New York, A Ride In The Park

 

I think is a fair conclusion that while during anytime of the year it is good to visit Central Park, I would say late summer or fall is best.

This afternoon the weather is warm and beautiful as I start a walk from Madison Avenue to the park. Along the way I am enticed by a $5 bike rental offer and decide to see park using some pedal power.A driver's license left behind as a deposit and I am peddling my way down 8^th Avenue.

 

 

 

 

 

The park is busy with others enjoying it's picturesque and serene surroundings as the sound of the city fades in the background. Joggers, cyclists, skaters, walkers and horse drawn carriages all compete for space on the park's numerous streets and paths.

I detour of the main road and follow the sound of music echoing from a distance. Groups and individuals provide free entertainment to park goers although donations are gladly accepted.

 

 

As boats row behind us, I spend a few minutes trying to cheer up a young man who seems a little gray.

His cellphone rings and it puts him in a better mood. However, he's still a little stiff as he leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

My next stop is at what I am told is the only private part of Central Park, a lawn bowling club. I am thinking about a membership just for the chance to spend more time here. I am sure I can master the form to become a pro lawn bowler.

 

 

I leave the park for a daring adventure. I actually want to ride the streets of New York on a bicycle and survive.

Passing the Apple Store, I head towards Rockefeller Center, St Patrick's Cathedral and then of course, Times Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Times Square

 

 

Needless to say I survived weaving between buses, yellow cabs and pedestrians. I could hardly imagine having more fun and excitement in Manhattan for just $15.00!

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: New York City,Central Park,Times Square,Madison Avenue,The Rockefeller Center,St Patrick's Catherdral

New York, These Streets Will Make You ….

 

Over the years, I have spent plenty of time in New York City. I would argue that it is the most awesome city in America if not the world.

Here's just one of my experiences in this great city.

I wake up on a Sunday morning and just outside my hotel, The Roosevelt there is a street fair on Madison Avenue. Although Japanese food seems to be the flavor of the day there is still a nice mix of other ethnic foods that represent this great melting pot.

 

 

From Mexican to Thai, Madison Avenue is lined with a diversity of food vendors and other merchants.

I fall first for a taste of Japanese, a pork belly burger then it is a sampling of Thai, satay and a sweet potato fritter.

All delicious!

 

 

 

 

It is easy to see why in the words of a popular hip-hop song that these streets will not only make you feel brand new but I would add, pleasingly full, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: New York City,Madison Avenue,The Roosevelt

South Dakota, Crazy Horse Museum

 

 

Without a doubt this is one of the best museums that I have been in that is dedicated to the history of native American Indians.

Furthermore, this museum and the dedication of the people that operate it shows that great things can really be accomplished without help from the government.

 

 

 

Inside the museum is a movie theatre that gives a decent presentation about the history of the project and the work in progress.

 

 

 

Indian artifacts, along with Korcaz's various works are well displayed throughout the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy Horse

 

 

When the work is completed here, it will be an awesome and well deserved tribute to the American Indians. My hat is off to all who are making this project and dream a success.

 

 

If you get the chance be sure to visit Crazy Horse Memorial. It will be time and money well spent.

Don’t forget to take a piece of the mountain home with you even if you love your mother-in-law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Crazy Horse Museum,Korcaz,Black Hills.South Dakota

South Dakota, Crazy Horse Memorial

 

After my visit to Mt. Rushmore, I am a bit apprehensive about visiting Crazy Horse. My expectations are low but that quickly changes at the entrance booth. There is only a $10 admission fee with free reentry for a laser light show and blasting.

 

A nightly blasting happens once a year, weather permitting and tonight happens to be the night.

 

 

 

 

 

A short walk from parking and I am on a bus for a close up tour of Crazy Horse. The tour is $4 which I am happy to pay since all funding for this project comes from visitors and private donations. No public, state or federal money is being used or accepted to fund this monumental task.

 

 

Our bus tour is informative and gives us a good knowledge base about Crazy Horse.

Did you know it will take another 80-100 years or more to complete this monument?

Or that once completed it will be much grander than Mt. Rushmore?

