Well, the weekend is nigh, and there are possibly two or three people reading this blog who will be interested in learning that the Putnam Trail in Van Cortlandt Park now has markings on it:
The path, however, remains closed, and there’s still a fence at the city line:
The path was supposed to open this past summer, and it’s been paved for quite awhile now, so maybe this is part of some Pando-related scheme to seal off New York City from the rest of the state. If so, I don’t know if I’m on the good side of the perimeter or the bad one, but I’m beginning to suspect it’s the latter:
Rick Moranis, really?
Then again, we’ve easily got like 75% of the state’s Dunkin’ Donuts franchises, so in that respect we’re entirely self sufficient.
Of course, if New York City were really under siege, our first concern would be the water supply. Our water comes from upstate, and once upon a time it entered Manhattan via the High Bridge:
Over which I rode this very morning:
As I’ve mentioned, the High Bridge was once one of Edgar Allan Poe’s preferred sulking spots:
This morning, the weather was suitably wet and dreary:
But I wasn’t sulking at all because conditions were finally perfect for testing out my new Ortovox Civetta rain jacket!
Here it is:
I don’t know what else to say about the beard except “I’m sorry.”
While perfectly presentable in an off-the-bike context, this jacket is equally appropriate for your Lycra wardrobe, assuming you have one. I happened to be wearing stretchy clothes this particular morning, and the waist is cut such that it doesn’t ride up in the back, even when you’re on a road bike with a fairly long reach and wearing a jersey with stuffed pockets. Rain jackets can also make you feel like you’re riding around in a greenhouse, but I remained warm while never feeling like a tropical storm was brewing under my clothing. And despite being breathable, it was also quite water resistant in the steady drizzle:
I did not have occasion to try this feature, because I didn’t scale any skyscrapers:
The jacket can now be completely stored in the inner pocket and, thanks to the loop on the inside, can be quickly fastened to a climbing harness or compressed to save space and stored in a backpack.
Or this one, because it didn’t occur to me to put on the hood:
In addition, this highly functional rain jacket is equipped with a self-regulating hood. A circumferential elastic band and a reinforced peak ensure an optimum fit in wind and rain, while discreet MERINO COOL inserts increase wear comfort around the chin and forehead area.
But I look forward to utilizing more of the jacket’s technical features in the near future, which I should have ample opportunity to do now that the cool temperatures and precipitation of autumn are upon us. Indeed, between my sweet rain bike and my fancy rain jacket I’m almost rooting for bad weather.
Now go ride your bike.