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BIRTHDAY!
I woke feeling fresh and decided to head into Prospect Park to run the loop. 3.68 miles in 23 degree heat, 91% humidity setting off just before 9am, ain’t bad for my fist day as a 34 year old.
Stefan once again kindly made bacon and eggs. I ate mine with a lovely Bagel, while Becky and I both Irished up our coffees.
Stefan, Becky and I set off on a mad dash to try and make the noon sailing of the beast. Stefan dashed down the stairs to grab the Q train for us. Luckily upon exiting the Times Square station there was a bus only a minute away. We were able to ride this for free having just exited the subway. This got us to the pier in plenty of time to get tickets. Although the combo ticket I had hoped to get was not available when booking in person. Further disappointment followed when we were told that the sound system was not operating on the boat that day.
We opted to sit at the front left of the boat, after being informed that if you sat at the back you would get very wet. As we headed out onto the Hudson Becky became quite nervous, not enjoying the motion in the ocean at all. Stefan and I were loving the speed and any ups and downs that came our way. With Manhattan on our left we blasted down towards lady liberty. Watching Becky’s face was great fun as we started to go over larger waves, but we made it for our photo opportunity. After stopping by the statue, the speedboat started circling around to create a large wake that we then blasted over. So much for not getting wet. My seat did not have a seat in front of it so I got soaked. Becky had straightened her hair for the first time this trip and wasn’t best pleased at getting wet.
On the way back to the pier the staff were throwing water bombs over people at the back. With the temperature and the speed we were moving we dried off pretty quick though.
Back on shore we made the 30second walk to the next pier along for the lobster boat. Emily joined us here, just in the nick of time, one minute before we were due to cast off. We enjoyed a great meal with a bucket of corona on the top deck in the sunshine. Plenty of photo opportunities were available and we made good use of them. I had half a lobster while Becky bravely attempted to eat lobster BLT. She only managed half which was good progress for her. We were out on the water for around 45minutes & it was most enjoyable.
We walked down the Hudson with the aim of heading to Chelsea piers. As the weather was so nice we could not resist the call of the frying pan. Being around 15:00 on a Friday afternoon it was practically empty. This allowed us to enjoy our Sangria on the top level right by the water. Somewhere we could have never got to on a busy Friday. Just as we were finishing there were some rain drops so we moved to Chelsea piers for a game of Bowling. We had looked at doing bowling close the the Circle-line ferry, & that would have certainly been the cheaper option but not helped us on our walking path.
Despite starting with a strike I lost out to Stefan. Becky did manage a surge to overtake Emily. Becky was using her nails as an excuse until she realised that the woman on the lane next two us had much more elaborate large nails and was doing just fine.
Our next bar was a rooftop bar that both Emily and I had been to separately located just off the Highline. We strolled along the highline to get there, baking in the sun. Once there we FaceTimed my parents as it was only 22:00 back in the UK.
I had planned on going to the Boom Boom lounge at the standard hotel next. Once again we adapted plans due to the nice weather and went to Le Pain. A large AstroTurfed rooftop bar that wasn’t cheap but had great views of downtown and the Hudson, with music playing. It was a great spot to enjoy the last of the sunshine.
Soon it time to for dinner at the all you can eat Sushi restaurant near West 4th. Sam Moore joined us for dinner taking a break from his improv schedule. Becky experienced the joys of Sake bombs for the first time here. Another first! Our drinking chopsticks were ready, and placed on top of our plastic glasses of lager. We then filled our ceramic shot glasses full of sake and then carefully placed them on the chop sticks. In unison we all banged the table & our shots dropped in, & we downed our drinks. The food was spot on as ever, by the end of the meal Stephen and Emily were ready for home.
Becky, Sam & I headed on to our final destination Bar Cade. Full of old skool computer games we played on various games for quite some time. I couldn’t manage even one more drink, but it was a fun way to end the night.
Getting home worked out well for Sam as his F train to another part of Brooklyn came almost as soon as we got to the station. We had to wait quite some time in the heat which was tough but we did eventually make it home, after an amazing Birthday!
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