Governors Island

I rode my bike to Governors Island today. Technically, I rode it from my apartment to the ferry launch at the base of Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, boarded a free ferry with my bike, took the ferry to the island, disembarked, then rode my bike around the island, a former military base with many deserted buildings. Later, I reversed the process. It’s been a long time since I sweat so much. If you go to Governors Island on a hot summer day, take lots of bottled water. There is no free potable water on the island and soft drinks cost $4/can. Our little group explored the island and later settled on the central green for a picnic lunch. Most of the rest of the people doing the same were dressed as people from the 1920s. They danced the Charleston to live music from a jazz band, then spread their own blankets, popped parasols and ate retro picnickery from their lacquered wood baskets while sipping champagne cocktails. A small Dickensian child, also dressed in ’20s garb, walked around the assembly handing out complimentary pocket squares from a wicker basket. (Pocket squares.) My shirt had neither a pocket nor sleeves, and was sweaty and not at all Gatsby-like, and I felt as if I was intruding on someone’s fantasy. I still had fun, though.