I hiked 100

Today's morning walk was nothing special on its own - 3 miles in Riverside Park. However, I reached 3 miles for April during it.

I've been working on the Hike 100 Challenge this month. No, I'm not physically nearby, but for April they're counting any miles, anywhere.

Here I am at mile 100, in need of a haircut:



It was great to have a goal. Now, I need to find an occasion to visit the actual North Country Trail, which will be easy - once I'm free to visit the Adirondacks again.

Walk to High Bridge

Today's long weekend walk went up, up, and a little bit over to the High Bridge.

I started early, so not many people were out, but it's still odd to see some things closed that are always open, like City College.



Highbridge Park is nice. It's in good enough shape to be structurally safe, but not so improved as to be an agent of gentrification (yet). One of the playgrounds is being redone, as is the water tower - even if of course both of those projects are on hold at the moment. But the paths have some good views of the East River as well as a nice wooded feel.



The bridge itself was unusually empty, due less to coronavirus than to the hour of the morning.



On my hike home, I ended up walking mostly in Riverside Park instead of on streets, as foot traffic was considerably higher than on the way there. Shoppers and errand-runners are less predictable in their movements than park exercisers, so it was easier to stick to the park.



It clocked in at 9.5 miles, with the usual minimal elevation gain you get in Manhattan.

Randall's Island

Another weekend, another hike at the edge of my safe range. It occurs to me that 8 miles is doable without eating or drinking (and hence unmasking), but as it gets hotter, than won't be true...

Nevertheless, I set out to walk to Randall's Island, basically a straight shot east.



While I should know better, I thought, "I'll go through Central Park," rather than walking the three blocks north to the edge of the park. It's not just the distance; it's also that the park itself is more interesting. Of course, it's impossible to walk a nice straight line through the park, so I actually walked a half mile further than necessary. Not a big deal, except that meant less time on Randall's Island.



Then across the east side and over the pedestrian bridge. I walked along the south shore, getting a nice view of the east side, Roosevelt Island, and Queens. At Hell Gate Bridge I turned around. I really love that bridge, and if I'd had more time (or could hop public transit home!), I'd have walked under it.



On the way home, I did take the north edge of the park. In fact, I actually took the outer sidewalk - too many people were out on the path for comfortable social distancing.

Walk to Central Park

Central Park is less than a mile from my place, but I've been hesitant to go back out there because I imagine it is a fairly popular destination. However, on Friday morning I decided to venture there. The weather was a little gloomy, and many people don't have Good Friday off, which would cut down on the crowds.

Sure enough, it was easy enough to socially distance.



I ended up in the Ravine in the North Woods, where I surely must have been before but cannot recall when. While not exactly wild, it at least has a woodsy feeling.You can even take in some man-made waterfalls.



I also saw a lot of birds and - for a weird five minutes - some light snow.

A walk to the Bronx

I decided to walk to the Bronx on Saturday - it's the borough I can most easily reach from the Upper West Side. I gave some thought to taking the High Bridge, but instead decided to aim for Macomb's Dam Bridge, which I don't think I've crossed before.

I walked north through several linear parks, starting with Morningside:



Then St. Nicholas:



And finally Jackie Robinson, where I walked on the eastern side rather than through:



Then it was over to Macomb's Dam Bridge, which I have been to before - I've been under the western end. On the eastern end is a destination as good as any, Yankee Stadium:



On the return, I headed straight west and then down Riverside Park.

This hike was just over eight miles, about the maximum hike length I can do now. Wearing a mask means no drinking water (or eating), which limits the safe range of a hike.