This morning I decided to hop on my bike and do some solo spring time exploration. After a short ride through Ft Greene and up into Williamsburg I made an on the spot decision to hop on the Williamsburg bridge and head into the city for a bit. I noticed it was a bit windy but didn’t really pay it too much attention.
That is, until I started climbing the entrance to the bridge.
I’ll note here that the Williamsburg is the steepest of the New York bridges I’ve crossed. In all that includes The Manhattan, The Verazanno and The Brooklyn Bridge. However, the steep entrance ramp was not the issue today.
As I entered the bridge winds were gusting around 45 mph and cyclists all around me were toppling over. I braced myself, stood up in my pedals and used every bit of energy I had to climb that bridge. As I peddaled down the other side I had to slow because debris was flying about.
I kid you not, as I finally exited the bridge I was almost wrecked by the torso section of a store manaquin which shot accross Delancy Street and smacked into me! On one hand it was a little scary but I’ll admit I was laughing into the wind even as I almost went down.
As much as we New Yorkers love to construct the world around us, it is incredibly humbling to be reminded that nature is very much right here around us, evening in the heart of the lower east side in downtown Manhattan.
There was a street fair in the east village which was in the process of being blown away as I rode through.
Vendors scrambled to pull down what they could, as best they could before wares just went shooting away down 2nd ave.
I stood there holding my bike nonplussed as so many strode by seemingly indifferent.
After a brief, alcohol-free stop at a bar to check out the end of the Mets game (we won!!!) I decided to take the Manhattan Bridge back to Brooklyn which was a lot less dramatic than my journey out.
I made it safely home but as I type this I’m listening to the wind outside howl. It sounds as though its going to rip the siding right off my apartment. Let’s hope it chills out as the evening set in.
I think I’ll go make some tea and do a little yoga. Tomorrow I wake up at 7 and hopefully complete my longest ride yet. The wind is supposed to be similar to what it is today which is kind of freaking me out. Even so, I know I can do this.
So glad you are all right. A flying half a manaquin–pretty creepy. Please be careful–love, Mom and Dad