This Sunday, I finally went after a goal that had been on my yearly list, and on my list of dreams before that. I walked the length of the island of Manhattan – 13 miles! – mostly up Broadway. I do not recall who or what laid this goal before me, but I do know that once I had it, the idea of going on the walk of walks – the entire length of the city! – captivated me. I chased this goal around the calendar – first intending to do it all spring, finally bumping it past the heat of summer into fall. And what a fall day it was. With a bright blue sky and moderate temperatures, I couldn’t have asked for better.
The night before, this past Motzoei Shabbos, I did not get to sleep early as I had napped a lot over Shabbos (despite myself). But, I was resolved not to miss this opportunity, the last long autumn day before the clock change, and a pristine one to boot. So I packed my backpack, set my alarm for the 7’s, and was out on the 7:53 train to the city. I took along water bottles, Kind protein bars, my journal and pen, a wall charger, a portable charger, and AirPods.
I got to Penn Station, took the subway downtown, and stood at #1 Broadway at about five to nine. I snapped a photo (for the time stamp more than anything), and started walking. And I walked. And walked. And walked. At the time it seemed really simple – one foot in front of the other – but it astonishes me now that by simply doing that, I was able to traverse the length of Manhattan.
I walked for a total of six hours, plus a one hour stop for lunch at Sushi Tokyo on the Upper West Side. I walked mostly straight up Broadway, with a few detours in search of food (I was too early for kosher eateries in midtown, but was finally able to stop for lunch further north). At 145th St. (deep into Harlem), I decided to leave Broadway behind and finish the last 90 minutes or so of my walk along the Hudson River. This vantage point was completely different from walking in the heart of the city, and this part of the walk felt so remote. By the end of it, I felt as if I’d walked clear into the Hudson Valley.
I passed through countless neighborhoods. I passed through every square: Washington, Union, Madison, Herald, Times, Lincoln. I had never considered how much of the city is north of the Upper West Side (a lot of it – half?) At the end of my walk, I could see the Bronx from Inwood Hill Park.
I listened to New York-related musicals: Hamilton and The Newsies. Then I listened to 1776 to pass more time. I also voice noted a friend who was following my progress, and made a phone call for shidduch information! (This was shortly before snapping a photo of the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge).
By the time I was done, I was done – I had blisters, and a sore big toe. I walked back about 20 minutes to the nearest subway station, took the subway to Port Authority, and the bus home. But now, a few days later, I am quite blown away by how cool it was to do this. And I hope I get to do it again! I now think differently about long walks. I am excited to go on my art walks which didn’t happen this past spring, but which seem eminently more doable. And maybe to walk an avenue (Madison? Tenth? Second?)
I am still charley horse from Sunday (my toe is mostly back to itself) but the world of walks seems open before me!
(Photo credit: carlos sandoval/Pexels)
