Swimming around Manhattan, Day 2
After a 3 hour delay getting into JFK last night… it was the first time I’ve been on a flight where the pilot had to stop and buy more gas… we settled in today for a meeting on the final details of the swimming course, meeting the field of swimmers, and generally making sure that no one swims into a tugboat.
Then we took a tour on a cruise boat with all the participants showing everyone the course and what to watch out for.
We’re at the northern end of Manhattan, up near Columbia University, and at a narrow point in the Harlem river, there were about four rowing shells sitting right in front of us, apparently taking some instruction from a coach. We’re looking ahead, kind of wondering at what point they’re going to move out of the way, and they’re kind of like, not moving, sort of oblivious to the piece of steel the size of large residential home bearing down on them, when the captain of our boat comes to a stop and gets on the loudspeaker.
At this point, you usually get that “person of authority” voice. You know, the way a cop says, “Step away from the vehicle and place the bottle on the ground.” Not that I have ever that myself, mind you. But this is New York, so it should not have surprised me that the captain of the boat got on the PA and said something very New York.”
“When are you gonna move?”
There followed some inaudible complaints from the rowers blocking the waterway, and few familiar gestures as we went on our way.
This is the exact same scene played out I am sure every day between taxis and pedestrians, garbage trucks and taxis, and busses and UPS trucks.
Only in New York.
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