Thinking about Sandy.









It was a pleasant surprise to find 200+ volunteers from Tourism Cares at Fort Tilden clearing sand and collecting garbage.











It's been 8 months since Hurricane, Frankenstorm/Superstorm whatever you want to call her, Sandy bulldozed her way through the East Coast. It took me almost a week to really understand the reality of what happened then and 8 months more to return to the shore. The closest beach I know, the relief from the heat, the escape from the city. Changed.

The coastline itself doesn't look too bad but the closed beaches, missing boardwalks and sand covered parking lots remind you otherwise. For those that lost all and others just returning to their homes that were covered in the sea it's going to be a long summer. Although the concessions are nearly open, the random boats floating or flipped onto the shore where they shouldn't be and crooked docks leading to collapsed homes all along Broad Channel are vivid reminders that so much still needs to be done.

Rockaway, Today.



amazing! We rode 17 miles in the hot summer sun to Rockaway with, it turns out, the rest of the city that didn't get away for the weekend. PACKED! I have never seen any NYC beach like this. It was awesome. I'm covered in sunshine and happy.

What a day!









I had really hoped to see the eclipse but the sun dropped off our sight before it began. No matter, what an incredible day to end an amazingly beautiful weekend. Thank you!

New York



The last few days my ipod has made a point of reminding me where I am. First there was the Pogues singing about Christmas Eve, which was perfect to lift my sour mood after an 11-hour work day. Then Jay-Z's Empire State has played at least 3x - each time bringing back a great memory of a bike ride through Brooklyn. A ride through neighborhoods I'm told I shouldn't be in, yet each time I found something new and another amazing experience. I'll never forget it, I was riding towards getting lost and ended up in Rockaway, totally exhausted. But along the way Empire played out of every window of every other car with everyone singing along... proudly. It was awesome. A day of smiles and sun in the city.

“Empire State of Mind” (with Alicia Keys) – Jay Z

I imagine you'd expect a photograph of city grit from the ride... but the water at the end was also a highlight. New York is surrounded by water and after a very long ride the wrong way then across an extra 8 mile span, there was nothing better then a walk into the ocean. I snagged the song from here - which just happens to have Rockaway Beach on the playlist too, nice. New York.

rusted.



along the waters between Brooklyn and Rockaway - a wall of rust from what used to be a retaining wall. Now nothing more then shapes covered in fishing line extruding from the sand like sculpture. I only took a few images thinking nothing of it at the time, I need to go back.

The light of October.

Fort Tilden.





Biking before I head back into reality I headed to Far Rockaway - the cleanest water I can get to by the bike. Still nothing compared to the water along the Emerald Coast, but it will do. There's something wonderful about riding 13 miles then jumping in the ocean. Straight out from Brooklyn is Fort Tilden, which on this Wednesday afternoon was deserted, just the way I like it. A beach to myself, bike trails to explore and sunshine. Not a bad way to finish this break, back to work I go.

Lost importance.

Danger!





When I see "keep out" my first instinct is to go in, I'm not sure where that comes from. These images are from the unused area of Floyd Bennett Field at the far end of Brookyn, my new favorite world by the water. I rode passed these buildings on my way home from the ocean last week and knew I would return, just didn't think it would be so amazing - the sunlight streaming through the broken ceiling helped. Click here for a few of the many many photos I took today.

Reminder to self: this is not vacation...




The last few weeks have been a dream, a stressful dream, but a dream none the less. Unemployment is supposed to be hard and worrisome but I am enjoying it. Don't tell my Mom, oh... too late. I spend mornings scouring websites and emailing friends and prospective job contacts, but by the afternoon I need to leave the computer, leave the apartment, get out. Off onto the bike, camera in tow. Never sure where I'll be going but going somewhere other then here.

Today I got lost. An adventure down Broadway that turned into somewhere I wasn't quite sure. A text message with directions later I was at the ocean. This was not Brooklyn - this was vacation. A vacant beach. Sun. Sand. Waves. I could move here. It really was that good. 35 miles later my knees hate me, I never learn, but the day ended with the best Mac & Cheese ever and some friends from the hood with Bob Dylan playing on the stereo. I cannot complain.