It was a beautiful day in New York.
There was just the right amount of sun.
The right amount of cloud cover.
Of wind!
So my cousin and I decided to test out a trail we had passed by a few times, earlier that week. We had heard good things about the trails in New York City and I was ready to be wowed by a bit of grassland in the midst of the concrete jungle.
We were sorely disappointed. Oh, there was grass alright – and lots of it. The trails weren’t properly maintained, and what cutting they had done, the pieces were left in the path like hurdles on a race track.
But there were other things as well… like literally hundreds of packets of used drugs, articles of clothing, cans of Arizona iced tea, newspapers, dog poo, graffiti.
![Graffiti on the Seton Falls Trail Graffiti on the Seton Falls Trail](https://i0.wp.com/alexischateau.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150827_124748-e1561338074838.jpg?w=301&h=232&ssl=1)
![Newspaper on the Trail new york travel seton falls](https://i0.wp.com/alexischateau.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150827_124109-e1561338078203.jpg?w=411&h=232&ssl=1)
We basically picked our way through the grass and dirt, just to look at garbage.
![Garbage on the NYC Trail Garbage on the NYC Trail](https://i0.wp.com/alexischateau.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150827_125301-e1561338637540.jpg?w=356&h=200&ssl=1)
![Garbage on the Trail Garbage on the NYC Trail](https://i0.wp.com/alexischateau.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150827_125245-e1561338641288.jpg?w=356&h=200&ssl=1)
On the upside, we did see a ribbon snake. I’m terrified of any snake to be perfectly honest, but the poor thing looked far more terrified of me and skedaddled off into the bushes before I could get a picture. I borrowed a good one from google images.
It freaked us out a little, as at the time, we had no idea if a snake like that would be poisonous or not, but it didn’t stop our adventuring! I even got a little boo-boo to show for it.
However, there was one thing that disturbed me far more than the mysterious snake, the garbage, the remnants of drug abuse and the ill-kept trails; and that was the religious propaganda.
In truth, one day that may require a post to itself, but today, I’ll only mention it. To see religious hatred and prejudice in a place like this really upset me. The park and Mother Nature is for everyone. It’s not a religious pedestal or pulpit for any belief system or indoctrination of any kind. Unfortunately, I don’t think this inarticulate “preacher” got the memo.
And then competition rolled in…
In the end, the only really good shots of nature that we saw and took, were:
This dying branch of berries tied up in brambles:
This acorn, which my cousin found amidst the garbage and drugs:
These weeds:
And this one flower. I never saw another:
I’ve always known that New York wasn’t the city for me. This visit pretty much cements that. Even so, being here has been a worthwhile experience, and certainly makes me a lot more appreciative of what I have back home and in Atlanta.
The big apple isn’t for everyone.
There are just too many worms digging in it for me…
Credits: The picture of the snake can be found along with other information about snakes in New York at this website.