Picture of the Day
yesterday | today tomorrow

Saturday
August 1, 1998

~| THE BOOK REPORT |~

SARAH'S TRAIN FROM WEST VIRGINIA VISIT TO HER SISTER PULLED INTO PENN AT 2 A.M. WE RODE BIKES DOWN THE WEST SIDE ESPLANADE AND ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO HER PLACE IN BROOKLYN WHERE SHE PICKED UP SOME STUFF FOR THE LONG RIDE AHEAD. WE FUELED UP ON PANCAKES IN A PARK SLOPE DINER AROUND 3:30 AM AND PEDALED DOWN OCEAN PKWY TO ROCKAWAY UNDER A GREEN PRESUNRISE SKY, PAST STAGGERING PARTY ANIMALS WHO REFUSED TO LET THE EVENING DIE AND OTHER DAY-TRIPPING CYCLISTS WHO SEEMED MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED THAN SARAH AND I. THE SUN SLIPPED OVER THE LIP OF THE OCEAN, CASTING BEACHFRONT LUXURY CONDOS AND HOUSING PROJECTS IN THE SAME ORANGE GLOW AS WE DISCOVERED AN ALMOST UNINTERRUPTED STRETCH OF BOARDWALK ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORE. WE HAD TO TURN INLAND AT LONG BEACH AND DOUBLED OUR PACE TO QUICKLY GET PAST THE STRIPMALL EYESORES AND SEAMLESS BLEED OF SUBURBIA ALONG MERRICK ROAD. EIGHT HOURS AFTER WE BEGAN WE COLLAPSED IN JONES BEACH SAND JUST EAST OF FIELD 6 WHERE IT'S OK TO BE GAY AND SWIM NAKED.