bright: it's an amazingly beautiful day here, with fantastic sunlight. I walked from downtown to the library, drinking in the views that I'll only be around for another month.
slow: The speed of this library computer is astonishingly slow. It reminds me of the days when A and I used modems as slow as 300 baud, and when 14.4 felt like traveling at the speed of light. Oh, and we had to walk uphill both ways, in the snow, no shoes, and it was 124 degrees.
relief: We're closing on the house in a couple hours. I can't wait.
adventure: I'm seriously considering riding my motorcycle down the Alaska Highway, through Canada, and probably from there down to Sacramento. Details to be worked out.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Belgium = vegetarian friendly!
How friggin' great is this?
Ghent declares every Thursday 'Veggie day'
In other news, Atlanta was lovely, and it looks like we have a place to live, though as in all things real estate, the devil remains in the details.
On the food theme, we're both extremely excited about the food in Atlanta: we had half a dozen fantastic meals, and zero bad meals. To top it all off, there's a beer bar with an outstanding and expansive tap list in the ground floor of the building we're looking to move into.
Ghent declares every Thursday 'Veggie day'
In other news, Atlanta was lovely, and it looks like we have a place to live, though as in all things real estate, the devil remains in the details.
On the food theme, we're both extremely excited about the food in Atlanta: we had half a dozen fantastic meals, and zero bad meals. To top it all off, there's a beer bar with an outstanding and expansive tap list in the ground floor of the building we're looking to move into.
Friday, May 08, 2009
A bike ride, a condo, a volcano!
1. A bike ride. I've been trying to plan one from NYC (the south Bronx, specifically) to the north Jersey coast for M & E's wedding union in August (yay! super exciting!) T has a bike I can borrow, and I've been poring over online maps. Long and short story: if I did the entire ride, it might well amount to the least pleasant bike ride in the history of bike riding.
(Okay, there have been some dodgy -20 days of biking in Alaska, too, but you know what I mean.)
A brief summary of what the ride would entail before it gets pleasant in southern Middlesex County and Monmouth County: the GW bridge, Fort Lee, Jersey City, Newark (including a highly unpleasant skirting of EWR, in the shadow of the Jersey Turnpike), Elizabeth, Linden, and Perth Amboy. There are other options, but they involve much, much more riding, as they require getting east of Newark, and I really want to be able to do this ride in one day, arriving for the 5pm event.
All this because there is NO BICYCLE OR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS for either of the bridges from Staten Island to New Jersey. (Side-rant: why are a third of American adults, and 16% of American children obese, we wonder? Why are 66% of Americans adults overweight???)
I could do almost all pleasant riding if I could just ride over the Outerbridge Crossing from Staten Island to Perth Amboy, NJ, and ride from there. I found one account of a guy who ignored the no-bikes rule, in 1997, on the Goethals Bridge, but he wisely did so in the middle of the night. He writes: "I decided to sneak across the Goethals Bridge under cover of the night." Unfortunately, I really really don't want to start from the south Bronx at 2am in order to be able to accomplish same, and couldn't get a Staten Island ferry that early anyway.
So I'm strongly considering taking the NJ Transit train for the first half of it, to Elizabeth or so, and riding from there. I bet I'll be in a lot better shape for the festivities that way.
2. A condo. What J and I fly out tonight to go look for in Atlanta over a very long weekend. We're focusing on Midtown, and are both excited to get into something smaller, with a better carbon footprint, and where we actually want to go walk in the neighborhood. Those of you who have been to our place in Anchorage know how less-than-pleasant it is to walk from our house, at least the first 1/2 mile or so.
3. A volcano. To wit, Mt. Redoubt, which might keep us from making the above-referenced trip. Or not.
(Okay, there have been some dodgy -20 days of biking in Alaska, too, but you know what I mean.)
A brief summary of what the ride would entail before it gets pleasant in southern Middlesex County and Monmouth County: the GW bridge, Fort Lee, Jersey City, Newark (including a highly unpleasant skirting of EWR, in the shadow of the Jersey Turnpike), Elizabeth, Linden, and Perth Amboy. There are other options, but they involve much, much more riding, as they require getting east of Newark, and I really want to be able to do this ride in one day, arriving for the 5pm event.
All this because there is NO BICYCLE OR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS for either of the bridges from Staten Island to New Jersey. (Side-rant: why are a third of American adults, and 16% of American children obese, we wonder? Why are 66% of Americans adults overweight???)
