2016-03-15 40 -73

Location

In Central Park! But about 8m behind a fence

Participants

Jevanyn

OtherJack

Plans

Expedition

Jevanyn (midday)

Central Park near Sheep Meadow. I happen to be in New York this morning, I'll have to see how long it takes to get to that part of town -- Jevanyn (talk) @40.7273,-74.1714 09:43, 15 March 2016 (EDT)

Did you make it? I just noticed this now... working from home today so could try to meet you if you haven't already gotten there! -- OtherJack (talk) 12:03, 15 March 2016 (EDT)

All the fields are fenced off for reseeding -- Jevanyn (talk) @40.7732,-73.9750 12:59, 15 March 2016 (EDT)

Huh, on the satellite photo it looks like it's nearly on the sidewalk... -- OtherJack (talk) 13:02, 15 March 2016 (EDT)

Hashpoint inside le pain auotidien? -- Jevanyn (talk) @40.7729,-73.9743 13:03, 15 March 2016 (EDT)

OtherJack (evening)

I was going to just run there (5k or so) but feeling hungry and out of it so almost took the subway and then finally thought of biking down through the park, of course. Made it right around 7pm at dusk, Central Park was beautiful and warm, 56F (13.3C). Yellow GPS said the point was 25 feet behind (south of) the fence even at closest approach, and error was 11 feet, so investigated what looked like an opening a few meters west.

Unfortunately it was not an opening but just a squiggle in the fence, with signs saying the meadow was closed for the season. However the signs did not say no-trespassing or look particularly scary, so I figured I might as well climb it. Was harder than anticipated (I'm out of shape and was wearing big hi-top shoes) but finally made it over. Hashdanced backwards to the point, warily watching my bike which I'd leaned against the fence.

Finally got the thing to read 5 feet or so, tried taking pictures but I couldn't get the touchscreen to press on my phone! Odd angle and one finger I guess. Or I just suck at the 21st century. To make it worse a park ranger guy drove by outside the fence in his cart and warned me to leave. I didn't want to be in worse trouble so gave up on the GPS photo, took a shot of the fence for "proof", and clumsily climbed back over.

But then he didn't seem to care at all... just kept going about his trash collection and eventually drove off. So, looking around to make sure his co-workers weren't coming, I climbed back over one more time and finally got the darn picture. Now you will all believe me, Internet.

One more embarassing fence-scaling and I was back with my bike, up the dusky scenic east side of the park, past the Metropolitan Art Museum, and home in a few more minutes.