10/13/03 A beautiful loop around lower Manhattan by bike discovers wonders:

The weather continues to be amazing this mid-october, and I'm trying to enjoy it to the last drop. I decide to use the afternoon to bike a circle around lower Manhattan. I go up the bike path along the East River, I cut across 11th street, and go down the bike path on the Hudson River. It's a nice loop. Along the way I made some stops.

My first stop was at Mike's apartment. He lives on 11th street between Avenue B and C. I called his cell phone and knocked on his window, but he wasn't home. Oh well. It would have been a surprise.

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Then, further along 11th street at 3rd avenue, I stopped at the Village 7 Move Theatre to get tickets for tonight's motion picture. I forget with who and I forget the movie. Anyone? Were you there?

Continuing into the West Village, with the Hudson River on the horizon, the sun began to set.

Jersey City is aglow across the water behind West Street.

People, who often have the same idea I do (notice how I put that), are out in strong numbers along the bike path here in Battery Park City.

And at the very southern corner of Battery Park City I find two gems: A painter with an easel and a full band of musicians playing music... seemingly totally unrelated.

The painter has plenty of inspiration to choose from down here.

Ferries go by at close proximity. People stand at the fence with bikes or on roller blades or even just on foot, pausing in the city for a few moments to take in nature's wonder at the end of the day. The statue of liberty stands taller and more prominently in real life than photographs seem to capture. Rollerbladers like this one stop by to watch the painter work.

And all the while, this band of musicians... guitar, violin, banjo and guitar, play melodies that seem perfectly fitting to the time and place, which has nothing to do with the actual time or the actual place at all. Click on the above photo to see and hear a lovely movie (about 11 seconds) of their sound.