Ichabod Crane is the protagonist in Washington Irving's spooky story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Crane is the local schoolmaster, and has a strong belief in all things supernatural, including the legend of the headless horseman. Crane is headed home alone at night when the headless horseman appears and chases the schoolmaster. Crane is never seen again.  And thus a tale is born.  BUT, Ichabod Crane did exist !  He was a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and served honorably in the War of 1812. Washington Irving met Ichabod Crane in 1814 at Fort Pike located on Lake Ontario. Irving was an aide-de-camp to New York Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins, who was inspecting defenses in the Sackets Harbor area. The real Ichabod Crane is buried in Asbury Cemetery in New Springville. 

To get there we go through the heart of Staten Island including Richmondtown Restoration, Old St. Andrews Cemetery and LaTourette Park.  We will also be making a stop at the strange, spooky and wonderful Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Grotto.  The Grotto has to be seen to be believed.  Some of the ride is on beautiful trails, there is hard pack gravel through La Tourette, and there is the usual assortment of hills and trafficked Staten Island Roads.   But nobody every said that finding Ichabod Crane would be easy.

This will be a picnic ride AND YOU MUST PACK A LUNCH WITH YOU.  We may not be stopping for food.  Please also take snacks, water, spare tube, and the normal things that you bring on a ride.  This ride is limited to 15 people.  If the weather looks cold and not good for eating outside - we will come to a decision is we want to switch to indoor dining.  That call will be made later in the week.

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.