PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME IS 11:00.  WE WILL DECIDED BY 8:00 ON SUNDAY MORNING IF THE RIDE WILL BE GOING OR NOT.  THE PREDICTED SNOW SEEMS TO BE MINOR - BUT WE WILL WAIT AND SEE.  LETS HOPE WE CAN RIDE.

This ride has us going to to the Joseph Rodman Drake Cemetery, in the heart of industrial Hunt's Point. Joseph Rodman Drake was a now mostly forgotten American poet who died at the age of 25 in 1820, and was buried here when the area was mostly undeveloped. But the park hides a more sinister side. It is also the final resting place for the enslaved Africans who lived in Hunts Point. Slavery was legal in New York until 1827. The 1800 Federal census showed 44 enslaved Africans lived on the Hunts Point peninsula. The last burial in the Slave Burial Ground reportedly occurred in the 1840s, when the former Leggett slave Aunt Rose was laid to rest.

This ride takes us up through Brooklyn and Queens. We cross the Randal's Island Connector up to the Bronx, and then do our best to avoid the Bruckner heading into Hunts Point. We visit the Cemetery – as well as the last remaining mansion from the area's Gilded Age. We then turn up to Parkchester where the ride ends at the # 6 train.  It is about two miles from the Soundview Ferry if anyone is inclined.  For those who wish to have lunch, there will be choices available in Parkchester where you can go on your own after the ride.

NOTE – This ride does go through some less than scenic industrial areas. You must be comfortable on urban roads. As dining will be indoors- you must bring your vax proof per NYC law. In addition, take snacks, lock, tube, and warm clothing. Check the web site for any weather related changes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: YOU MUST HAVE AND WEAR A MASK WHEN NECESSARY ON ALL 5BBC RIDES AS INDICATED BY THE RIDE LEADER. THIS RIDE HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF SPENDING SOME PERIOD OF TIME INDOORS. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE AND JOIN ANY INDOOR ACTIVITY, YOU MUST BE MASKED, VACCINATED AND BRING PROOF OF VACCINATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE 5BBC MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AS TO THE VACCINATION STATUS OF ANYONE ON THE RIDE OR ENGAGED IN ANY ACTIVITY, INDOOR OR OUT. THE RISK INVOLVED IN ANY ACTIVITY ON THE RIDE IS ASSUMED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL RIDER.