User:Jim.henderson/Tour guide

I E-mailed non-Wiki friends about my adventure:

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 22:33

NB> So, how'd ya do? It never occurred to me that you'd be nervous; I was surprised to hear you say that. You're so forthright and outgoing. I would love to hear all about it.

All went well for the new guide. We didn't expect over 20 people but some had their own Brompton and the shop fleet handled the rest. Jack Ramsey who works at the shop and privately reminded me to speak up, gave a rousing introductory speech more about the bikes than anything, I said a few words about what we would see, and mounted up and off we went up 85th Street into Central Park where we stopped and I explained about the Temple of Dendur which everyone knew anyway, and the south gate of the existing reservoir, and the reservoir that used to be in Great Lawn.

Stop at 90th Street for Church of the Heavenly Snooze and the Mayor who died learning to fly Army airplanes. Stop at Mt St Vincent for Black Horse Tavern, Greene Bench, and northern forts. Stop at Harlem Meer for salt marsh, Boston Post Road, Farmers Gate, and Commissioners Plan of 1811. Stop umm, 120 St or so to let people catch up who got stuck at red lights and for words on Unitarian Church and Israel Temple. That stop wasn't in the plan. Stop at 123 for Harlem Gentlemen's Club, Second Dutch Reform Church and hate crimes.

Jack started issuing instructions about downshifting to pedal up the steep slope of Mt Morris but I overruled him, saying I'm too feeble to make that climb, so nobody else is allowed to. Walk up for, unfortunately my guest lecturer couldn't be there so I blabbed about Harlem Fire Tower and MMP Ascension Church and Jack took the official tour photo. Walk down the hill and stop at Harlem Courthouse for that and more about Post Road. On Pleasant Avenue I made up some stuff, well, I think most was true, about mobsters and when I got to the Irish gangs someone yelled from a passing car, "We’re still here!" which made a good laugh.

Too late for Power Station #7 or Islamic Center of New York, so we crossed FDR drive and I yelled about Robert Moses, Municipal Asphalt Plant, and Battle of Horne's Hook. And carried on a little too long about the New York and New Jersey Campaign of 1776. This was a noisier location and I was glad at the next stop when someone asked a long enough question about Gracie Mansion to give me time to take a swig of orange juice. Lacking a good answer, I then maundered along about Donna Hanover.

Maybe I'll change the route to point out Donna's Gate, but we just climbed 83rd Street back to the shop. Next weekend is Tour de Staten Island when we may get a chance to see the mighty Fresh Kills Dump, and following weekend is my astronomy club followed by Easter, so next chance for me to do my tour guide thing is Saturday April 26. For the second run I might adjust the route further west, and pick a few talking items to talk less about. And get the bright and lively Professor Hulser up that hill to give a coherent lecture while I rest my voice.

I forgot I wrote this, three years ago. The shop moved to East 58th Street and I shifted the weekly tour so we almost always crossed the Queensboro Bridge and usually the Pulaski Bridge. I showed Whale Creek and Bushwick Creek, and gave lectures about the chemical industry and Celestial Oil and other refining companies and the Pratt Institute of Art and, oh yes, USS Monitor. Other times, Roosevelt Island, Socrates Park, Laurel Hill, and other historic sites. Two summers of those tours. Couple months ago I went to discuss the new season, and was told the plans had changed and tours would only be special occasions. They didn't exactly say I wouldn't be planning the occasions. They didn't even say I was fired. Eventually I figured that out. Oh well, there are many other things to do. Jim.henderson (talk) 13:29, 13 May 2017 (UTC)