On Thursday February 24, Kevin Wilkes and Peter Soderman IMG_0180 IMG_0181 the people from Quark Park came to talk about how to get things going.

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