At Jim and Lucy’s on Monday evening, I asked Jim how long we’d known each other. Our fathers both had egg-producing chicken ranches. Jim’s dad’s ranch was just down the street from my Uncle Fred’s ranch. We went to different elementary schools until 8th grade. We decided it was probably around age 10 when we were both in Lucky Leaf 4-H Club. Jim has a vivid memory of my cousin Phyllis – who was maybe a junior or senior in high school at the time while Jim was maybe 12 years old – running a well-organized no-nonsense club meeting.
at Regency Park Elementary. On Friday morning, I had so much fun riding with the first Red group. They improved so quickly, we were able to leave the park trail and practice signaling and right turns on the street.
On Monday morning, I got to ride with two Yellow groups. Great kids and it’s clear they learned a lot. Special thanks to the parent who rode sweep for us. She was so good, I soon had her monitoring an intersection while I coached from the opposite side of the intersection.
Sunday morning – time to sell. The early crew arrived at 6:30 to begin defining the space. Then over 200 bikes were wheeled out from the ballroom and grouped according to type.
So many kids bikes, most in very good condition and priced from $20-$50.
Ms Steele, the Bike Tech teacher at Inderkum High School took a picture of her students who volunteered:
Jibe staff manned the cashier station:
Volunteers from Arlete’s BIG: Jim, Cheryl, me. Jim designed the flow of the event and sorted bikes into types. Cheryl, who rides more miles/month than anyone else, worked in the “bike pit” assisting buyers in choosing the right bike. I worked near the test ride area, making sure under-16s had a helmet fitted properly. I also taught one young girl how to ride, despite her doubtful parent.
Twenty minutes before opening, early shoppers arrived:
Kids bikes, a very popular section and most of them sold within two hours.
Friday afternoon was the first opportunity to donate or consign a bike for sale. All Jibe staff work this event. Anya:
Bike Doc mechanics were available to repair bikes that were donated. In the background, students from the Bike Tech program at Inderkum HS cleaning bikes before repair.
Mike (right) is a knowledgeable bike price estimator and extremely helpful at an event like this to advise sellers on a reasonable asking price.
Bikes flooded in over a 3-hour period:
Saturday morning, more bikes in a slow steady stream from 9 to noon plus visits from Tracy and Brenda who were out for a ride.
By noon, there were over 200 bikes inside the ballroom at the Aquatic Center ready for tomorrow’s sale.
Lots of kids bikes, so many in great condition, and frequently priced at $20.
Our goal was to walk High Line Park – highly recommended by several people. To get there, we decided to ride the subway. Easy to pay and get on, a bit confusing when we had to transfer to a different train halfway there, but down another level and we were set.
This area of the city is called Hudson Yards. When we exited by way of a couple of really long escalators going up, we were shocked to be greeted by strong cold wind. Walking High Line Park would not be pleasant in any way. We found a Starbucks, had breakfast, warmed up and came up with plan B. Great idea: a Starbucks bike:
Nearby, the Vessel, currently closed due to several suicides, a solution is still being explored.
We decided to walk back, technically a 42 minute walk but we managed to find a few distractions along the way. Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building:
The Garment District with soooo many fabric shops (Sacramento has just one).
Maria has an internal homing signal for Irish pubs.
A rooftop bar and restaurant, so nice and warm inside.
Continuing our trek back, we skipped Pig and Whistle but stopped next at Sean’s Irish Pub:
The spires of St Patrick’s meant we were close to our hotel. It was still quite cold, but the buildings blocked a lot of the wind.
On our way to “dinner,” a traffic jam even though a police officer was directing traffic. Half the vehicles in all directions were honking horns continuously.
Another NYC tradition, hot dog and a pretzel from a street vendor. Our “dinner:”
We were up early Wednesday morning to fly home arriving mid-afternoon.
Central Park, one end of the 2-mile-long park just a few blocks from our hotel.
So .. Maria tends to start conversations and make friends with people wherever we are. Doormen, waiters, trumpet players, and birds who seem to be following her as we stroll through the park.
Yes, it’s possible to get lost in Central Park. We decided to head back, then walked past the same blossoming tree twice, got directions from a friendly local, turned in the opposite direction and followed a main road back to the corner where we’d started. LOL.
We found Cassidy’s Irish Pub on the way back and had a late lunch. My current favorite storefront with 3-D flowers up high:
An early evening glass of excellent red wine + dessert.
On a lark, we got up at 6 am, quickly put on warm clothes, walked a couple of blocks, went through security, and lined up along the barricades for the Today Show. From 6:30-7:00, a producer and two staff members prepped us for the show, did short interviews to find groups to feature, followed by little rehearsals and filming short clips.
When it began to rain, the staff brought out orange ponchos for everyone.
We were able to watch the entire show, with sound and without commercials, on a big screen. 8:01 – there we were on the big screen with my (in Maria’s words) “electrocuted hair”. Our rehearsed phrase, “Celebrating 50 years of friendship .. from Sacramento!” Smile and wave.
The hosts came out to film and visit.
All were friendly and gracious and walked the entire perimeter, chatting and posing for selfies. Fist bump with Al Roker:
Morning walk past St Patrick’s Cathedral side entrance
to Rockefeller Center:
Times Square. At lower left in the picture where sign says “tkts” was a list of Broadway shows with seats available. We got in the long line where Maria began a conversation with an oceanography high school teacher and his wife from Connecticut (btw, this happens wherever we go) which made the time go by quickly.
We were able to get some great seats (Orchestra center, Row 9) for today’s matinee performance of The Book of Mormon. We had just enough time for lunch at a Celtic pub before heading to the theater.
The Eugene O’Neill Theater.
Great show! After, we did a bit more shopping on 5th Avenue, then back to the hotel.
arletelouise 