Rock and Roll

Rock flow
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

Leaving New York and en-route to Pennsylvania we drove down Ringing Rocks Road and into Ringing Rocks State Park to play with some ringing rocks. The rain did ease up enough for us to get out of the car and clamber into the middle of the rock park. Some of the rocks rang like they were hollow when hit with another stone which was quite remarkable.

After our detour we continued on to a stormy Allentown to catch the Time Trial Team which was difficult to get to due to the road closures. We took refuge in a microbrewery for lunch and were able to see the teams pass by and get out in time for the last three to set off and finish. After some last minute shopping for warmer cycling kit we headed off to yet another hotel to try and get a food night sleep before our 100 kilometers ride the next day.

The next day dawned grey and wet and Helen and I left Kitty in Souderton as we pedaled around the hilly winding lanes of Pennsylvania. The rain did stop on occasions but not for long and we were thoroughly soaked and tired at the end of the 100k but we did finish. After lunch we enjoyed watching the professional riders, who had ridden the same course as us, complete eleven laps of Souderton to add another 100k just for good measures.

The next day was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for the criterium at Doylestown and perfect for recovering from the day before. Kitty and Helen bought cupcakes and nibbled them whilst we watched the pros zip past. Then after lunch we pootled back home for a well deserved rest.

Windy night in New York

Windy night
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

The bad weather eventually caught up with us in New York but not after a few days sightseeing; and oh my did we pack the sightseeing in!

We went to Wall Street and saw the New York Stock Exchange and the Brass Bull; then we went to Staten Island on the Ferry and saw the Statue of Liberty. Then after lunch we went to Macy's, Grand Central Station and to see the UN.

The next day Helen did some work in the Hotel room and Kitty and I saw Kim Cattrall filming near Central Park, played on the Big Piano in FAO Schwarz, had tour of Radio City Music Hall, then we saw the Little Owl (used for the exterior shots of Central Perk in Friends) and Katz Deli (that scene from when Harry Met Sally). After lunch we went up the Empire State Building and finished of the day by going to the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television & Radio) which was not at all what we expected but we did get to see some good programmes there before heading back to Helen and dinner.

On our last day we spent a huge amount of time at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art ) which was well worth the visit and the lunch there, although pricey, was very good. Later that afternoon we walked up to and through Central Park, where we bumped into Shia LaBeouf filming Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, to the Guggenheim. Unfortunately we didn't have the time or the energy to go around the Guggenheim but we caught a cab back downtown to have a light dinner and watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Then we summoned the energy to drag ourselves up to the Rockefeller Center Observation Deck for a wet and windy view of the New York nighttime skyline and then back to the hotel.

Flying the Flag

Flying the Flag
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

We just finished our East coast odyssey and it's good to be home to recharge our batteries. Helen should be more tired than Kitty or I as she ran the Virginia Beach half marathon which started at 0700 and the 0 stands for "Oh my god it's early!".

The day before we went to the Virginia Living Museum where we saw native Virginian animals and we got to play with a rat snake and then relaxed in the hotel after trolling round the area to find a decent restaurant that was actually open.

After the run, and after she had finished her beer, Kitty and I drove Helen back to the hotel in a surrey (a our wheeler bike) that didn't have a fringe in top ... and we even took the brake off.
For once the wind was right and we flew our stunt kite which we got pretty good at and ended up taking out another kite and an inattentive seagull.

On the Monday we decamped to New York City in the remains of a tropical storm and decided to avoid the holiday traffic and take the path less travelled via the Cape May Lewes Ferry taking in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey in the process. Incidentally New Jersey was so named because Sir John Berkley and Sir George Carteret received a royal charter for a colony in the new land and named this colony for the island of Jersey in the English Channel. Carteret had been born on Jersey and had spent several years as Lieutenant Governor of the island.