Week 1 peterbrownroute66

Sunday 08.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

Well we're here at last, we chucked our bags in the hotel room and headed straight for New York via the public transport which was a bus to 42nd street then the subway to the financial district. We had planned to go to the Statue of Liberty but missed the last ferry so we'll give it a go tomorrow.

The subway at 42nd st

Op

Tall building is one of the replacement twin towers

Pam at battery gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 09.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

We both had a good nights sleep and after breakfast headed for Newark airport to pick up the bike. That's where the fun began. Customs and getting the bike off the stacker truck was not a problem but me and pam were left to unpack it with our bare hands as no one was able to help due to Heath and safety. To get the bike off the pallet I built a make shift ramp with the remains of the packing and with pam pushing from the rear and my calculations being a little out poor Bertha was grounded without a wheel to stand on. Then after a lot of grunting and shoving we managed to get her back on two wheels. Unfortunately she snapped her kick stand ( big problem ). But with the help of a couple of cable ties and pam holding the rope to keep the stand up we were off to the garage to fill up with fuel and get some air in the tyres. The guys directed us to a garage where we could get the bracket welded back into place.

That sorted we got back to our site seeing, so all in all it's been a very eventfull and enjoyable day.

Left all alone to unpack the bike

Hurry up it's heavy

On the ferry to liberty island

New York skyline

Statue of Liberty

Memorial at New Jersey re 9/11

 

Tuesday 10.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

Having a fantastic time in New York. We have decided to use the public transport whilst here as the roads seem to be permanently grid locked. We went to the ground zero memorial pools formed on the footprint of the twin towers it has the names of the 2,977 people who lost their lives engraved around the perimeter. Then we had a helicopter ride which was absolutely brilliant. After that we walked the length of Brooklyn bridge and took the water taxi back. It was then a quick stroll down Wall Street before getting the subway back to the bus terminal and short ride back to the hotel.

The whole area of the trade centre covered 16 acres

The towers had 110 floors and held approx 35,000 people

Governors island which is being turned into a park

Aerial showing new tower and the two pools

Brooklyn Bridge

 

Wednesday 11.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

New York Centre will be packed today for the memorial service so we visited the Empire State Building and went up all 102 floors. The views from the top were amazing, even the skyscrapers below looked small however you could still hear the rumble of the traffic below. After we walked 20 blocks uptown to Central Park which was much nicer than we expected, even hired a rowing boat for an hour. As its our last day we had a quick shop to buy a T shirt ( to show we've been there and done it ). We are heading up towards Canada tomorrow and are busy packing.

 

Lobby area at the Empire State

 

River in the foreground is the Hudson where the plane did a crash land a few years ago

Central Park just in view

See why I left Bertha at the hotel

 

Central Park

Summary of New York :- Absolutely fantastic. The people are really friendly and helpful. Public transport is second to none, and would come again.

 

Thursday 12.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

We have moved on now and our 1st planned stop was Binghampton, but we arrived early so decided to move on to our next planned stop ( Rochester ) thus gaining an extra day. It meant doing 350 miles but it was worth it other than getting drenched for about 1/2 hr. By the time we arrived at the hotel we were bone dry. I was a little concerned with the weight of the luggage when we left this morning but on the 1st right hand bend Pam lost her case so the bike is now a lot lighter.

 

That's got shut of the bird seed ( only a few of you know what I mean )

 

On route to Rochester

No ones looking hurry up and have a quick wee now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Friday 13.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

We got off to a wet start this morning so I tried out the waterproof cover which worked a treat, it was only a two hour ride to niagra falls on the Canadian side. I have checked us into a very posh hotel with spectacular views. We had to drag ourselves out. We have bought a two day site seeing pass and have already done the white water board walk and the whirl pool cable ride.

 

 

This is the view from our bedroom

 

We are doing the boat trip tomorrow

 

 

Cable ride over the whirl pool created by the river changing direction

 

 

Saturday 14.09.13 peterbrownroute66 week 1

Had a fabulous day and the sun has been shining. After a breakfast which lasted me all day we started off with a 4D tour of how niagra falls was formed during the ice age. We experienced snow, thunder and lightning, rain the works. It was a good job you were provided with ponchos. Next we went on the maid of the mist which took you right up to the base of the falls for another good drenching. Then after that we went a third of the way under the the falls its self via a tunnels which pops out at different locations and the noise was deafening. And then it was off to the sky tower for a birds eye view. And to top the day off we are having champagne with a pizza looking over the falls from our bedroom window ( sod the telly).

 

On board the maid of mist

 

 

 

One of the tunnels under the falls

 

 

View from sky tower. The American side is straight

 

The Canadian side is the shape of a horse shoe

 

 

I feel like one of the boys

 

That's the end of the first week we shall see what the next six has to offer, ( click the newer post at the bottom left to continue )