TravelNYC All of this set the stage for a journey to park the car at the train station even though the machine ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0182 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0183 didn't seem to want to take our token ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0184 for parking until we found the right machine. Then we got on the train ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0185 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0186 and took the subway to Columbus Circle where we caught our first glimpse of the Gates ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0187 at a distance but first we decided to eat our lunch ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0188 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0189 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0190 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0191 at Whole Foods there where we watched ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0192 as they made various drinks and once Ben ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0193 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0194 finished eating and I tried a self portrait ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0195 and recorded the bill and labels ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0196 we were ready to venture out and catch our first glimpses ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0197 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0198 before crossing the street ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0199 and entering the park. ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0200 We saw Gates from the side ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0201 and then walked through ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0202 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0203 before I took a picture of Ben ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0204 and he took one of me ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0205 and then we looked in various directions ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0206 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0207 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0208 before running into Charles Kalmbach and his wife ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0209 who took this picture of us ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0210 as we climbed up to get this background ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0211 for a picture of Ben ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0212 as the gates led the way ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0213 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0214 to another picture ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0215 and the crowd ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0216 seemed to be moving ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0217 though Ben decided to climb ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0218 up ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0219 until he got to the top ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0220 and turned around ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0221 and then we marched on ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0222 to the next rock he could climb ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0223 but there were more gates ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0224 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0225 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0226 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0227 to pass through and more pictures of Ben ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0228 and the tree ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0229 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0230 and the sign ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0231 as we made our way ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0232 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0233 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0234 to this structure where Ben took this picture of me ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0235 and with some more marching ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0236 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0237 and a wait in the line ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0238 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0239 we got into the castle ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0240 which looked impressive ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0241 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0242 and had quite a view ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0243 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0244 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0245 that served as a backdrop for pictures I took ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0246 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0247 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0248 before a stranger took pictures of both of us ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0249 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0250 and we recorded more background ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0251 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0252 before marching on ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0253 watching the wind get stronger ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0254 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0255 and stopped ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0256 for a few more pictures ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0257 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0258 ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0259 before heading to the subway ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0260 where Ben posed ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0261 and then showed off his new hat ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//IMG_0262 on the train home.

The trip was partly inspired by these pictures Sandy J had sent me of their trip to The Gates ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//gates_over_pond ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//Gates_AsciaMark ../../../Sabbat/2005/02.22-26.05TheGates//Gates_Kyle before the snows came.