Travelling Parents

The off-season (August 30 – September 5, 2007) proved to be a good choice not only for a greatly reduced number of tour buses but also for 12 days of sunshine that hadn’t existed since the end of May,’07.

We (husband, 75 and myself, 67 ) traveled with an REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc) hiking group from Dublin
to Shannon. We were blessed with with an outstanding US/Irish guide who also drove our 15 passenger van. One of our four major hikes follows:

What to Do?

BRAY TO GREYSTONES 7km heading South along the Irish Sea. Good tennis shoes will suffice. We did this on our own prior to joining the group. Bray lies 30 minutes South of Dublin by train (DART) from Connolly Station. Trains leave every 5 min. at peak times and every 15 – 20 min. at other times. The path begins at the Bray Boardwalk , parallel to the Strand Road, on the ocean 3 blocks East of the DART Station. Traveling South on the Boardwalk, BrayHead, with an elevation of 240m and a cross at the summit, is immediately in view. One can climb up to the cross or stay to the water’s edge and continue on to Greystones. You will be following the railroad on a narrow strip of land between the Sea and the high rocky headland. The path is lined with hedges of fuschia, purple heather and yellow gorse cover much of the ground. Blackberries abound. About two thirds of the way into our hike a sign indicating “Dangerous Trail “greeted us. We observed this and went uphill to the main road. Inquiring, we found that such signs are posted when a governmental body wishes to protect itself from any liabilities. So it was proceed at your own risk. We found our way back to the trail and continued on the ocean walk. Once in Greystones, the main village is to the right and uphill from the harbor. The Beach House is great for a harbor view, a pint and a good lunch. We boarded the DART for the short trip back to Bray. One could stay on DART and continue back into Dublin.

What to Eat?

Restaurant in Bray for good seafood, and right on the water is the Baracuda. Dinner for two with 1 beer , 1 wine and 2 coffees was 78Euros.

Where to Stay?

Esplanade Hotel in Bray on the beach was convenient. We had a very small room with bath in the old part. Did not see the new area but understand that rooms are larger. Breakfast buffet- full Irish (eggs, bacon sausage, tomato, toast) as well as assorted cold cereals, juices and breads is included with room rate (120 E).

A three generation active/biking weekend in New York City. The 9 member group consisted of grandparents, ages 74 and 67, children ages 30-40 and grandchildren ages 8-14. coming together to do the Five Boro Bike Tour held annually on the first Sun. in May. We were part of the 42,000 bikers.

We met in midtown Manhattan at our hotel, The Crown Plaza (Holiday Inn chain) 1605 Broadway between 48th and 49th Sts. Our rooms were a Crown Plaza Executive Level Suite on the 45th floor entitling us to complimentary Continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres in the Club Lounge, 46th floor. This type of room offered us 2dbl beds in the sleeping room and a living/dining/kitchen room with a pullout sofa in an adjoining room A large dining room table made this space quite adequate for carry-in meals. Neighborhood delis and grocers along with sidewalk fruit and vegetable stands were easy to find. Eating in our room on the 45th floor of the hotel with the NYC skyline in view was a good move for satisfying the mixed group not only with price but also food choices. The suite sells for $849. plus tax per night. We purchased this package at a local, hometown Antigo, WI Aquatic Ctr fundraiser. The hotel manager hails from Antigo. Whew! (Read more hotel reviews here.)

The Crown Plaza offers a 4 lane 12meter pool. We did not use as the weather was good for biking and that activity was our goal.

We rented bikes online from Metro Bicycles, Metro Bicycles has six locations in Manhattan. Our hybrid rentals were $45.00 each with a helmet. The bikes had 7 gears and were Trek Navigators and Fuji Crosstowns. The 8 year old in our group and his father rented a tandem at $80.00. Bikes do not come with racks on the back or handlebar bags. Back packs were used and a couple of handlebar bags that we brought with us. Metro Bikes gave us each a spare innertube which we would be charged for if used, otherwise returnable.

We rode our bikes 4 or 5 blocks West to the” Manhattan Waterfront Greenway” (map can be downloaded here.) which starts at the Battery Park and continues North beyond the Geo Washington Bridge (see Little Red Lighthouse-built in 1880 under the Geo. Wash. Br, and made famous to children through the book The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge) to the Cloisters Museum. At this point one can link to the Eastside portion of the Greenway via a low traffic volume road.

The Greenway is a separated path (two-way bike and walk) right along the Hudson R. on the West side of Manhattan with its own sets of stop and go lights featuring bicycles in red and green. We passed ocean going cruise ships in port and being ushered in and out of their docks with the aid of tugs. Helicopters jumped up just over the fence from us taking off and landing at a commercial helipad.

Our varied age group made the entire 42 mile journey with highlights being the designated mass rest stops, the extraordinary view from the Verrazano Br., the excitement of so many riders of varying ages and bicycle seating arrangements. and the Staten Island Ferry ride back to Manhattan. It would be a great family trip for people like biking as we do.

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