The Battle of Monmouth

Today a choice had to be made. It was a toss up between the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island or the Battle of Monmouth reenactment in New Jersey. I opted for war! I had been to the Mermaid Festival a couple times already. I had a feeling some good friends were going to the battlefield, so I headed to New Jersey. It was good to get out of the city. At Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Colonial and British encampments were set up at opposite ends. Before the battle I strolled through the British camp.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Many of the British soldiers were smoking from clay pipes.

Before the battle there was an artillery demonstration.

Then the respective sides gathered for battle.

The fight was on. The battle at Monmouth was the largest single day battle of the Revolutionary War. The battle took place on June 28, 1778.

George Washington’s army numbered about 14,500 including about 1000 militia. The British army numbered about 21,000 including 4100 Hessians (German mercenaries) and 210 Loyalists (Americans loyal to the British). Only about half of the British forces were at this battle.

After the battle the re-enactors returned to their respective camps. There were craftsmen and people selling wares of the time period set up in tents along the path to the Colonial encampment. This guy thanked me for being one of only two people who bothered to ask if I could photograph him the entire day. He said most people just snap away without saying a thing.

People were tired from the heat. Durung the actual battle in 1778 some soldiers died from the heat and lack of water. George Washington reported 69 men died, 161 wounded and 132 missing. Total loss 362. British. Numbers were uncertain but were approximately 67 killed in action, 59 died of fatigue, 170 wounded and 65 missing. Total 361.

Those that weren’t resting were preparing dinner or cleaning their weapons.

I tried to get this guy to climb on the bike, but he insisted on staying in character. All the people involved take their roles seriously, which is great! As you watch the families and soldiers going about their business at the camp it really feels authentic.

Pow Wow @Floyd Bennett Field

I rode out to Floyd Bennett Field last weekend to see the Gateway to Nations Pow Wow.

I found out about this pow wow while traveling cross country in 2009 where I bumped into Cliff at the Crow Agency Pow Wow in Montana.  I was riding through the tee pee village when I hear, “Where you from?” I say “NY.” He screams “Brooklyn!” He let me pitch my tent next to his camper and showed me around. Cliff helps organize the pow wow here in NYC.

I went to the pow wow at Floyd Bennett Field last year too, but didn’t post it here as I took the subway and a bus to get there. My bike was in the shop. It’s a spectacular event I recommend to all.

Cliff welcomes some of the new young dancers to the pow wow.

The sounds of the drummers and singers penetrate the soul as you watch the dancers perform.

This is the Birdman. Very cool dude. He is pointing out extra barbs on the beak which the falcon uses to sever the spinal cord of it’s prey.

After leaving the pow wow, I rode around a bit. Until you see the numbers you may not realize that this is no road you are riding on, It’s a former runway. A runway on which Amelia Earheart, Howard Hughes and Wiley Post once touched down.

There is a secluded campground on the other side of the airfield as well. I spoke to one of the campers and unfortunately was told this campground will be closing in two months to allow for development. End of an era. So if you want to camp in Brooklyn at a remote, wooded campground for 20 bucks a night, you have to do it this summer.

Up the River

I took a ride north along the Hudson River. Along the Hudson River is misleading as there are few spots on the way where you actually are along the river. I rode route 9 all the way up to Poughkeepsie, then crossed the Hudson and returned. I saw a few things on the way.

After leaving Manhattan route 9 brings you through Yonkers.

As you move along the only way to see the Hudson is to leave the highway and head down the side roads. Unfortunately when you get there much of it is blocked by the railroad.

There are a number of old towns along the way. It would take some ‘know how’ to get across the tracks to see some of the old buildings along the river.

In Tarrytown I visited the former home of Washington Irving. It’s called Sunnyside.

If this were Irving’s time, I’d be looking down uninterrupted rolling hills, cascading to the river. Instead I am looking at 8 pair of train track, poles and wires.

I spotted this groundhog hiding out in a drain pipe.

I continued north. I stopped in Sleepy Hollow to have a look at Philipsburg Manor but I did not go in.

I continued north up route 9 to Ossining, NY. This is where you find Sing Sing. Sing Sing is a maximum security prison. As you see by the sign such terms as, ‘Up the River’, The Big House’, and ‘The Last Mile’ originated here.

The tower guard started yelling at me as I was taking this photo. No photos allowed.

From Sing Sing I rode up to Poughkeepsie where I crossed the Hudson and headed south. On the way I passed Gomez Mill.

Then I rode to Bear Mountain Before heading home.

On the way down the mountain I saw a 4 foot black snake about to cross the road. I chased him back into the woods so he didn’t become road kill.

