All of this set the stage for a journey to park the car at the train
station even though the machine
didn't seem to want to take our token
for parking until we found the right machine. Then we got on the train
and took the subway to Columbus Circle where we caught our first glimpse
of the Gates
at a distance but first we decided to eat our lunch
at Whole Foods there where we watched
as they made various drinks and once Ben
finished eating and I tried a self portrait
and recorded the bill and labels
we were ready to venture out and catch our first glimpses
before crossing the street
and entering the park.
We saw Gates from the side
and then walked through
before I took a picture of Ben
and he took one of me
and then we looked in various directions
before running into Charles Kalmbach and his wife
who took this picture of us
as we climbed up to get this background
for a picture of Ben
as the gates led the way
to another picture
and the crowd
seemed to be moving
though Ben decided to climb
up
until he got to the top
and turned around
and then we marched on
to the next rock he could climb
but there were more gates
to pass through and more pictures of Ben
and the tree
and the sign
as we made our way
to this structure where Ben took this picture of me
and with some more marching
and a wait in the line
we got into the castle
which looked impressive
and had quite a view
that served as a backdrop for pictures I took
before a stranger took pictures of both of us
and we recorded more background
before marching on
watching the wind get stronger
and stopped
for a few more pictures
before heading to the subway
where Ben posed
and then showed off his new hat
on the train home.
The trip was partly inspired by these pictures Sandy J had
sent me of their trip to The Gates
before the snows came.