A challenging first day

   Bounding out of bed at 7:00,  my mission was clear, load me and my bike and onto the train, get to NYC,  cross the Brooklyn Bridge, find the ferry terminal for tomorrow’s ride to Highland, New Jersey and get settled into my hostel for the night.   The first day is always challenging and the anxiety leading up to it invariably deprives me of many hours of sleep. Helping through my pre-trip jitters Betsy made me an outstanding send off breakfast of french toaster avec blueberries, sausage, coffee and an my daily sliced up orange.  Over the weeks she has pitched in helping me get through all my fall maintenance around the house. Without her help and support I would gave been hard pressed to get done what I did.   Perhaps, with some encouragement, I hope she will join me on one of my sojourns.  It was so nice to have her at the station seeing me off.  

From the time I rode out of my driveway off to the New London train station, everything went smoothly. Praise Jeeeessus!  When the train arrived in New London the conductor guided me aboard (not easy given the size and weight of my fully loaded bike.  Just a few weeks ago, Amtrak began accepting bikes all the trains. Each car has two upright racks but the train will only allow two bikes aboard, at least until the kinks are worked out.  Removing the front wheel and bags the bike neatly fit into the rack with two securing bars locking the bike into place.  The car was virtually empty which was a relief given all the germs floating around.  Even with the mask requirement, having no one around was a bonus.  On the outskirts of New York I reattached the wheel and loaded on all the gear.  Once there, the conductor helped me find the two elevators to get me to street level.  With my gps set I began sampling the New York riding conditions.  First of all, the traffic was amazingly light, very uncharacteristic of the city. The designated bus lane gave me additional space.  I arrived at the hostel high rise, checked in to my single room, shed my bags and headed off to the Brooklyn Bridge.  Once on the wide east river bike and pedestrian lanes, I cruised right along enjoying the passing boats and skyline.  Finding the bridge was easy but getting onto the pedestrian/bike way had me winding through the side streets and asking for directions. The GPS was useless.  Once on the bridge the hoards of humanity made my ride over and back somewhat tricky.  Suicide bike riders and totally oblivious tourists had me on high alert.  The wooden planks raddled beneath my wheels as I peddled along and overall it was an experience I am glad I insisted on doing.  Having circumnavigated Long Island and made to the East River,  I thought I should technically begin my trip from the east side of the Brooklyn Bridge.  Connecting the dots is important if I am to truly ride the entire east coast of the US.  New London to Winter Harbor Maine, New London to Montreal, Jacksonville to Key West, and  circumnavigating Long Island leave an eleven hundred mile stretch to complete. So here I am. After completing the bridge ride, I rode further south from the bridge and located the ferry terminal from which I need to take a ferry tomorrow to Highland, New Jersey.  Thirty minutes later I was back at the Freehand hostel where I settled into my 16th story room.  A hot shower followed by a pleasant sidewalk dinner at a neighboring Indian restaurant.  It was a nice way to finish up the day.  New York seems so different with so few people walking about but I enjoyed it.  Tomorrow, I catch the 10:50 ferry.