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From: [e-mail] (Tony Chen)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.skating.inline,rec.skate,rec.sport.skating.misc,news.answers,rec.answers
Subject: In-line Skating FAQ: Northeastern NA (5.3)
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Date: 20 Sep 1996 14:27:11 GMT
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Archive-name: sports/skating/inline-faq/part16




   _r.s.s.inline FAQ: Where to Skate - Northeastern North America_
     _________________________________________________________________

                  WHERE TO SKATE - NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA



   Last modified: Monday, September 16, 1996

   Recent changes include:
     * Added Westchester County, NY, info from Mike Kahn
       ([e-mail]) (6/6)
     * Added Cape Cod info from [e-mail] (7/2)
     * Added Newport, RI info from Stern (7/21)
     * Deleted Newport, RI info from Geoff Falen (7/21)
     * Added Rochester, NY, Morris County, NJ and Stamford, CT info from
       Orlando C. Fernando (8/16)

  Table of Contents
     * Connecticut
     * Massachusetts
     * New Jersey
     * New York
     * Pennsylvania
     * Quebec
     * Rhode Island
     * Vermont



   Other sections of Where to Skate are:
     * Western North America
          + California
     * Central North America
     * Southeastern North America
     * Abroad


     _________________________________________________________________

General Notes



   George Robbins' "Roller Skating Rink List" can be found at the URL:
   http://www.netaxs.com/people/grr/Roller/.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Connecticut
     * Stamford
     * Waterbury
     * Killingworth

    Stamford



   From: "Orlando C. Fernando" ([e-mail])
   Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 02:34:39 -0400 (EDT)
    1. Cove Island Beach
       directions: Route 1 to Weed Ave (just at the Stamford/Darien
       border). Go to end. Sign for Cove Beach bearing left. (This beach
       also accessible from Cove Rd.)

       descriptions: from the parking lot, once you go over the
       pedestrian bridge to Cove Island beach, a wide series of level
       beginner/ endurance paths await you. There's even a marked lane
       for bladers! Taking the guided path one lap I'd say is over 3/4
       mi. Respect the other bladers, bikers, and pedestrians as it's
       quite an occupied beach during the summer. Intermediates/experts
       may want to dare weaving in and out of the lined wooden posts just
       after the island entranceway. Snack bar halfway in the lap on the
       beach.
    2. Stamford High School
       directions: on Strawberry Hill Rd. (accessible from Hillingdale
       Ave. from the back).

       descriptions: the high school stadium has a 1/4 mi. level smooth
       surface circular track (with some thin cracks), perfect for
       practicing backward skating and crossovers. The sloping parking
       lot just west of the stadium may pose some fun for intermediate
       slalom skaters but watch the cars from the bottom!

    Waterbury



   From: [e-mail] (Lorre Smith)
   Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 15:05:39

   RollerMagic (was called High Rollers) rink in Waterbury, Ct. on
   Industry Ave, just off Lakewood.

   This rink is tucked in behind what looks like a main suburban
   commercial strip.

   It has a very large snack bar/video game area and a smallish rink. The
   sound system is very good and a live dj takes requests all night long.
   We paid $6.00 each admission for a 7:30-11:30 session.

   They rent in-line and conventional skates, and the crowd seemed to be
   about half and half.

   The rink surface is wood, but it appears to have been built on top of
   a very solid surface, which seems like concrete. It is marvelous!! The
   small size means there is constantly a turn to be made, but it is
   indeed a real pleasure to keep turning on that great rink surface. The
   middle seems to be reserved for better skaters who are trying out
   their trick moves.

   I visited on a Saturday night, and there were no "specials" except one
   ladies only and one men only. The rest of the night was just pure good
   skating. It seemed to be a teenage crowd, with the occasional adult,
   but the skill level was fairly good, so there wasn't a lot of
   thrashing about or falling. The dj took requests and played a lot of
   rap, r&b and dance music, much to the pleasure of a _great_ group of
   dancers on the sidelines.

   RollerMagic has another rink on South Main Street in Waterbury, but I
   have only seen the rink, not yet skated on it.

    Killingworth



   From: [e-mail] (Lynna Stone-Infeld)
   Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 15:28:01 +0000

   A great place to skate is Chatfield Hollow State Park on Route 80 near
   the Madison-Killingworth border. A bit of a trek from CCSU, but well
   worth it. Bring your bathing suit for an after skate swim.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Massachusetts
     * Nashoba Valley
     * Boston
     * Hingham
     * Cape Cod
     * Martha's Vineyard

    Nashoba Valley



   The Nashoba Valley chapter of the In-Line Club of Boston maintains a
   Web page of skate sites at the URL:
   http://www.sk8net.com/icb/nvcfav.html.

