A gray morning in Westchester County, NY.  We love those bike route signs.  They remind motorists that we belong.

We met Linda, of Wilmington, DE.  She was bound for NYC to see her nephew present his 3D printing process at a trade show.  But first she learned about the U.S. asylum system and got a Ride for Human Rights sticker (in her left hand) – the same sticker you’ll get if you donate to Human Rights First.

The Mt. Kisco area was crowded with rush hour cars, trucks, and school buses.  We felt respected.  And with steep hills, crumbling pavement and intermittent road shoulders, we felt nervous too.

After 6 stressful miles, we found the North County and South County trails, paved bike routes about 30 miles long.

It started to pour just as we reached a trail tunnel.

Jeffrey used the shelter to attach his rain cape to the Zzipper fairing.  We proceeded through the rain.

The pavement ended at the Westchester County line.  We continued on an unpaved path into Van Cortlandt Park.  The rain had stopped, leaving puddles and mud.

Jeffrey powered through more than a mile of this glop.  (The green strip on the path is the trees reflected by muddy water.)  We were happy to have fenders, low gears, and 3 wheels.

We emerged onto pavement, turned right, and . . . familiar territory.  Broadway!  New York City!

Back under the elevated trains!  Turning heads of drivers and passersby!  (Drivers and passersby not shown.)

We crossed the Harlem River on the Broadway bridge.  That bird was flying north from Manhattan to The Bronx . . .

. . . just as we rolled south from The Bronx to Manhattan.

To reach the Hudson River bike path, where a ramp is under construction, we had to ascend a long flight of steps.  A construction supervisor saw us and called out, “That guy is riding for human rights!”  Even before realizing that Jeffrey has a broken leg (the worker is from Bay Ridge and said he’s not surprised the crash happened there, Bay Ridge being lawless), the supervisor told two junior workers to carry our trike and gear to the stop of the steps.  Jeffrey dismounted, the workers cheerfully grabbed our machine and up we went!  The workers wouldn’t let Jeffrey take their photo, but as they returned to work, Jeffrey decided a rear view was OK.

Some steps, huh?

What a great New York welcome home!

We rolled over the hill, past Ann (a freelance markeup artist to the stars who runs to stay fit [evidently it works!] and supports human rights [she’s wearing her Ride for Human Rights sticker]) . . .

. . . and under the George Washington Bridge to Jeffrey’s Hook Light (not our Jeffrey), better known as the Little Red Lighthouse.

The eponymous children’s book makes the point that even a kangaroo court puppet, even a lawyer/nurse/cyclist who’ll never make the history books, even you, have the power to improve the world.

Mariue and Rachel were taking a break from their work at Columbia University.

Mariue is holding me. She knows someone who used to work Human Rights First.  Both women believe in helping refugees.

We continued south along the Hudson . . .

. . . to home!  Kathy Jones of Human Rights First was waiting to pick me up and welcome me.  (She said hi to Jeffrey too.)

Nancy’s greeting on the front door warmed my stuffing and Jeffrey’s heart.

Nine hundred twenty-nine miles and 17 days into our Ride, we are home in NYC.  But we’re not done yet.  Check back tomorrow as the adventure continues.