{"id":2134,"date":"2012-04-10T12:10:03","date_gmt":"2012-04-10T16:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gudphoto.com\/bikenyc\/?p=2134"},"modified":"2012-04-10T12:10:03","modified_gmt":"2012-04-10T16:10:03","slug":"great-rides-bikes-boat-beers-birds-blorp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gudphoto.com\/bikenyc\/2012\/04\/10\/great-rides-bikes-boat-beers-birds-blorp\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Rides: Bikes, Boat, Beers, Birds, Blorp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever the Groupon hawk, \u00a0my wife Mila recently grabbed one for a\u00a0Seal and Bird watching cruise<\/a>\u00a0in Lower New York Bay. I didn’t even know they had those, but it’s just the kind of old-person touristy activity we like to engage in now and again.<\/p>\n

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The weekend-only cruises leave from Riis Landing in Rockaway, directly\u00a0across\u00a0the road from the entrance to Fort Tilden<\/a>. Click through for more photos from the ride, the boat, Coney Island, and, of course, blorpy New York seals.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We decided to follow the route suggested by Ride The City, largely on Bedford Ave. Aside from a stretch north and south of Flatbush, it’s actually a pretty pleasant ride through quiet residential neighborhoods.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Riding on Bedford<\/p><\/div>\n

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Crossing Flatbush<\/p><\/div>\n

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Are we still in Brooklyn?<\/p><\/div>\n

However, the final approach before the greenway that leads to the Marine Pkwy Bridge on glass-strewn sidewalks kind of sucks. Approaching from Brighton Beach to the west is a bit nicer in my opinion.<\/p>\n

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Finally on a decent greenway after the shitty sidewalks of Flatbush<\/p><\/div>\n

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On the Marine Parkway Bridge. Apparently, cameras are strictly prohibited.<\/p><\/div>\n

American Princess Cruises operates two 2.5-hour cruises a day, at noon and 3pm.<\/p>\n

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We saw the 12pm cruise returning as we crossed the Marine Parkway Bridge<\/p><\/div>\n

It took us about 90 minutes of easy riding to reach Breezy Point from Greenpoint.<\/p>\n

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Improvised bike parking at Riis landing<\/p><\/div>\n

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Don’t worry if you didn’t bring a lunch, there are drinks and snacks for purchase on board.<\/p>\n

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Enjoying some American beers.<\/p><\/div>\n

The boat heads west for about 40 minutes, giving some great views of Coney Island, with the amusement park appearing to be in full swing.<\/p>\n

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The final destination is tiny Swinrubne Island<\/a>, once used as a quarantine site for immigrants, and now wholly given over to cormorants.<\/p>\n

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And, of course, the seals!<\/p>\n

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There were maybe 6 or 7 of them, and they seemed very content to be sunning themselves on the rocks, within view of Lower Manhattan, as we drifted nearby.
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Lower-right of the frame<\/p><\/div>\n

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After the cruise, we spent a little while riding around Fort Tilden\/the Gateway Recreational Area<\/p>\n

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Don't see many of these signs in NYC<\/p><\/div>\n

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Then it was time to ride back in the waning afternoon light. We essentially retraced our route for the return leg.<\/p>\n

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Crossing Flatbush, again<\/p><\/div>\n

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Crossing Flatbush, again<\/p><\/div>\n

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Brooklyn College<\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Distance traveled: ~30 miles<\/p>\n

Cruise Cost: $27\/person (much cheaper with Groupon – $25 for two)<\/p>\n

American Princess Cruises<\/a><\/p>\n

Seal\/bird watching cruises only go through this weekend (April 15). But they apparently will have whale watching cruises later in the year.<\/p>\n

On the bike photos taken with the Fuji X100<\/a>. Seal photos with the Canon 5D Mark III<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Great ride, and a great way to see some marine mammals that I had no idea were right in our backyard. Suggest a great ride in the comments!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/g:plusone><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever the Groupon hawk, \u00a0my wife Mila recently grabbed one for a\u00a0Seal and Bird watching cruise\u00a0in Lower New York Bay. I didn’t even know they had those, but it’s just the kind of old-person touristy activity we like to engage in now and again. The weekend-only cruises leave from Riis Landing in Rockaway, directly\u00a0across\u00a0the road […]<\/p>\n

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