    Boston



   The trails on the Charles (at least when I left in 1989) could not
   meet this policy. There are plenty of places where it would be
   physically impossible for one bicycle to pass another unless there was
   no opposing traffic. Portions of the trail up near the Allston exit of
   the Mass Pike immediately come to mind.

   I lived in Boston for 10 years. Fortunately, I was able to schedule my
   work to avoid the crunch time on the trails--in to work after 10AM,
   leave work after 6PM. The most fun was skating at night along the
   Charles (yes, O'Leary, with light and helmet). This may have been
   dangerous, but I rarely, if ever, saw any sinister types along the
   park at that hour.

   There are some pretty decent places to skate in Boston other than the
   Charles. The linear park along the new Orange Line wasn't bad. I did a
   lot of my practicing on the linear park from Davis to Alewife on the
   Red Line. At that time, the nearly-empty Alewife parking lot, with its
   gentle ramps and not-so- gentle spirals, was an excellent place to
   learn hills.

   From: Damon@nomaD
   Date: Unknown

   Maximus Skate Park has a half-pipe and a quarter-pipe street skating
   area. 576-4723.

   From: spectre@albert (Jeff Schreiber)
   Date: 28 Jul 1995 21:56:29 GMT

   [Re Maximus Skate Park]

   One half pipe... a bunch of quarters against the walls, and a 4 foot
   half-bowl. Not bad, but all the years I've been there, I've hardly
   seen anything new, and they're getting holes in the platforms on the
   vert ramp.. etc... They're now sticking to the $10 for non members
   also, so there's no getting in for 'five skate bucks' anymore... Eh...
   it's the only thing around now... but there will be more coming. they
   are breaking ground for a public town run park with a cement bowl, and
   more stuff, in Duxbury. Plymouth is also looking to put one in. There
   is a guy at Scarecrow Skate Shop in Plymouth that is looking for a
   warehouse to open a private park around Kingston. A friend of mine is
   also looking for investors to go in with him for a place in Salem, NH.
   The bad news? The kingston idea would be designed for Skateboarders,
   and the Duxbury plans are around skateboarders... but that's no big
   deal. The Salem NH idea would be designed around BMX. Sorry it's so
   messy... trying to get out of here! :)

   From: [e-mail] (Michael L. Dickens)
   Date: Unknown

   FYI: There are 2 Night Skates in Boston that happen on a regular
   basis:

   one is on Tuesday night, meet at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River;
   leaves around 8:30 pm (or as soon as it's reasonably dark). Your $10
   covers 3 glow sticks & some soft drinks. $5 each time thereafter. This
   is a leisurely skate--no tricks or racing or jumping or stairs, etc...
   unless you individually want to ;-> This skate is sponsored by John
   Gilmore, who is somehow related to RollerBlade.

   the other is Thursday night, meet at the Trinity Church in Copley
   Square; leaves around 8:30 pm (or as soon as the leaders arrive & want
   to go). Free to all, but this one is fast-paced. You can do jumps,
   stairs, natural ramps, bricks, and any number of these combined. You
   can also choose to go around & just watch; but you'll have to skate
   fast to keep up. Frequent stops to let the leaders show off. If you
   plan to participate, wear full protective padding, including large
   knee pads, and wrist guards at a minimum. A helmet is recommended
   (just in case....). The powers that lead give a short lecture on safe,
   polite, respectful skating at the first stop. This skate is _totally_
   unsponsored--skate free at your own risk.

   By the Charles River, just get to harvard.
   Allston/cambridge exit off Mass Pike.

   Memorial drive: nice road... 8 hours open ... 11am to 7pm..
   skated on sunday... only open on sundays ...
   open for "recreational vehicles" only...
   pretty neat... had two sets of cones set up... plus about 2 or 3 miles
   of 4 lane road to skate... (bikes, skates, foot, unicycles,
   skateboards..)
   asphalt...few cracks..no real hills ... just by the cones.. mostly
   flat .. by river ... nice....straight away...no loop....
   not really crowded... too long to be crowded...short wait for slalom
   .. one rental van ...

   From: [e-mail] (Michael L. Dickens)
   Date: Unknown

   [e-mail] (Joe Scianna) wrote:

     I recently discovered the Bike path which begins in Bedford and
     extends to Davis Square in Cambridge. It's perfect for blading. The
     surface is extremely smooth. It's well marked with mile markers, so
     there's no quessing distance travelled.
     It's a nice alternative to the Esplanade. Although, blading along
     the Charles River at sunset is tough to beat!



