2 things we wont be doing in NY again

1. going to the BBQ Block Party (I thought Fatty & Sterlo's "world's biggest BBQ" was bad)
2. Puerto Rican Day parade: seinfeld was right

and now the picture you've all been waiting for!

DAVE!!!!

NY Knights Rugby League

Last night was the opening game of the short RL season here. There are 8 or 9 teams from the East Coast that play in this league, and they play each other once. Last night it was NY Knights at home to the team from Washington. The Knights play in the Newcastle Knights colours. Their home ground, "The Castle", is down at Pier 40, on the Hudson River down by West Village. Entry was free and the crowd was about 100; probably 5 when you subtract players' family & friends. The standard was poor and the game very lopsided (i would have said about 60-20 in favor of NY when we left with about 10 mins to go; there was no scoreboard, or clock, or any other facilities [for fans or players] for that matter - the players got changed on the sideline!), but what better way for a home sick Bunnies fan to spend a few hrs on a Saturday evening? In the bottom picture that's Monica sitting on the steps on to the field at the half way line talking to an expat Manly fan, who actually turned out to be quite nice. we'll probably go again, if there's no paint to watch drying. On the way out I spoke to Matt who runs The Australian pub on W.38th and who is one of the founders of the team and still plays a few minutes of the interchage, and he said next Friday night's game will be much closer.

Manhattan Marathon Swim June 6th 2009

On Saturday was the annual swim around Manhattan: 28.2 miles (about 50 km), starting and finishing from South Cove at Battery Park, in the Hudson by Ground Zero. The water temp was 61-67F (15-17C). The winner did it in just over 7 hrs. We happened to be cycling by as the winner arrived. He was John van Wisse, 36, from Melbourne. He won it last year as well and also competed in 2000. He swims 80 km /week, mostly in the pool. he said the worst bit was the choppiness at the finish. As you can see below, at the finish he looked like he could jump back in and go around again. he is swiming beside the red kayak in the fist 2 pictures

More Chicago pix

Millennium Park
Chicago River
Water Tower
Art Institute of Chicago
elevated railway downtown
19th century archictecture, Armitage & Halsted neighborhood

Chicago Lake/River Cruise

In the lock to go out on to Lake Michigan; the lock is needed because the flow of the Chicago River ha been reversed: the water flows from lake to river
skyline from out on the Lake. Hancock Building prominent
view from the river
view from river

Chicago June 3-5

the Chicago lakefront: a great place for early morning jogging cycling. strolling or working out, but not swimming!