Written by Belinda Jackson, AWNY President
On a spectacularly sunny September day AWNY members and friends met under the Williamsburg Bridge to prepare for a bicycle tour of Brooklyn and Manhattan with our friends at Loudest Yeller, specialists in historic and cultural-based bicycle tours.
First thing was to get kitted out with our bikes and helmets. As there were 25 of us we split into two groups with our trusty leaders Adam and Jerome. We then headed off to Toby’s Estate for a kick-off coffee. Once we had a full tank of caffeine we left the Borough of Brooklyn by climbing the Williamsburg Bridge, rode down the East River and headed to Wall Street to hear about the start of the United States (yes, there really was a wall there), viewing the Stock Exchange and Trinity Church en route.
Back on our bikes, City Hall was next and then a tour through Chinatown and Little Italy, where the San Gennaro Festival was in full throng (this required dismounting and walking to get through the crowds). Through Soho to the West Village we went to stock up on supplies for a picnic lunch under the trees at Washington Square Park (you can always pick the Aussies – we’re the ones who head straight for the shade). Once fed and watered, we headed back via the Billyburg Bridge and home.
Despite three flat tyres, Adam Benedetto kept a cool head and he and tour co-guide Jerome provided us with an incredibly entertaining and educational experience in NYC.
I love how they came up with the name Loudest Yeller – from a Woody Guthrie song: I ain’t the world’s best writer nor the world’s best speller, but when I believe in something I’m the loudest yeller.
Many thanks to the team at Loudest Yeller – Adam Benedetto and Jerome as well as our two fabulous event co-ordinators, Katarina Filopovic and Carmen Cavallaro.
Check out our FB photos here.
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