   This is the "famed" Minuteman Path--~17 Miles of ~6' wide smooth
   pavement. They've finally taken out the speed bumps that existed at or
   near intersections, and replaced them with ground-level slabs of rock.
   Much easier to get over the slabs.

   The path starts in Davis Square between the Au Bon Pain & the Theater,
   just across from the T-stop. The surface begins as fairly smooth
   brick, and eventually converts into smooth pavement. You have to cross
   a few big streets (like Mass. Ave in Arlington) before getting to the
   longer sections. Once you get to Alewife (right at the T-stop), you're
   away from the large busy crossings, and can start the speed skating!

   ps. The path is slightly inclined, allowing for some great
   speeds--I've gone a few miles doing 2.5 minutes / mile pace --> 24 MPH
   continuous on 4 wheels!

   From: [e-mail] (Mark R Stallard)
   Date: Tue, 5 Jul 1994 22:55:41 GMT

   My favorite place to skate is on the Minuteman Rail Trail, which runs
   from Davis Square, Somerville all the out to Bedford - 11+ miles long
   each way. Since this was originally a railroad, the hills are very
   gentle. The pavement is overall quite good after the first 1-1/2 miles
   out of Davis Square. There are several places to eat and get
   refreshements along the way.

   To get there, take the T Red Line to the Davis station, and leave at
   the Meacham Street exit. If you're lucky, you can get away with riding
   the subway with your skates on. Right at the exit is an Au Bon Pain
   sandwich and coffee shop, and they never hassle me about serving
   myself on skates. Please don't try it, though, if you're not sure you
   can skate with a lunch tray.

   The path starts right outside the restaraunt. The first mile is pretty
   rough; you'll have to skate over a lot of brick walkways, sandy
   pavement and the like. You might be confused when approaching the
   intersection of Mass Ave. and Cameron Street - keep an eye out for the
   entrace; it's on the other side of Mass Ave near the Buy-Rite liquor
   store.

   You can also elect to start the path at the Alewife T Station.

   Once in Arlington, the pavement quality improves substantially.
   Repaved just last summer. There is one more path hiatus; this is
   Arlington center. You have to cross both streets in a busy
   intersection. After that, though, it's smooth skating.

   My only complaint is that, like all good things, the path is overused.
   On pleasant weekend afternoons you can expect a number of people with
   small children, even baby carriages. A lot of bicyclists,
   unfortunately, are real jerkoffs, too. They'll ride two abreast and
   converse with each other, making it difficult for others to pass.

   And then, of course, we have the dilletante racers. You know, the guys
   with the very expensive bikes and bike clothing who are out to set new
   personal bests. In this setting I would say they are the most
   dangerous users of the path, because they often have no patience for
   anyone moving slower than them. These guys should stick to the
   roadways and not bother with the bike paths.

   Anyway, I highly recommend the Minuteman path to all skaters.

   From: bnh@active (Brian Hess)
   Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 18:19:44 GMT

   Mark R Stallard ([e-mail]) wrote:

     My favorite place to skate is on the Minuteman Rail Trail,



   If you're a novice, or don't want to do more than a couple miles, you
   might like to know:

   The very smoothest pavement, with virtually no sand, only a few
   expansion joints, and with the fewest road crossings (all of which
   slow you down to a dead stop unless you are foolish) is:

   from Bedford Street (4/225) in Lexington out to South Street (Bedford
   depot) in Bedford. There are only 4 or 5 road crossings in 2.5 miles,
   only one of which is really busy (Hartwell Ave.) This makes a 5 mile
   round trip.

   You can take the 62 bus from Alewife (please don't wear your skates!),
   get off well past Lexington center, at the stop next after the
   flashing yellow light (ask the driver for the Lexington public works
   building if you're not sure). If you drive, park at either the
   northeast corner of the track/road crossing in the public works lot
   (in front, _outside_ the fence they lock at night!) or behind a little
   office park on the southwest corner of the track/road crossing. It's 3
   minutes east of route 95/128 on 4/225.

