Back to the Cloisters

Ever since I we celebrated my birthday at the Cloisters last year, Delta and I had been thinking about biking out there, so finally this last weekend we decided to put our money where our mouths were. We called Lahsiv and Rohinton and Jeet to join as well - Lahsiv was ready instantly, but Rohinton and Jeet suggested that perhaps they could take the train up there and meet us with a ready picnic.

A ready picnic!! What ingrates we would be to refuse such an offer.

And so, on possibly one of the most beautiful days we've had yet this summer, Delta, Lahsiv and I set off biking along the hudson up towards the Cloisters. It took us almost two and a half hours to get there - mostly because Delta and I kept stopping to photograph the stunning views. ("Hey, can you stop taking pictures of the George Washington Bridge and get a few of me instead?" Lahsiv asked at some point, tiring of our incessant photography). But we couldn't help ourselves. The ride was absolutely spectacular.

Trust me, I romanticise it not (well only a little anyway) when I tell you that the Hudson was a serene blue, dotted with occasional sailboats, and the bike path itself was a verdant green, tracking right along the river's edge. The path remained this scenic route almost the entire way to the Cloisters, except for the last mile, which caught us off guard by turning into a mile-long steep climb up the hillside. I mean, what earthly reason could there be to build a road like that, other than to give bikers premature heart attacks.

Nevertheless, we (somehow) all made it to the top. We got to the park, leaned our bikes against an oak, and collapsed onto the grass in a trio of sopping messes. We were just busy munching our way through the couple of chutney sandwiches that Lahsiv had packed with him, when Rohinton and Jeet approached, with an entire lavish picnic spread.

Mats and cups and forks and sandwiches and fruit galore. May everyone's life be so blessed. And so proceeded one of the most resplendent picnic days yet.

Resplendent... luxurious... leisurely... well, until we had to start the 2 hr bike ride back, anyway.