At the very end of Gerritsen Avenue, there is a secluded trail along the  Shell Bank Creek.  You leave the road and the City disappears.  You enter a mile long trail.  There are weeds taller than your head.  Rusted out cars.  Views of Mau Mau Island, The Shell Bank Creek, and the skyscrapers of NYC peeping out in the distance. It's quiet.  The trail surface is a combination of sand, dirt, mud, weeds and whatnot.  A real lot of whatnot.  How much we ride or walk depends on the trail condition de jour.  IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU BRING A STURDY BIKE AND GOOD HIKING SHOES.  

About that last part.  I am at the top of the trail, and a rider comes up to me and says, "Bernie lost his soul."  I've known Bernie for many years, and he did not look like the kind of person who would lose his soul in the salt marsh.  Then he emerged from the depths of the trail.  His shoe got caught in the mud and separated.  He had lost his sole.

Lunch will be at the Mill Basin Kosher Deli.  If its cold, maybe a good chicken soup day.  I'll be happy to share a pastrami sandwich.

Please check for weather updates.  But we are thinking positively.  Remember, every mile you do in the winter, is one less mile you need to get back in shape in the spring.

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.