   From: [e-mail] (Jeff Schreiber)
   Date: Wed, 19 Oct 1994 10:42 -0400

   Last night a friend and I decided to try again for a journey into the
   realms of downtown Boston for a little skate. We had tried once last
   friday, but we didn't get very far. (We made the mistake of heading to
   the Green line via Boston College. It took 2 hours once we got past
   128 on the Mass Pike). This time we made the trek up to Alewife, and
   rode in on the red line to Park Street. We did some nice cruising in
   and around that side of the Common, and then headed out for more
   congested areas! (for those of you hockey players in the Boston Area,
   the pool in the Common, by the State House, is drained, and would be
   cool for hockey!).

   Well, we headed down along State street towards Quincy Market, cruised
   in around there for a bit, but the cobblestones were a little too
   rough. We headed over to the harbor, spent some time cruising along
   the wharfs, and hung out at the Aquarium for a while, watching the
   seals doing stalls and wall rides in their pens (the seals are
   definitely cool!). Then we decided to head back through Quincy Market,
   and up to the City hall.....

   Absolutely incredible! I can't say how amazing this area was. The
   brick plaza was a little rough on the legs, but it was worth it. There
   is a T stop right there, with brick walls, and the brick walls were at
   about an 80 degree angle, which made for some incredible wall rides.
   Then we looked back towards the other side. The beauty of a field of
   stairs! It was a stair bashing heaven! Nice wide steps with small
   drops that made them skateable for even a first time basher. Like I
   said, the brick was a little tough to skate on, but bumpy is a
   relative term for Stair Bashers! there were sets of stairs, about
   50-100 long steps, that went in perfect sets! 4 steps, 5 feet
   platform, 4 steps, platform, 4 steps, platform, 4 steps, platform, 8
   steps, 15 feet, 4 steps, 5 feet, 4 steps, 5 feet, then finally a nice
   cruise of step, 4 feet, step, 4 feet (for about 5 or 6 steps!) A
   definite must-skate for anyone within an hour or 2 to even a commuter
   rail!!!

    Hingham



   From: [e-mail] (Dave Rhoades)
   Date: 20 Apr 1995 14:53:12 GMT

   Another _great_ place just south of Boston is Wompatuck State Park

   Route 3 south to 228 north, Aprox 2 miles on the right.

   In-Line Club of Boston also holds races there about twice a month.

   There is a great Large section of pavement for beginning. The camping
   area with small rolling hills for a mild skate. And the bicycle trails
   and 1.1 mile race loop for an agressive skater

    Cape Cod



   From: Robert Schmunk ([e-mail])
   Date: 2 Jul 1995 20:58:10 -0400

   Prior to vacationing on Cape Cod, it was recommended to me that I give
   the 5-mile loop at Race Point, right on the tip of the cape, a try. I
   never did make it there, but nevertheless, some Boston skaters have
   told me that it can be a lot of fun if sand hasn't drifted across the
   low-lying spots.

   What I did skate was a part of the Cape Cod Bike Trail. This is a
   rails-to-trails path that runs about 25 miles from Dennis to South
   Wellfleet. The portion which I did was the last 5.5 miles, from S.
   Wellfleet to Eastham, and then back. The absolute last five miles,
   from Locust Rd. in Eastham to LeCount Hollow Rd. in S. Wellfleet (look
   for the parking lot about 150 yds off SR 6), are in superb condition.
   This part of the trail is not mentioned in the 1995 Fodor's Guide to
   the cape, so I suspect that the asphalt was only recently laid down.
   It's almost perfectly straight and just barely hilly. There are
   cross-roads, but not a lot of them, so opportunities to stop for
   fluids at a store are slim; carrying your own water bottle is pretty
   much a necessity on hot days (which because of the cape breezes are
   probably not frequent). The half mile of the trail that I did south of
   Locust Rd. was obviously older, as the asphalt while not broken was
   eroded and made somewhat unpleasant skating. On a pleasant June
   Saturday afternoon, I encountered a number of bikers (but not too
   many, and mostly families out for a ride) and just a few skaters.
   Since the path was 8-10 feet wide, there was no problem with trail
   hogs.

   Further details on the complete Cape Cod Trail, the Race Point Trail,
   and a number of other trails in the area are provided in the "Cape Cod
   Bike Book", a blue-covered booklet which you can find at many shops
   and at the Nat'l Seashore visitor centers. It's not big, but is more
   than worth the $2.95 price.

   I also did a little bit of street skating in Provincetown, but I can't
   recommend it to visitors since it can get pretty congested with
   tourists meandering among the shops. Several shops I entered were cool
   about me skating in ("Oooh, what model are those?") but one wasn't.

