Manhattan Bike Path

Recreation Blog Post-Dallas Gosselin

           When deciding what to do for my blog post I thought about taking a trip somewhere or doing something somewhat extravagate. Then I thought about my situation and many other college student’s situation, lack of funding. Therefore, I chose to take my bike out and enjoy some time to clear my head and connect with nature.

            There is a nice trail I use that is behind my fraternity house that leads all the way to wildcat creek. The path I use is a public biking and hiking path that stretches all through Manhattan. The entry way I use is located on Sunset Avenue and you can find many openings, especially near the cemetery (however morbid that may be).

            I woke up early this morning and decided to head out. This trail ride was a little interesting and a mix up from my usual rides, as I stopped and noticed some graffiti on a large rock. It appeared some people had gone out and terrorized some of the natural beauty that existed. Along with that they left about 20 empty beer cans all around and didn’t bother picking them up. I went ahead and used a nearby Walmart bag to collect the cans and take them on the next leg of my journey. It brings me to a question for you all: Do you clean up trash that you see laying around? Do you just let it stay there and put the responsibility off on another person? I believe we have a level of responsibility to put forth and effort to conserve and preserve as much as possible. As I carried on, I slowly began to hear a mass amount of water flowing. I had gotten to the part where you see the mass of wildcat creek from about 100 feet above it. You see the power the water has, the birds are chirping along with it, the morning is in harmony, and everything feels right. After biking for about an hour I decided to take it back home and shower up for the day.

            It was an incredibly joyful and successful excursion where I got to step back and relax for a morning, rather than do my typical busy day. It was disappointing to see the littering but picking it up made the trip that much more impactful. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to bike, hike, jog, or anything in between. I believe the best time is always in the mornings, because the world has a sense of stillness, and it feels as if it is just waking up as well. Along with that, I propose individuals to not listen to music, but to just feel with the earth and attempt to connect. There is an entire level of meaning and fulfillment that comes with being present, and I recommend one chase it.