The perils of being a bike in New Haven

If his owner really loved him.... .

he would have bought the Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 U plus Chain!!

Excessive? Maybe. Essential? Absolutely.
Apparently only 5% of bikes will be stolen with this lock (or so the bike store guru proudly told me).
Reassuring.
I figured, if nothing else, I could always use it as a weapon.

The hood

Figuring most of the muggers/ gangsters would be home with their Mama's eating turkey, I took the opportunity over Thanksgiving to have a proper look around my current neighbourhood. Beautiful weather brought all the familes with their kiddies and Latino nanas out, and it certainly felt a lot more friendly than I had seen over the last few days :)

New Haven is "special" in its ability to turn from centuries old wealth (think YALE) into a ghetto (think armed neighbourhood patrols) within one block- extreme streets have a "good" and "bad" side to walk on. Kids are growing up 2mins from Yale knowing that they are never expected to be the ones studying there- closest they get to the lecture theaters would to clean up all the rubbish after the students leave. Not for me as a visitor to judge, but seriously Yale. Don't pretend your neighbours don't exist.

Apparently its improving- a lot of community based organisation are trying to improve nieghbourhood environments with charter schools and street cameras/ patrols. My neighbourhood is interesting- a historic trust has done up a whole lot of these huge old colonial homes, and leased them to low income families. looks all well- till you learn there are probably about 25 people living in each of these homes. Being told I shouldn't go outside if I didnt want to be shot was an interesting introduction to this country, but getting my head around some of the differences in life here. its pretty tough for everyone.

Certainly cause for hope though- I reckon this is an area on the way up. just needs some time. People are real friendly, you always make friends at the bus stop!

A few pics of the hood :)

Orienteering US style

Within a few days of arriving in New Haven, I had heard rumours of a possible gathering of orienteers post-Thanksgiving to do some training near Peekshill, NY state. A 2hr train ride sounded perfectly acceptable to me, particularly after my apartments plumbing decided to have a tantrum and flood the bathroom at 11pm at night.  So, next morning saw me migrating up the Hudson Valley, and after a few wrong turns (including trying to break into the wrong house with the neighbours yelling instructions at me in Spanish), I turned up at the doorstep of a group of strangers who immediately accepted the lost Kiwi. I had made the assumption that anyone who runs round forest maps in their spare time is totally legit, and unlikely to be an axe-murderer, and was subsequently rewarded with an awesome weekend of o, banter and Mexican food. After a pretty difficult first week, my faith in the US was certainly restored

Complex two days of training on rocky state forest. So beautiful- its a winter wilderness where all the leaves have just fallen off the trees, minimal daylight (dark by 4!), around stunning lakes and just a blanket of trees in every direction. wish i could have taken my camera with me training, some of the terrain was just incredible. 

We trained on Blue Mountain map, and in the Harriman State Park, near Poughkeepsie- a state wilderness area, the photos dont do it justice as they are all just taken at the lake level.

3.30 in the afternnoon

The orienteers campsite, recovering between sessions in the cold amongst visitors to the park. Yes one of our number is in a sleeping bag. He's Irish.

Thanksgiving Guilt

In honor of Thanksgiving- we have the first of a series of American food joints. Believe it or not, these are all right next to each other. 2km of fast food options the whole way into town. 

My first meal on arriving in New York may have been MacDonalds. And it may have been awesome. Particularly after an 8hr flight in which we weren't fed a crumb. My neighbours chicken and cranberry sandwich, which she had cleverly brought with her, was taunting me all the way from the West to East Coast. Local knowledge...

Democracy

I may have missed Occupy New York- but here we have it- Occupy New Haven
Kiwi occupiers take note- its freezing here- you have it easy!

Blogging

The 16hrs of darkness a day has finally persuaded me to jump on this blogging train. Pictures of my new home for the next two months, New Haven- CT and the surrounding land of America. Will include anything vaguely interesting, amusing, pretty, confusing, disturbing and the odd picture of American food magic.

The U.N Headquarters New York. One building big enough to fit the whole world.