   From: [e-mail] (Jeff Schreiber - Spectre)
   Date: 3 Jul 1995 14:41:48 GMT

   A couple of other places I've been meaning to tell everyone about, and
   this is as good a time as any, is at the Cape Cod Canal, and in
   Falmouth. My wife has been trying to get me down to Falmouth with her
   to skate the Bike trail there, I not positive [of] it's route, but I
   believe it starts around Woods Hole, and ends over in Hyannis. Where
   the Cape Code Bike Trail runs over by the Bay side (and not really
   close enough to see the water from where I've seen the trail run), the
   bike trail out of Falmouth runs down the ocean side.

   If your looking for a _really_ beautiful skate (I can't believe I'm
   talking like this, I should be talking about stairs and rails, and
   vert ramps :). Check out the Cape Cod canal. You can't miss it, it's
   the thing that you drive over on the Bourne or Sagamore. If your going
   down in peek travel times, you'll get plenty of time to stop and look
   at the canal, since all the cars around you will be doing the same,
   and you won't have much choice (can you tell that it took me 2 hours
   to drive the 25 minute drive it should take me to get to the bridge?).
   Well, anyway, they built a path that runs the length of the canal, on
   both sides I think, but much more apparently on the mainland side. If
   you follow the road towards Route 6, and the sagamore bridge, you will
   find a rest stop/scenic overlook at the bottom of the hill (they put
   some traffic lights there, so you have a prayer of getting back on the
   road). There is stairs that go down to the path, and the canal, and
   you can skate the whole length of the canal, watching all the boats,
   etc...

   >I also did a little bit of street skating in Provincetown

   Yes, it's nice down there, but unbelievably crowded (I'm surprised you
   even tried it with the crowds that there usually are). Definately some
   interesting sights down that way, and very mixed reactions to
   _anything_ you do, including wearing skates into stores. Just if you
   ever decide to skate in Provincetown, be sure to go with an _open_
   mind, or you'll end up getting yourself into trouble.

   From: [e-mail] (Mark Casey)
   Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 13:35 EDT

   I saw mention of the Provincetown Race Point loop and thought I would
   expound. I didn't actually skate it, I biked it. It would defintely be
   a challenging skate with many ups, downs, and corners (fun speed
   skate) but the sand is plentiful. If it doesn't take you off your
   feet, it'll certainly do a job on your bearings. If that's not a
   problem for you, it's definitely worth the trek.

   From: [e-mail] ([e-mail])
   Date: 25 Jun 1996 08:50:50 -0400

   One place that I skate often is at the Cape Cod National Seashore. Go
   to the Visitor's Center in Eastham (on Rt. 6) and park there. There is
   a great trail that leaves from the back of the parking lot. It is not
   long (about two miles each way, I'd guess), but it is beautiful. It
   goes through nice wooded areas, with occasional views of the beach,
   marsh, and ocean. It ends by going over a bridge across a salt marsh
   and tidal river, and leading right to Coast Guard Beach. You follow
   the same path back to the Visitor's Center. When you get to the
   Visitor's Center, you'll see others heading for the path. Really easy
   to find, but it is never overcrowded.

   Another place not far from there is Nickerson State Park in
   Orleans/Brewster (on Rt. 6A). This is a large state park with 5 ponds,
   loads of hiking trails and paved bike trails that you can rollerblade
   on. It is beautiful, and you can skate all day in here. The only word
   of caution on this place is that since it is so heavily wooded, there
   are sometimes lots of pine needles on the paths, that can be tough to
   skate on.

   Both of these places will fit the style of the Cape well for a visitor
   like yourself. If you want something more hectic, try skating the
   streets and sidewalks in Provincetown! Lots of people and lots of
   people-watching!

    Martha's Vineyard



   From: [e-mail] (Mark Casey)
   Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 13:35 EDT

   Skating is a great way to see the island, or better yet, a great
   reason to visit the island. The views and scenary are awesome and the
   air is cool, even on the hottest summer days. There are plenty of bike
   trials connecting all of the major points of interest along an 18mi
   loop connecting Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven including
   South/Katama Beach. I haven't been out to Gay Head in some time, so I
   can't provide any insight on skating out there but it would be an
   aweful long skate (20 mi - take a cab) on the roads to get there. It's
   only $10 RT from Woods Hole or $22 RT from Hyannis for a great day of
   skating and there's no extra charge for the skates ;)
     _________________________________________________________________

  New Jersey
     * Bergen County
     * Essex County
     * Morris County
     * Union County
     * Middlesex County
     * Monmouth County

    Bergen County



   From: [e-mail] (Joseph Ogulin)
   Date: Unknown

   To the Fair Lawn area of Saddle River County Park (SRCP)... this is
   where the slalom course is:


   GSP North to exit 160. Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp.
   Follow this road over Route 4. It becomes Paramus Rd. here. Follow
   Paramus Rd. to the first light, turn left. Pass the signs that say
   things like "Welcome to Fair Lawn" and "Say No to Drugs." On your
   right, after passing these signs, you will find a small road which has
   signs (small ones) that say "Bike Route" and "Parking for Bike Path
   and Tennis Courts." Turn right here, and park in the lot.

