Some would say, I was up with the birds…but who am kidding? I was up with the dogs and as they came inside to fall back into a slumber, I took the peaceful opportunity to make coffee, fold laundry, and research the best means of transportation to take on the NY strip and all of its offerings. It would seem like an eternity before there was any movement from the others in the trailer, but I figured I would let them rest up so we could seize the day!
A quick Google search recommended the “Citymapper” app to navigate and guide us through all things public transportation. I played with it for a little while and saved a few destinations, but ultimately didn’t get too wrapped up in a solid plan. I have found through this adventure, and CoVid, we are better off having loose plans than to get our hearts set on anything. That allows us the best opportunity to not be disappointed, and today was anything but a disappointment!
Once everyone was up, we prepped to be away for much of the day. We had breakfast and Tyler logged in to work and waited for his morning call. When that was over, we made our move towards the Big Apple! The route chosen through Citymapper was seamless and we made it to the Empire State Building without trouble. While we were exploring the city we saw the Empire State Building, Trump Tower, and Times Square. We also made it to Central Park where we spent the better part of our day. Tyler worked from EVERYWHERE and his dedication to his business is inspiring!
Central park was HUGE! We made quick work of the paths and saw many of the popular attractions and while they were closed, we were still able to take in all of the beautiful scenery. The park was full of all walks of life. It wasn’t busy, but it was active. With a Zoom call planned, Tyler knew he needed a quiet place to hold his meeting. He found the perfect spot in the park while the kids and I enjoyed a little rest from all of the walking.
We were told John Lennon lived with his wife in the whole top of this apartment. She is still living and still occupies part of the top floor! 
Romeo + Juliet in Central Park 
Alice in Wonderland 
Time Square was like a ghost town. There were people, but very few compared to usual. Stores were closed, restaurants that were open only allowed take out, and there was an overwhelming amount of NYPD officers and special force teams guarding fixtures and stores that were boarded up. It wasn’t the Time Square we remembered, but it was nice to be able to have the experience to ourselves and share the experience with our kids.
Ashton and Todd do the Big Apple! 
Jerry + Rhonda 
The app that I used for mapping and transportation has a feature that shows the mobility index of New York City by day. This number reflects the % of New York City moving compared to usual. In early March, the mobility was 100-104% and on the 11th things quickly began to slow. The 11th there was 85% and by the 29th of March, they were down to 5%. Today, the rate of mobility was 13% which offers a lot of insight on the impact of Covid in this city and so many others.
From Time Square we started back towards our trailer. We knew we wanted to stop to see the Statue of Liberty and since the attraction is closed, we chose to see it from the viewing platform. It was difficult to see from such a distance but we did the best with what we could.
We headed back to the trailer and when we arrived, Tyler made Traeger burgers! Tomorrow we will start heading Southwest and although we don’t have any solid plans, we hope to make it to Maryland. Tyler will be happy just as soon as we get the heck out of here!
Today was a GREAT day! Each of us have commented on how effortless our day in New York City was. It could be our sheer appreciation for NOT being in the same predicament as we were yesterday, but either way, we will take it!
At the end of the day, our bellies are full, our feet are tired (25,000+ steps), but our hearts are happy! I believe Tyler is still alive today because he continues to cook incredible meals!
Cheers for whatever tomorrow has in store!
The Church Hideout 