Is it messed up that your beach escapade made me want to go to Charleston and wander the shoreline even more? I grew up on Long Island and frequently wandered through the woods in my neighborhood and after living in NYC for 15 years, it's such a rare experience to literally get lost in nature and I kind of love it.
I actually managed to get lost in a pocket of Riverside Park in the fall when there was a thick layer of leaves covering the paths. I eventually managed to climb straight up and find my way back to the sidewalk only to be blocked by a fence with seemingly no exit. If you saw me hurling myself over a fence and onto the sidewalk near Grant's Tomb, no you didn't.
I was so scared too, specially with the quicksand! Also with the roaming around forests and middens and scooting through someone’s backyard! Please be more careful and keep safe, and don’t overdo things for our sakes. Because we love what you do and we worry, and we care.
Among all the wild adventures, thank you still for the End sign, both here and the Soundview bonus🙏💖
Ha, thanks Raquel! I may have been exaggerating the amount of danger of I was actually in. The worst of it was a splinter, some thorns and a lot of mud in my boots. By far the scariest thing was cutting through somebody’s backyard. Staten Island does have the most handgun owners per capita in the city after all…
Just being lost in an unfamiliar place is already scary for me. I couldn’t help but scroll to the end when I read the part about roaming about the middens right after sinking in quicksand. I half expected the piece to end with police cars, rescue personnel, search dogs … good thing it ended just like all the other pieces, whew!😰
Believe me, I don’t seek adventure, it finds me! I spotted and photographed those chairs years ago. I was driving by and saw the scene out of the corner of eye so I pulled over. Whatever happens in a circle of chairs deep in the woods is precisely the kind of adventure I am actively trying to avoid.
There are several other NYS Parks in NYC including Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Harlem, Marcia P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg, Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn, Bayswater Point State Park in Queens, and Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx.
Like most of NYC, Staten Island's shoreline has been abused for decades, if not centuries. I often played in similar shorefront areas along the Kill Van Kull on the Island's north shore when I was younger (and much more adventurous). Got stuck in some mud and on a little island or two just off shore more than once.
The small canal and what remains of the seawall where boats docked to take on bricks at the Kreischer factory (as seen in the etching above) still exits. You can see them on Google Maps west of Kreischer Street and just beyond the newish homes on Tiller Court:
Yes! That canal was the southernmost point of my journey. The third to last picture in was taken from there looking toward the water. Those aerial views of boats rotting in the water are like x-rays revealing the skeletons of Kreischerville. Thanks Eddie!
Thank you for continuing to risk life and limb for our reading pleasure.
Ha! Time to up my life insurance coverage...
ha agreed!
Came here for the photos, stuck around for the awesome storytelling! Another awesome post Rob!
Thanks Michael! I’m glad I survived to tell the tale!
What an adventure! Actual factual quick sand! I actually gasped at the drama of it all.
Hope your brick hasn't brought you any more bad luck since you found it.
Well, quicksand adjacent at least. The brick is currently off-gassing in a ziplock in my car. I've been keeping my distance.
Another fascinating winner, Rob!
Thank you!
I always enjoy the episodes where you seem to put yourself in physical peril.
Wait, that doesn't sound right ...
Maybe I should consider pivoting to a hyper local Jackass™️ approach to the newsletter?
What an adventure! You definitely deserve an arschvoll of money for the amazing articles! (Made me snort) Thank you for yet another wonderful one!
Ha! Thanks Nat - I am glad my use of arschvoll was recognized! I had to look it up, but it is now in my permanent rotation.
Of all the wonderful photographs from this week that could serve as horror movie posters, I’m going to vote for ‘Chairs in the Woods’.
Though I took that one a long time ago, I remember not wanting to linger under the dark cloth...
Is it messed up that your beach escapade made me want to go to Charleston and wander the shoreline even more? I grew up on Long Island and frequently wandered through the woods in my neighborhood and after living in NYC for 15 years, it's such a rare experience to literally get lost in nature and I kind of love it.
I actually managed to get lost in a pocket of Riverside Park in the fall when there was a thick layer of leaves covering the paths. I eventually managed to climb straight up and find my way back to the sidewalk only to be blocked by a fence with seemingly no exit. If you saw me hurling myself over a fence and onto the sidewalk near Grant's Tomb, no you didn't.
So that was you!
🥸
I was so scared too, specially with the quicksand! Also with the roaming around forests and middens and scooting through someone’s backyard! Please be more careful and keep safe, and don’t overdo things for our sakes. Because we love what you do and we worry, and we care.
Among all the wild adventures, thank you still for the End sign, both here and the Soundview bonus🙏💖
Ha, thanks Raquel! I may have been exaggerating the amount of danger of I was actually in. The worst of it was a splinter, some thorns and a lot of mud in my boots. By far the scariest thing was cutting through somebody’s backyard. Staten Island does have the most handgun owners per capita in the city after all…
Just being lost in an unfamiliar place is already scary for me. I couldn’t help but scroll to the end when I read the part about roaming about the middens right after sinking in quicksand. I half expected the piece to end with police cars, rescue personnel, search dogs … good thing it ended just like all the other pieces, whew!😰
Wow, what an adventure!
I’m still recovering!
Your newsletter is increasingly a NYC wilderness adventure chronicle. So fun! Also what is up with the chairs?
Believe me, I don’t seek adventure, it finds me! I spotted and photographed those chairs years ago. I was driving by and saw the scene out of the corner of eye so I pulled over. Whatever happens in a circle of chairs deep in the woods is precisely the kind of adventure I am actively trying to avoid.
Great storytelling!
Thanks!
There are several other NYS Parks in NYC including Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Harlem, Marcia P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg, Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn, Bayswater Point State Park in Queens, and Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx.
Good catch Larry! I meant to write on Staten Island. I will fix it when I’m back at my desk. Thanks!
Like most of NYC, Staten Island's shoreline has been abused for decades, if not centuries. I often played in similar shorefront areas along the Kill Van Kull on the Island's north shore when I was younger (and much more adventurous). Got stuck in some mud and on a little island or two just off shore more than once.
The small canal and what remains of the seawall where boats docked to take on bricks at the Kreischer factory (as seen in the etching above) still exits. You can see them on Google Maps west of Kreischer Street and just beyond the newish homes on Tiller Court:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5329031,-74.2436565,282a,35y,90h,39.43t/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Yes! That canal was the southernmost point of my journey. The third to last picture in was taken from there looking toward the water. Those aerial views of boats rotting in the water are like x-rays revealing the skeletons of Kreischerville. Thanks Eddie!