   To the Dunkerhook (Paramus) area of SRCP:


   Follow the above directions, except go straight at the first light.
   Pass the cemetery on your right. You'll see a sign on your left that
   says "Dunkerhook Area, Saddle River County Park." Turn left there and
   follow any other signs.

   To the Ridgewood area of SRCP:


   GSP North to exit 163. Follow Route 17 North to the Ridgewood Ave.
   exit. Head toward Ridgewood (you'll loop back over the highway). After
   you pass Paramus Rd., look on your right. When you see the duck pond
   (and signs mentioning that it's the Ridgewood Wild Duck Pond of SRCP),
   turn right into the area.

   I can't recall how to get to the Glen Rock area. Sorry.

   To Fair Lawn and Dunkerhook from the north:


   If you're coming from the north on GSP South, use exit 163 (Route 17).
   Exit at Century Rd. and head toward Paramus/Fair Lawn/Glen Rock (or
   whatever it says). You will not cross over Route 17. Follow Century
   Rd. to Paramus Rd. There will be a cemetery on your right (this is the
   intersection mentioned in the Fair Lawn and Dunkerhook). To get to
   Fair Lawn, go straight. To get to Dunkerhook, turn right. Follow the
   above directions.

   To Ridgewood from the north:


   Exit the GSP at the Ridgewood/Oradell exit (I may be wrong, but I
   believe it is 165) and head toward Ridgewood. You are now on Ridgewood
   Ave. Just follow Ridgewood Ave. as above after you cross Route 17.

   Trail descriptions:


   There are approximately 6-7 miles of trails there. Most of them are
   quite smooth, with a few rough spots along the way. They're about 5'
   wide, and traffic is mostly walkers, joggers, bladers, and cyclists of
   various ages from child to senior citizen. Adult cyclists and bladers
   will generally follow courtesies and warn people in front of them when
   they are coming up behind you. The whole series of trails winds along
   side of a brook. Bugs are rampant along parts of the trails during
   summer months in the evenings. There are a few hills, but most of them
   are short, or not too steep. There are a few parking lots along the
   way where many newbie bladers can be seen tripping, stumbling, or
   moving forward when they have their balance. There are no street
   lights along the trails, as they all pass through wooded areas. The
   slalom course, for those interested, is in the Fair Lawn area by the
   tennis courts. If there is nobody there and you have your own cones
   (we tend to use cups because they're cheaper), you'll find red dots
   painted on the ground. The dots are 5' apart (measured MANY times). If
   someone is there, you won't be discouraged from trying. In fact if you
   just stand there and watch, you're very likely to be asked to try the
   cones. Just watch out for the geese and ducks in any of the parking
   lots around duck ponds (Ridgewood and Glen Rock), unless you like
   cleaning your bearings and wheels.

   From commpost!opus!camelot![e-mail]
   Date: Unknown

   I much prefer Saddle River County Park [to Brookdale Park] because it
   has a 5+ mile trail (one way!) which is great if you're looking for
   long skating runs. Most of the people there are friendly and follow
   general courtesies when passing, especially when there's a large group
   (this is cyclists, skaters, and runners alike!). There is also an area
   where we do slaloming through cones. People in the group I usually
   meet there have painted dots on the ground for the cones. They're 5'
   apart (yeah, we know that competitions use 6' as the distance). Any
   time anyone has cones set up, people are welcome to "try their luck."
   We'll never tell anyone that they can't try it. In fact, if you stand
   there and watch for a long time and you're wearing rollerblades,
   someone's going to ask you to try it.

   How to get to there:
     * The Fair Lawn area is accessed from Century Rd. Use Route 17 and
       exit at Century Rd. Head toward Glen Rock/Fair Lawn. The access
       road (Dunkerhook Rd) is a small road between Paramus Rd. and
       Saddle River Rd.
     * The Dunkerhook area (Paramus) is accessed from Paramus Rd. The
       access road (Dunkerhook Rd.) has a sign by it and is north of
       Century Rd.
     * The Ridgewood area is on Ridgewood Ave. Use Route 17 and exit at
       Ridgewood Ave. Head toward Ridgewood.
     * I can't exactly remember how to get to the Glen Rock area, but
       Saddle River Rd. comes to mind.



