Take a last look at the wild side

With a bike, a trailer and its cargo, crossing the Hudson river towards New Jersey can be a bit of a challenge. Subway? Bridge? After a last cup of coffee with Rachel at her home,
- Bye bye
- Have a safe trip
- Meet me in San Francisco with Angela...
I have chosen to head to 39th street where boats can take you across to New Jersey. Many people use it every day to come and work in Manhattan.



The lady drives pretty fast down the Hudson towards Paulus Hook, nearby Liberty State Park. On the New Jersey bank, this park offers a nice view on Elis Island, the Statue of Liberty and on the other side: the financial district of Manahattan.



I am ready to take the road. I am going west.

More info:
* Ellis Island

Base camp, D-1

There are plenty projects going on here. We are at Skyloft where I initially settled in New York and Rachel welcomes me.

Thomas carries writting his book about innovation. Plenty pages are spread on the walls of the loft. The nineth rule of innovation says: "you'll never always be around". Right!



Rachel is being creative as well !



Last day to get ready, packing, planning the next few days... And I need to give a try to the whole system, bike, trailer and cargo; so with Mickael (better known as Micky Picky), we go for a quick ride in New York.



And here it is in motion:

The rider and his folks

The rider
* Nicolas, European (species: French), 41, engineer (he knows how to change a tube), in love with his kine therapist.
* Bike: bought more than 10 years ago, a mountain bike with road tires, no sophisticated technology, still looks great in my eyes
* Trailer: BOB Yak, brand new, the dream of a kid



Yet a rider is nothing without the support of his folks

Route strategist: Alexandre
As my personal "Nicolas Bouvier", Alexandre is not only slightly Swiss, a world traveler and a great writer (he also translates this blog to French!!); he has a strong experience in eXtreme physical events such as Le Marathon des Sables.



Kine therapist: Claire
The mechanic of the rider, whether for his body or for his soul, Claire is also my muse and my home.



Sophrologist: Laurent
This adventure would not look like a real achievement if I did not have my personal sophrologist to assist me in developing a good combination between my mind and my body. Wherever I am, Laurent often calls me a good joke. That will be my sort of laugh yoga !



Survival guru: Rachel
Rachel grew in LA and now leaves in NYC where I met her. Thanks to her, I managed to survive the jungle of NYC. She also tough me many tricks to survive in the mid-west... I wonder sometimes if she's ever been there?



Last yet not least, my mascot: Théophile
He is the son of my sister Pascale and I wish that each kilometer I will ride is like a "Go Théophile Go ! " for him.

Why go west?

I'm not used to living on the East side. I mean on the East side of a continent.

In Long Island, I often get confused between East and West. It doesn't match my instinct that you should go East to find the ocean.

Three months of spare time and a bicycle should be enough to go West and find the Pacific ocean.

Let's say, from New York to San Francisco; along the great lakes, thru the hills, plains and montains of this country with the size of a continent.



Ah New York ! The town where so many immigrants landed; and abroad the symbol of the American dream. San Francisco, the most European of American cities. It was the destination of so many of these immigrants, as Blaise Cendrars describes it in "L'Or" or John Steinbeck in "East of Eden".

The world has changed tremendously since. Traveling is easier and we move so fast that we miss so many of these little things that make a big difference. Inspired by Nicolas Bouvier, I want to offer me the luxury of slowness. If only I could be as sharp an observer as he was.

Continued:
* Ride for bone marrow donation