 

 

 

 

At our only stop on the tour is a slab of granite the material from which the monument is being sculpture.

Although it has a tough composition it still must be treated with heat to slow down decay from the elements especially ice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So how much wood would a wood chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

Apparently, not much based on the skills of the ones running around Crazy Horse who spend most of their time chucking grass not wood.

Our tour drives by Korcaz's tomb which interestingly has a door knocker on the inside. Korcaz designed it himself along with building his own coffin. Apparently, he told his family he would knock if he wasn't have too much fun and wanted to be let out. I have to appreciate a man with a sense of humor even I death.

Somewhat carrying on this tradition, our bus driver invites us to take a piece of the mountain home with us as a souvenir. Inside the museum there are pieces of blast rock which are free for the taking. According to the driver the rocks are just heavy enough that he used them for his mother-in-law's life jacket.

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Crazy Horse Memorial,South Dakota,Black Hills

South Dakota, A Bird's Eye-View

 

 

I am on my way from Mt. Rushmore to Crazy Horse Memorial, which is less than twenty miles away, when a roadside sign grabs my attention.

A quick u-turn and I discover that for $49 I could set myself up for about 6 minutes of elevated fun.

 

 

 

I sign up at Black Hills Aerial Adventures and wait with excitement as a thumping sound rises above the noise of the nearby highway. As if suspended by an invisible cable, a Robinson R44 descends from the sky and smoothly lands less than a hundred feet away. I am told to wait as passengers are being assisted from the helipad.

 

 

Fortunate for me, the next time the R44 is airborne I will be the only passenger.

Sitting next to the pilot, I have the most awesome views.

With professional confidence she flies us along a route that she has done hundreds of time before.

 

 

From about 500 feet above the ground, the beauty of the Black Hills expands in all directions as far as the eye can see. I am given a brief history of the area and some unknown to me landmarks are highlighted.

Our tour takes us as close as possible to Crazy Horse Memorial before we begin a circle back to our landing spot. The 6 minutes goes by too fast but it was money well spent for some fantastic views that could only be experienced with a set of wings.

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Crazy Horse Memorial,South Dakota,The Black Hills,Robinson R44,Black Hills Aerial Adventures

South Dakota, Mt Rushmore

 

 

It is a beautiful summer day with clear blue skies as I leave Rapid City Airport. I am on my way down Highway 16W to the town of Keystone in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Keystone is known as the gateway to Mt. Rushmore.

 

 

About twenty miles down the road I arrive in Keystone and it looks like a good place for lunch break.

A main street lined with shops and restaurants provides a good opportunity for a stroll before I settle down for a tasty pulled pork sandwich.

 

 

 

 

It is not long after leaving Keystone that America's First President comes into view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Washington. Awesome!

 

 

 

Thinking a close up view would be more amazing, I pay an $11 entrance fee to park but I am a bit disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By George, I think I like you more from a distance.

Had I been able to take in a Park Ranger lead hike maybe the $11 entrance fee would have been more worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

Back on the road I get another impressive glimpse of Mt. Rushmore. This time, I think I see a bit of resemblance between old George and myself.

Wow, he was actually one handsome dude!

 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Mt. Rushmore,South Dakota,Black Hills,Keystone,George Washington,America's First President

South Dakota, A Cluck Cluck Here

 

I am traveling down Highway 16 West on my way to Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore when I come upon a discovery that takes me down a pleasant childhood memory lane. E I E I O.

 

An $11 entrance fee and I find out that there truly is a cluck cluck here and a cluck cluck there on Old Macdonald's Farm which is located just of Highway 16 West.

 

 

 

 

 

From pygmy goats to draft horses and hatching chicks, there are a lot of interesting and fun animals on Old Macdonald's Farm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, you want a piece of me?

 

 

 

So if you are ever near Rapid City, South Dakota and want to relive a bit of your childhood stop by the farm.

With an oink oink here and an oink oink there you might just have a little fun but watch out for that old man who would not even give a dog a bone.

 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Old MacDonalds Farm,Rapid City,South Dakota,Highway 16 West,Mount Rushmore,Custer State Park