Breakin' out the 'Blades

Today was my first skating adventure of 2012!  I went all the way up to the end of the path (beyond Fairway to about 138th St, I think) or about 17 miles round-trip.

Somewhat mixed messages with those gates yawning wide open... 

The surprise for me this time was that there were cherry trees everywhere on the north end of the path!  According to a plaque on the path, this part of the Hudson River Greenway is known as the "Cherry Walk."

George Washington (Bridge) + Cherry Tree

As you can see in the photo above, the wider lane is supposed to be two-way wheeled traffic (bikes and skates), and the  narrower lane is supposed to be two-way pedestrian traffic.  A lot of people ignored this instruction.

St. John the Divine (W. 112th St.)

I did a double-take when I saw this; it looked at first
like a flowering vine encircling the trunk of the cherry tree.

Willow tree & the New York Central Railroad 69th St. Transfer Bridge

This half-sunk metal "sculpture" was apparently the New York Central Railroad 69th St Transfer Bridge.   Apparently there have been some noises from time to time about making it useful, and indeed there was some evidence of recent construction work in the area (a crane and a walkway).

The transfer bridge is listed in a very non-thrilling way on the National Register of Historic Places. (You'll find it listed under "NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY")

The Intrepid!!!

Rain was supposed to start around 1 p.m., and it did cloud over around that time, but luckily the weather held.  What a beautiful day.