Day 240

Rockaway Beach

August 26th, 2012



It's been a while!

Day 240

Rockaway Freeway

August 26th, 2012



In the early 1940s, the Rockaway Freeway (which, with its many at-grade street intersections, is a freeway in name only) was built on the former right-of-way of the Long Island Rail Road, which had recently been elevated above street level on the structure you see here. It's a notoriously dangerous road, although it was made considerably less so in the late 1990s when it was reduced from two lanes in each direction to one.

The rail line was abandoned by the LIRR in 1955, but it reopened the following year as part of the subway system. The section in the photograph is currently served by the A train; the Rockaway Park Shuttle operates on the western portion of the line.

Day 240

Speak of the devil

August 26th, 2012



Here comes the A train right now.

Day 240

Surfwagon

August 26th, 2012



Like many of the vehicles lining the streets along the beach, this one looks like it arrived in town this morning bearing a surfboard or two.

Day 240

Rockaway jetty

August 26th, 2012


Day 240

Surfin’ NYC

August 26th, 2012



"The waves can pack a deceptive and grumpy wallop."

Day 240




Arverne by the Sea

Day 240

Portal of the day

August 26th, 2012


Day 240

Catmouflage

August 26th, 2012


Day 240

El Ladronzuelo

August 26th, 2012



Take a gander at the latest Chick tract to hit the streets.

Day 240

Life in the big city

August 26th, 2012


Day 240




This preserve is named for René and Jean Dubos, a husband-and-wife pair of microbiologists and environmentalists. René, who discovered "the first clinically tested antibiotic agent", was also a Pulitzer-winning author "who brought a profound humanity to the study of man's harm to himself through environmental pollution", and he's often given credit for coining the phrase "Think Globally, Act Locally."

Day 240

What is in these cages?

August 26th, 2012



I keep seeing them every 100 feet or so along the edge of the wildlife sanctuary.

Day 240

Aha!

August 26th, 2012



It's an artificial cow with an automatic vacuuming system.

Day 240

Barnacle City

August 26th, 2012



You can see JFK's control tower off in the distance.

Day 240

Fishing in Jamaica Bay

August 26th, 2012



A million miles away from the faint skyline of Manhattan

Day 240

Another wildlife sanctuary?

August 26th, 2012



Indeed!

That bridge in the background carries the A train over Jamaica Bay from Subway Island (yes, that's what it's called!) to the Rockaways.

Day 240

Name that hood ornament

August 26th, 2012


Day 240

If you have a problem,

August 26th, 2012



if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.

Day 240

Why?

August 26th, 2012



Is there anger?

Day 240



Day 240

Inspirado!

August 26th, 2012



(I think it's a concrete plant.)

Day 240

You rang?

August 26th, 2012



On display outside the Engine 265/Ladder 121/Battalion 47/EMS 47 firehouse ("Best on the Beach"), this 1897 bell dates back to the old village of Arverne-by-the-Sea, which was once a happening beach resort before it was leveled by the city in the late 1960s and then resurrected, without the hyphens, as a new mixed-use development over the past several years.

Day 240

No drinking, no transactions

August 26th, 2012



That's gotta be rough on business at the liquor store.