I could do almost all pleasant riding if I could just ride over the Outerbridge Crossing from Staten Island to Perth Amboy, NJ, and ride from there. I found one account of a guy who ignored the no-bikes rule, in 1997, on the Goethals Bridge, but he wisely did so in the middle of the night. He writes: "I decided to sneak across the Goethals Bridge under cover of the night." Unfortunately, I really really don't want to start from the south Bronx at 2am in order to be able to accomplish same, and couldn't get a Staten Island ferry that early anyway.
So I'm strongly considering taking the NJ Transit train for the first half of it, to Elizabeth or so, and riding from there. I bet I'll be in a lot better shape for the festivities that way.
2. A condo. What J and I fly out tonight to go look for in Atlanta over a very long weekend. We're focusing on Midtown, and are both excited to get into something smaller, with a better carbon footprint, and where we actually want to go walk in the neighborhood. Those of you who have been to our place in Anchorage know how less-than-pleasant it is to walk from our house, at least the first 1/2 mile or so.
3. A volcano. To wit, Mt. Redoubt, which might keep us from making the above-referenced trip. Or not.
Monday, May 04, 2009
How to walk out of JFK for fun and profit
There are many questions about it online, but few clear answers: how do I get out of JFK using public transit without getting screwed for $5 to go approximately one mile on the Airtrain, that used to be free? Here are detailed directions for how to get to the New York City subway system from JFK airport without paying the Airtrain that outrageous $5 fee.
Background: until about 2003 or 2004, there was a free shuttle from JFK to the Howard Beach station, on the A train of the New York City subway system. Then they put in the supposedly more convenient Airtrain, and started charging $5 for the formerly free system (not including standard subway fare, currently $2.00, and very soon to be $2.50.) Well, you can take the Airtrain to within about 200 yards of the Howard Beach station (Station A of the Airtrain), but unless you want to jump over barb wire fences and walk across the dreaded 600+ volt third rail, you can't actually get there from there.
GOOD NEWS! You can easily (and legally) walk from Station B of the Airtrain, which is the Long Term Parking / Kiss 'N Fly / Lefferts Blvd station, with about a 15 minute walk to the Aqueduct / North Conduit Ave station on the A train, which is the first stop north of the Howard Beach/JFK station. Here's how:
OPTION 1, EASY with SIDEWALKS, APPROX 20 MINUTES WALKING:
Get on the Airtrain from any JFK terminal. If you fly Delta, like I often do, you'll likely be getting on from Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. Make sure you take the Howard Beach-bound train, *not* the Jamaica-bound train. The LED signs and audible announcements often aren't particularly helpful: ask one of the (usually nice, usually helpful, usually omnipresent) staff wearing the Airtrain/information blazers. I think the blazers are maroon; they're usually looking around for people who look lost or confused. DO NOT ask any other apparent airport employees: they are usually WAY less than helpful. They don't seem to know how to get anywhere other than their individual destinations/homes.
GET OFF THE TRAIN at Long Term Parking, which is Station B, also sometimes referred to as Lefferts Boulevard, and/or Kiss 'N Fly (use your imagination.) It's the last free stop before the Howard Beach/JFK stop for the subway. If you miss it, just stay on the Airtrain: it'll soon turn around and go back toward the airport, and the first stop on the return will be yours.
When you get off the Airtrain, you can orient yourself by looking out the windows. On the south (wrong) side, you'll see a whole bunch of parking. On the north (correct) side, you'll see a bunch of parking, and what looks like about two or three freeways all running parallel behind it. (In case you care, it's the 878/Nassau Expressway, 17N/Belt Parkway/Southern Pkwy, and you might see South Conduit Ave/Route 27, which basically looks like a freeway.) You're looking north if you see the freeways. The subway station you want, Aqueduct/North Conduit, is northwest of you, but you can't see it from here. If you look to your right, which is east (toward the airport/direction you came from) you'll see a street, which is Lefferts Blvd. This is important.
Okay. Look for the escalators going down to exit the station. When you go down the escalator, turn left (north) and walk out the sliding doors, turn right, and walk about 50 feet to Lefferts Blvd. You'll see busstops. Do not cross the street. Turn left and walk north up Lefferts Blvd. You'll be walking along the parking lot chain-link fence with razor wire on top.
TWO CHOICES PRESENT THEMSELVES: first left on Aqueduct Road is the more direct, scenic route, but the sidewalks suck or are non-existent: this is MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCT, below. The other choice is to keep walking on Lefferts Blvd to North Conduit Blvd, which is INDIRECT/SIDEWALKS below.
INDIRECT/SIDEWALKS
Approximate walking: 15-25 minutes to subway.
