Squid on Wheels: First Ride of Spring

It is my pleasure to present the PTSD (Pre-Teen Speed Demon). Zipping along at speeds upwards of 18 mph she is still careful and courteous to the others on the greenway. Crowds and rough road, however, frustrate the heck out of her.

After sprinting down the west side of Manhattan, we then carefully wended our way through the spring-weather induced crowds at the southern tip of the island and the masses near the South Street Seaport until we were able to actually ride again.

As we made our way across town, we passed the Russian and Turkish Baths. Back before the era of metrosexuals, The Baths were a strictly male bastion. There are still hours when men can let it all hang out (and others for the ladies) but most of the time, the baths are co-ed. Look at the Russian Bath -- it still had that old-time look that comes with being, well, old. Everything else looks pretty modern. Mike and I are thinking about going over one day and having a nice schvitz together.

Continuing west, we passed St. Vincent's Hospital -- a place that, so far, we have only once had to visit for medical reasons.

This building now houses offices and labs and such but prior to it's incarnation as a medical mecca, it served as union headquarters for the National Maritime Union. There are three buildings in Manhattan that used to belong to the NMU, and they all have a nautical feel to them. This one is due to be demolished and replaced with a modern hospital funded with the proceeds of the sale of all of the other building that make up the St. Vincent's complex.

And there you have it, the first real ride of the season and your first 2008 tour of New York City via Squid on Wheels.

Total milage: roughly 11 easy miles.