff directed us to the Hells' Kitchen district on 9th Ave "where the locals eat" so away we went. Too many to choose from, but we finally settled on Mexican and had a very nice meal and great Margaritas for a good price. The staff there were certainly all Mexican - very hard to understand - but the food was good enough for us non-connoisseurs.

From there we wandered down to Times Square and mingled with the massive crowds. I'm sure the emergency services - and there are lots of them - are sent out periodically to make some noise and flash some lights because the tourists expect it. None of them seemed to be in a big hurry and one huge fire-truck we watched, the crew were just crowd watching as they slowly moved through the traffic.

Boy o boy there are a lot of lights in Times Square.

We got back to our room at about 10pm. Nice and quiet here. We'll sleep while the city doesn't.

Some pics:

Second delay of the day

A patriotic town

Our morning coffee shopwas also a wedding cake shop. Some excellent edible art.

Looking out over Rhode Island Sound - scene of the epic win in 1983

High-rise apartments approaching New York

56th St buildings - This street has a $350 fine for honking!!

Charleen in times Square

A quick look around the lights and crowds of Times Square