Walk along Lefferts, cross the street at Aqueduct Road, and start walking over those various freeways mentioned above. In about five minutes of walking, you'll come to the first road after the freeways, which is North Conduit Avenue. Cross the street to the north side of North Conduit and turn left onto it. Walk along the sidewalk for about another fifteen minutes. You'll pass some soccer fields on the south side of the street, and some residential neighborhoods on your right, then you'll pass the parking lots for the Aqueduct Racktrack. You might see the overhead subway trains chugging along to the west (the direction you're walking.)
Just after the racetrack parking lots, you'll walk under an overpass, which is the subway tracks.
Take a hard right through the doors into the subway station, buy your Metrocard if necessary. Ignore the somewhat incredulous looks of the station agent that you're standing there with luggage and just beat the system. Presumably, take the Manhattan-bound train via the stairway to your right (unless you want to go to Coney Island.) Congratulate yourself on saving $5.
MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCT
Approximate walking: 10-15 minutes to subway.
Follow the instructions above from the airport, exit the same station, and orient yourself similarly. When you start walking up Lefferts Blvd, you'll take the first left after the parking lot, onto Aqueduct Road. Don't cross over any freeways. Also don't cross the street; there's zero sidewalk on the north side of Aqueduct Rd.
Walk along the annoyingly sloped sidewalk, along the chain-link, razor-wire fence of the long-term parking lot. (You'll pass a car entry to the parking lot, which you could use as a shortcut if you're so inclined.) Toward the end of the parking lot, Aqueduct will curve gently to the left, then curve sharply to the right (heading north.) It's now running parallel with the subway tracks, which you can look through the brambles and up the slope and see trains occasionally running along. If you're feeling lucky or stupid, I guess you could hop the fence, then jump over the tracks, and climb up into Howard Beach/JFK station on the A train. (Officially Not Recommended.)
Keep walking north/northwest along Aqueduct Rd, which will soon run out of sidewalk. Fortunately, there's minimal traffic, but it's still preferable to take the first route and stick to sidewalks if you have a rolling bag or significant luggage. You'll be walking over a long overpass (over the Southern/Belt Parkway, and then North Conduit Avenue.) It'll slope back down, and you'll see some fences and gates and the racetrack parking lot behind these. Look for a footpath down the hill to your left, which takes you down to North Conduit Avenue, and immediately, the subway station doors on your right. If you start walking along the racetrack parking lot (this will be obvious) you've gone too far.
Follow directions above, being sure to congratulate yourself on saving $5.
Personally, I like the direct/limited sidewalk route along Aqueduct Road, but only with a backpack or less. The sidewalk route is a somewhat clearer to follow your first time, but also much more trafficked and louder.
Enjoy!
Later, I may post directions for walking out of other major airports, including a personal favorite, Melbourne airport, Australia. La Guardia is so simple you should be able to figure it out by yourself. Sacramento is also easy, but much preferable to bike out of, since it's a hell of a walk to town. San Diego is simple as pie.
Background: until about 2003 or 2004, there was a free shuttle from JFK to the Howard Beach station, on the A train of the New York City subway system. Then they put in the supposedly more convenient Airtrain, and started charging $5 for the formerly free system (not including standard subway fare, currently $2.00, and very soon to be $2.50.) Well, you can take the Airtrain to within about 200 yards of the Howard Beach station (Station A of the Airtrain), but unless you want to jump over barb wire fences and walk across the dreaded 600+ volt third rail, you can't actually get there from there.
GOOD NEWS! You can easily (and legally) walk from Station B of the Airtrain, which is the Long Term Parking / Kiss 'N Fly / Lefferts Blvd station, with about a 15 minute walk to the Aqueduct / North Conduit Ave station on the A train, which is the first stop north of the Howard Beach/JFK station. Here's how:
OPTION 1, EASY with SIDEWALKS, APPROX 20 MINUTES WALKING:
Get on the Airtrain from any JFK terminal. If you fly Delta, like I often do, you'll likely be getting on from Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. Make sure you take the Howard Beach-bound train, *not* the Jamaica-bound train. The LED signs and audible announcements often aren't particularly helpful: ask one of the (usually nice, usually helpful, usually omnipresent) staff wearing the Airtrain/information blazers. I think the blazers are maroon; they're usually looking around for people who look lost or confused. DO NOT ask any other apparent airport employees: they are usually WAY less than helpful. They don't seem to know how to get anywhere other than their individual destinations/homes.