   From: [e-mail] (john)
   Date: 18 Jun 1995 14:24:55 GMT

   You can always go to Overpeck Park in Leonia/Teaneck. It's a big
   figure 8 track about 1.5 miles long. There are lots of beginners and
   should be good for you.

    Essex County



   From commpost!opus!camelot![e-mail]
   Date: Unknown

   Brookdale Park is ok, but I've found that many of the cyclists there
   are a bunch of assholes (mostly it's the cycling club members). They
   might give you 3 inches clearance when they pass you while you're
   avoiding debris on the side of the road. Next time I go there, I'm
   going to bring a hockey stick with me (even though I don't play
   hockey) and swing it back and forth as I go. If the cyclists bother
   me, _WHACK_... >:-) Other than that, it's got a 1 mile loop with a
   rather nasty hill. The paths going through the park other than the
   main road (which has a car speed limit of 30 MPH, which of course
   nobody follows) are not that great and could use some repaving.

   How to get to there:
     * There are entries on Grove St., Watchung Ave., and Bellvue Ave.,
       all in Bloomfield. Take Route 3 to Broad St., head toward
       Bloomfield.

    Morris County



   From: [e-mail] (timothy mizerak)
   Date: 19 Jun 1995 01:47:29 -0400

   Lawontaka Park: This features two park sites connected by many miles
   of pretty trails. We saw a deer on one the other day! It features some
   nice hills and a babbling brook that you have to manouvre over. Not as
   much parking lot for practice, but adequate. Located in Morristown,
   take 287 to South st.

   From: "Orlando C. Fernando" ([e-mail])
   Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 02:34:39 -0400 (EDT)

   Florham Park Rink
   directions: Near rt. 287 in the north of the state, close to the towns
   Livingston and Morristown.

   descriptions: moderate sized rink. Skate direction & type designated
   by lighted signs in the rink. Mostly Top 40 music on prime time.
   Rentals available. Times: Most days- 10-12pm. Tues- also 7-10pm. Sun
   1-3:30pm.

    Union County



   From: [e-mail] (Bladeroo)
   Date: 11 Jun 1995 15:25:54 -0400

   I like Tamaques Park in Westfield, NJ. It's best for fitness/speed
   skaters because it has an .8mi loop with a downhill and a gradual
   uphill. It also has a large parking area good for practicing tricks
   and things. However, they don't allow ramps or cones.

    Middlesex County



   From: [e-mail] (timothy mizerak)
   Date: 19 Jun 1995 01:47:29 -0400

   Bucheleau Park (sp?): Adjacent to Rutgers campus and just opposite St.
   Peter's hospital. This park isn't great, but it is decent. The big
   loop is a nice workout but there is too much traffic. There is a nice
   big hill to get some speed off of, and a smooth covered picnic area.

   Deiner Park: Right on Rutgers campus it literally hangs over Rt. 18. I
   haven't skated there yet, but will be teaching classes at Rutgers
   there in September, so I'll know soon enough if it is any good.

    Monmouth County



   From: Dennis Black ([e-mail])
   Date: Unknown

   My personal favorite is Sandy Hook National Park (NJ). It's on the
   south side of Staten Island. Check out a NJ map. It's about an hour
   from NYC, depending upon traffic. There's a ferry from South Street
   Seaport ($$$$ 25. round trip). It has 20+ miles of roads, and only a
   minimal amount of people (a few joggers and a few bicycles) after
   6:00PM and day. Just a handful of skaters so far. Also one side is the
   bay and the other side is ocean, so on days like today and tomorrow
   where it is 90+ inland, on the hook it will only get to the high 70's,
   low 80's.

   From: Rob Smigielski ([e-mail])
   Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 13:51:33 -0500

   People skate on the streets of Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake, Spring Lake
   Heights, Manasquan, and Point Pleasant. The route from Belmar south
   through Spring Lake is most commonly used since the car traffic is
   limited and the many of the streets south of Belmar are newly paved.
   Round trip distance from Belmar south to Spring Lake and back is
   roughly 8 miles on flat mostly smooth roads. Note that the prevailing
   winds along the beach run from the south to the north, so most skaters
   go south down any of the streets two blocks inland from the beach, and
   later turn north along Ocean Ave along the beach. The push from the
   winds going north along the beach is a great help on the return trip.

