Sunday, November 18, 2012

NY 17 / I-86

This weekend I rode along with a good friend of mine to visit friends in Binghamton, NY, which was exciting for me because I've never been farther into upstate New York than Albany, and it meant I got to clinch I-88 and over a hundred miles of NY 17, which is being upgraded into I-86 at the moment.

Before I get to Future I-86 though, I found this peculiar signal on Vestal Pkwy (NY 434) just west of the interchange with NY 201. The left turns on the cross street had identical signals. I assume the signal functions just like a doghouse, since the single lens off to the side contains a right turn arrow, but I never once saw it lit through several cycles.


Now on to NY 17.

A new bridge under construction east of Monticello, near exit 108. The new bridge is significantly higher than the old one, which lends some interesting construction views driving by.

Continuing east towards Middletown, the road seems ready to become I-86. Fresh pavement, interstate-standard shoulders, and consistent covered-up I-86 shields, complete with a greened-out I-86 shield on I-84:

Monday, June 11, 2012

New York: Part IV


Part IV of my trip to New York, showcasing the rest of what I saw in Manhattan:


New World Trade Center building under construction


The temporary PATH World Trade Center Station
The new transit hub currently under-construction will create Lower Manhattan's first true transit hub, and include connections to 12 subway lines in addition to PATH. The new station is being designed by renowned  Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.


The new World Trade Center building from the other side


Approaching Rockefeller Center


Radio City Music hall


Looking down Sixth Avenue

Rockefeller Center


Rockefeller Center


Magnolia Bakery - home of fantastic cupcakes, and in a very out-of-place building.



More Rockefeller Center


These little guys landed on the edge of the fountain next to me.



Times Square

Part V will feature some signs around Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, and Rhinebeck back up in the Hudson Valley.

New York: Part III

<-- Back to Part I
<-- Back to Part II

Part III of my trip to New York, consisting solely of the views from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building:


Looking Northeast


Looking Southeast

The spire


Looking South towards Lower Manhattan


Close-up on the last pic, showing the Flatiron Building


Far away view of the new World Trade Center building, which will be seen up-close in Part IV


Looking North


Looking Northwest


Close-up on Rockefeller Center (I love the neon GE sign) with Central Park in the background


A tiny sliver of Times Square peeking through the buildings


Looking West - Madison Square Garden is visible behind the building in the center-left


The Macy's flagship store far below - it's a huge store that fills up that entire building.

Part IV will feature the rest of my pictures from around NYC.

New York: Part II

<-- Back to Part I

Part II of my trip to New York, featuring various scenes around the city:

My Metro-North ticket from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central. 9 zones, $15.75. I have no idea what pretty much anything else on the ticket means though.



Grand Central Terminal (not Station). Nothing can possibly prepare you for the sheer scale and bustle of activity, even on a weekend.


Walk outside of Grand Central and you're immediately faced with the Chrysler Building.


Looking up I believe Vanderbilt Avenue.


The front facade of the Chrysler Building.




Three views along 42nd Street


Buildings along 42nd Street from the corner of Fifth Avenue.


The New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.


Approaching the Empire State Building on Fifth Avenue


The base of the Empire State Building

Looking up the Empire State


Looking down 34th Street one way...


...and the other way


In the Empire State Building lobby. I love this wall decoration.


Part III will consist of pictures taken from the top of the Empire State Building.

New York: Part I

I visited a friend in Hyde Park, New York this weekend, and from there we took a Metro-North train into New York City - my first time in the Big Apple.

This post will cover the drive there, which was via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and the Taconic State Parkway.

The MassPike westbound in the Berkshires. Note the low-lying clouds hugging the hillside to the left.


The new E-ZPass lanes at the western end of the MassPike. These signs recently replaced the old Citizens' Bank Fast Lane signage, and are more typical of signage seen elsewhere in the E-ZPass system.


Crossing into New York on the Berkshire Connector (I-90).


The Berkshire Connector westbound.


Crappy photo of a deer next to the toll plaza at the Taconic State Parkway exit on the Berkshire Connector. This was the first of easily dozens of deer sightings.


Two views of the Taconic heading southbound in Columbia County around sunset. This truly is a gorgeous road, and is very relaxing and enjoyable to drive.


Looking west from an overlook along the Taconic.


The view to the north from along the Taconic near the Dutchess County line.

Part II will feature New York City.