GET OFF THE TRAIN at Long Term Parking, which is Station B, also sometimes referred to as Lefferts Boulevard, and/or Kiss 'N Fly (use your imagination.) It's the last free stop before the Howard Beach/JFK stop for the subway. If you miss it, just stay on the Airtrain: it'll soon turn around and go back toward the airport, and the first stop on the return will be yours.
When you get off the Airtrain, you can orient yourself by looking out the windows. On the south (wrong) side, you'll see a whole bunch of parking. On the north (correct) side, you'll see a bunch of parking, and what looks like about two or three freeways all running parallel behind it. (In case you care, it's the 878/Nassau Expressway, 17N/Belt Parkway/Southern Pkwy, and you might see South Conduit Ave/Route 27, which basically looks like a freeway.) You're looking north if you see the freeways. The subway station you want, Aqueduct/North Conduit, is northwest of you, but you can't see it from here. If you look to your right, which is east (toward the airport/direction you came from) you'll see a street, which is Lefferts Blvd. This is important.
Okay. Look for the escalators going down to exit the station. When you go down the escalator, turn left (north) and walk out the sliding doors, turn right, and walk about 50 feet to Lefferts Blvd. You'll see busstops. Do not cross the street. Turn left and walk north up Lefferts Blvd. You'll be walking along the parking lot chain-link fence with razor wire on top.
TWO CHOICES PRESENT THEMSELVES: first left on Aqueduct Road is the more direct, scenic route, but the sidewalks suck or are non-existent: this is MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCT, below. The other choice is to keep walking on Lefferts Blvd to North Conduit Blvd, which is INDIRECT/SIDEWALKS below.
INDIRECT/SIDEWALKS
Approximate walking: 15-25 minutes to subway.
Walk along Lefferts, cross the street at Aqueduct Road, and start walking over those various freeways mentioned above. In about five minutes of walking, you'll come to the first road after the freeways, which is North Conduit Avenue. Cross the street to the north side of North Conduit and turn left onto it. Walk along the sidewalk for about another fifteen minutes. You'll pass some soccer fields on the south side of the street, and some residential neighborhoods on your right, then you'll pass the parking lots for the Aqueduct Racktrack. You might see the overhead subway trains chugging along to the west (the direction you're walking.)
Just after the racetrack parking lots, you'll walk under an overpass, which is the subway tracks.
Take a hard right through the doors into the subway station, buy your Metrocard if necessary. Ignore the somewhat incredulous looks of the station agent that you're standing there with luggage and just beat the system. Presumably, take the Manhattan-bound train via the stairway to your right (unless you want to go to Coney Island.) Congratulate yourself on saving $5.
MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCT
Approximate walking: 10-15 minutes to subway.
Follow the instructions above from the airport, exit the same station, and orient yourself similarly. When you start walking up Lefferts Blvd, you'll take the first left after the parking lot, onto Aqueduct Road. Don't cross over any freeways. Also don't cross the street; there's zero sidewalk on the north side of Aqueduct Rd.
Walk along the annoyingly sloped sidewalk, along the chain-link, razor-wire fence of the long-term parking lot. (You'll pass a car entry to the parking lot, which you could use as a shortcut if you're so inclined.) Toward the end of the parking lot, Aqueduct will curve gently to the left, then curve sharply to the right (heading north.) It's now running parallel with the subway tracks, which you can look through the brambles and up the slope and see trains occasionally running along. If you're feeling lucky or stupid, I guess you could hop the fence, then jump over the tracks, and climb up into Howard Beach/JFK station on the A train. (Officially Not Recommended.)
Keep walking north/northwest along Aqueduct Rd, which will soon run out of sidewalk. Fortunately, there's minimal traffic, but it's still preferable to take the first route and stick to sidewalks if you have a rolling bag or significant luggage. You'll be walking over a long overpass (over the Southern/Belt Parkway, and then North Conduit Avenue.) It'll slope back down, and you'll see some fences and gates and the racetrack parking lot behind these. Look for a footpath down the hill to your left, which takes you down to North Conduit Avenue, and immediately, the subway station doors on your right. If you start walking along the racetrack parking lot (this will be obvious) you've gone too far.
Follow directions above, being sure to congratulate yourself on saving $5.
Personally, I like the direct/limited sidewalk route along Aqueduct Road, but only with a backpack or less. The sidewalk route is a somewhat clearer to follow your first time, but also much more trafficked and louder.
Enjoy!
Later, I may post directions for walking out of other major airports, including a personal favorite, Melbourne airport, Australia. La Guardia is so simple you should be able to figure it out by yourself. Sacramento is also easy, but much preferable to bike out of, since it's a hell of a walk to town. San Diego is simple as pie.
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