A Castle, a Waterfall and an Abandoned Baseball Stadium

Today the sun popped out, the temperature rose, and it was time to hit the road. I visited a couple spots in New Jersey I had marked on my map.

A Castle

Labert Castle was the home of a wealthy silk merchant outside of Patterson, NJ. He had this castle built in 1892 with the wealth he accumulated from the silk industry.

You can see the city from the castle.

Inside is an atrium with surrounding balconies. These walls were once covered with the works of Rembrandt, Pissaro, Monet, Courbet, Renoir, Van Gogh and more. Unfortunately for the former silk baron, the business went belly up during a prolonged strike forcing him to sell most of his collection.

On the way up the stairs is this incredible stained glass window.

A room upstairs is filled with folk art and historical objects from the Patterson area.

Patterson, NJ

A Waterfall

The Great Falls of the Passaic River.

An Abandoned Baseball Stadium

Hinchliffe Stadium. One of only a few remaining Negro National League stadiums in the country, it stands vacant and dilapidated.

The stadium is best known for its role in professional baseball as home to the New York Black Yankees of the Negro National League in the 1930s and 1940s. It has been closed since 1997 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Baseball: New York Black Yankees

In September 1933, within their first Hinchliffe season, the New York Black Yankees played the Philadelphia Stars here in the Colored Championship of the Nation. They lost the championship, but not their momentum, opening the following season with an eight-game winning streak! The streak-ending ninth game with the Pittsburgh Crawfords came on July 28, 1934, a face-off that saw Hall-of-Famers Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, James “Cool Papa” Bell, and Oscar Charleston all play in regular-season battle.

Rain disappointingly ended the game after 7 1/2 innings, but not before Crawfords’ star Gibson and Yankee Bob Clark had both hit powerful home runs, Gibson’s contributing to his League championship home-run record for that year.

On July 13, 1935, Elmer McDuffy pitched an 8-0 no-hitter at Hinchliffe Stadium against the House of David. According to the Paterson Evening News, it was “the first time such a feat had ever been turned in by by the Negro club in this territory.”

Paterson’s favorite son, Hall-of-Famer Larry Doby, was to be picked up by the Cleveland Indians in 1947 and break the American League color barrier. But what hometown fan can resist imagining that for the five years he was an Eagle, maybe-just maybe-he faced off at least once against the Black Yankees at Hinchliffe? via

Baseball: The New York Cubans

The New York Cubans called Hinchliffe Stadium home in their second season in the Negro National League (1936). The team featured Cubans star Martin Dihigo (HOF 1977), a resourceful ballplayer who played all nine positions at various points in his career. Dihigo was a whirlwind. He began as a second baseman, but found his true talents on the pitching mound. Paterson rooters came out June 6, 1936, to marvel at his prowess as the Cubans faced their league rivals, the Newark Eagles, with two future Hall-of-Famers in the lineup: third baseman Ray Dandridge (HOF 1987) and shortstop Willie Wells (HOF 1997). The right-handed Dihigo struck out six Newark batters in the course of the game, and then proved he was a threat with the bat too by hitting a solo home run en route to a 12-5 victory for the Cubans! via

Weather Killed the March Post

Weather killed the March post. Here in the NYC area we are not getting a break from the cold and rain. This recent weather following a snow blasted Winter has left this MFer longing for a good ride. I’ve been riding to and from work on occasion and and errand now and again. But please give me some good sunny days!

I brought Bonnie in for a check up during the month of March. The people at Gold Coast Motorsports Ltd took care of the 12,000 mile maintenance. It was a little overdue as the odometer is well past 27,000 miles (of course it’s the second 12,ooo mile maintenance). And there was a good deal of maintenance to be done. I also asked for the front and rear tire to be changed.  The front was a Metzler and it was worn down. The rear I was riding was a cheap Dunlop tire I bought in Mizzoula, MT a few thousand miles ago. I bought it out of necessity as my rear Metzler was about to go. So now I have a new set of Metzler Lazertecs and an engine running really well. The guys at Gold Coast have the bike in running tight and strong. I am eager for a long ride.

I have a week off coming up soon. Let’s see if I can squeeze in a little adventure and jazz this blog up a little.

Saw this classic Triumph on the street the other day.

 

Triumph NYC

Well NYC Triumph riders, you have one less choice to make. Corsa Motor Sports, New York City’s Triumph dealer is no more. Personally, I haven’t taken my bike there in years. Somehow it was comforting to know a dealer was nearby.

There are a few bikes inside, but it looks fairly cleaned out. There is also a sign on the door.

I’ll be taking my bike out to Gold Coast in New Hyde Park, NY for some servicing.

I can’t wait until Spring. I don’t dislike Winter, but I’m ready for some riding.

The Bike Show and Winter

The International Motorcycle show was in NYC last weekend with much of the same old same old. However, Triumph returned to showcase their new bikes. I checked out the new Triumph Tiger 800 XC (fully loaded).

It sure would add a new element to the cross country adventure. But I’ll be sticking with my Bonnie for the time being. I have been keeping Bonnie in the garage since December. We have been hit with a good deal of snow so, I am glad I did. My neighbor’s Triumph Tiger was buried up to the handlebars.

I did get something from the bike show which will benefit my future adventures. I got a camera platform to attach to my handlebars.

All the riding video I have taken up to now has been done with a funky rig using a Gorillapod or me holding it with my left hand. It will be nice to have an easy access platform where I can just push a button and film with minimal vibrations! Now all I need is good riding weather.

Here are a few shots from the International Motorcycle Show.

Kenny Scharf

I rode downtown to see the finished Kenny Scharf mural on Houston and Bowery here in NYC. Riding on the sidewalk for this photo op somehow seemed like the right thing to do.

I rode down there a couple of weeks ago and met Kenny Scharf as he was taking a break.

When I was in college I was given an assignment to focus on 2 artists and create one work of art. I decided to paint my sofa bright yellow with Keith Haring people all over it. These people would be carrying televisions with Kenny Sharf paintings in them. I know I have a picture of that sofa somewhere. I had that couch for many years.

When I was younger I once had the pleasure of seeing Keith Haring laying down some chalk drawings in a subway station, and now I got to see Kenny Scharf too.

Montauk Bound

Last weekend I went for a healthy ride. It had been a while. My initial thought was to ride to the mountains. I decided instead to head in the other direction, Long Island. Wherever I travel I like to visit a site from Roadside America if possible. On this journey it was the Big Duck in Flanders, NY.

Once I was on the road I was determined to make it all the way to the Montauk tip. It is a long ride. About 125 miles each way. The first big chunk of the ride is on a long 4 lane highway with an HOV lane. Before Long Island splits at the end I exited to the east and hit Route 24. That’s where you find the Big Duck. Then on to Route 27 where things get more scenic.

I had only visited Long Island twice before. As a teen I came out here with some friends. I got into a shouting match with the neighbor of the people we were visiting and I was asked to leave. I never went back until a few years ago when I visited the Hamptons with a girl I was seeing. She rode a Vespa, but she didn’t ride there. She had it shipped out there. There was another guy who had a share at the house for the summer. He rode a Ducati. I was shocked to hear that he had it shipped out there too. At the time I wasn’t riding. But it sure struck me as odd that you would have your bike shipped from NYC to Long Island. Now I think it’s just silly. My ride through the Hamptons was nice. It’s a slow ride, but the Fall foliage was looking good! Then it was on to the beach.

It was fun watching the little guy handling that stick like a big dog.

This guy stood and stared. He never did take the plunge.

And finally the northern tip. The lighthouse at Montauk.

The sun dropped along with the temperature. It was a long cold ride home, but you gotta squeeze in as much as you can this time of year. Soon the long ride will go on hold for a few months.

A Little NY History

Columbus Day. Say what you will about Columbus Day. Whether or not this dude should get a holiday is a question for debate. Personally, I appreciate any reason to have the day off. And though he may not be the greatest of history’s explorers, I take this holiday opportunity to venture out for a little exploration myself. So I headed upstate past Bear Mountain to see some homes and ruins from the Revolutionary War. Twas a beautiful day for a ride.
My first stop was Edmonston House in New Windsor, NY.

Edmonston House is open from July to September so I could only peek through the windows. During the Revolutionary War this house served as headquarters for both General Horatio Gates and General Arthur St. Clair. It was also headquarters for medical staff servicing the Continental Army.

I wanted to see where Washington’s Continental Army spent their last year of the war. The visitor’s center was closed today, but part of the former encampment is located about a 1/4 mile down the road. At first I passed it and traveled into the woods. There I found an old road which dates back to the revolution.

This road connected the 1st and 3rd Massachusetts Regiments to those of NY, NJ, and NH across the wetlands. And the wetlands still exist today.

Then I turned about to check out the site of the last encampment of the Continental Army. The footprints of the cabins can still be seen today.

There are a couple of recreations of the cabins that once stood here.

From there I was off to see the Headquarters of General George Washington in Newburgh, NY. Unfortunately it is closed on Mondays.

The headquarters is atop a hill that overlooks the Hudson River. I headed down to the river to have a look.

Strangely enough as I turned away from the river to get back to the bike, there stood a statue of the man responsible for today’s holiday. Cristoban himself stands along the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY. Thanks for the day off Bub.

I rode past the murals that line the river. I was southbound toward the big city.