   Ocean Avenue, running parallel to the beach, is the street where
   skaters and bikers go to be seen. The portion of Ocean Ave running
   through Belmar can be crowded with summer time weekend traffic, but
   the local police keep things cool. Cars do not have the right of way
   over others.

   Blades Action Sports on Ocean Ave in Belmar rents skates and provides
   beginners with lessons on skating techniques.

   Also, since you're on the Jersey shore already, bring a blanket and
   some tanning oil and enjoy the beach!

   Finally, if you insist on parking on Ocean Ave, beware of your time
   limit on the parking meters. Just say I warned you! Personally, I park
   a few blocks away to avoid the hassles.
     _________________________________________________________________

  New York
     * New York City
          + Manhattan
          + Brooklyn
          + Queens
          + Bronx
          + NYC Rinks
     * Long Island
     * Westchester County
     * Albany
     * Rochester
     * Niagara

    New York City



   From: Robert Schmunk ([e-mail])
   Date: Mar 31, 1995

   The following is excerpted from the New York City Inline Skating, a
   complete and up-to-date copy of which may be accessed via Web browser
   at the URL:
   http://www.skatecity.com/NYC/.

   Depending on how hardcore you are, you can skate outdoors all year in
   the city, although late March through October seems to be the prime
   season. When the temperature gets down to about 30 F, light layers
   covered by a some sort of windproof outer garment seem to do the
   trick. I've found that a T-shirt, sweater, lightly padded windbreaker,
   spandex tights, warmup pants, light gloves (under wrist guards), and
   perhaps a cap (depending on whether you're wearing a helmet) suffice
   when added to the usual skates, socks, and armor; if it's not windy,
   you may even be able to remove the windbreaker. When the weather gets
   over 80 F, be sure to drink some water or Gatorade at frequent
   intervals and consider carrying a water bottle.

   Despite their variable condition, the streets of Manhattan almost seem
   designed for skating. There certainly seem to be a _lot_ of people in
   this town who use Rollerblades for basic transportation. You may raise
   a sweat and suffer bus exhaust, but it saves you the $1.25 for a
   subway or bus token. Just remember that while Manhattan drivers are
   surprisingly apt to honor amber street lights (probably in fear of
   killing jaywalking pedestrians), they're downright terrible at
   signalling lane changes or even turns. In other boroughs, I understand
   that drivers are not even that good about slowing for amber lights.
   Taxis are notoriously unpredictable, and many of their cousins, the
   gypsy cabs, are uninsured. And then there are the take-out food
   delivery guys, who generally ride their lightless and apparently
   brakeless bicycles the wrong way down one-way streets. The moral of
   the story is: _never_ hit the streets of Manhattan without proper
   armor, and if you know any eye exercises for improving peripheral
   vision, practice them.

   _Famous Landmarks_:
   Okay, let's admit it. When you walk into the Grand Central Station and
   see that glorious expanse of _sa-moooooth_ marble floor interrupted
   only by the info kiosk in the middle, your toes start itching to do
   some rolling. Well, you're not the only one who feels that way, and
   I've known people to sneak in and skate the station and other famous
   places, like the World Trade Center concourse. However, at many such
   publicly-owned locations such activity is illegal (e.g., Grand Central
   is a Metro North train station, and it's illegal to skate in train and
   subway stations) and at corporate/privately-owned places, they may
   consider unauthorized rollerskating to be trespassing. Thus, if you
   feel like you just _have_ to try skating a famous place, be prepared
   for adverse legal consequences.

    Manhattan




   _Central Park_:
   The most popular outdoor skating location in NYC is Central Park on
   the 9.7-km (approx. 6-mile) loop. Cars are barred from the loop from
   10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 7:00 to 10:00 PM on weekdays from January
   1 until the Friday before Thanksgiving, and around the clock on
   weekends and holidays throughout the year. Cars do mistakenly enter
   the loop road when it's closed, and ambulances and police cars may
   appear at any time, so always keep your eyes and ears open.

   Happily, most of the Central Park loop was resurfaced during 1993 or
   1994, so you'll find that it is generally an exceptional skating
   surface. Always remember to skate _counter-clockwise_ when you're on
   the loop; many, if not most, of the serious accidents in the park have
   been caused by people skating or cycling the wrong direction. Also,
   you'll be sharing the road with bikers, joggers, and pedestrians.
   There's usually plenty of room for all three purposes when autos are
   barred from the park, but when cars are allowed in, the recreation
   lane can get very crowded. You may want to consider not skating when
   cars are in the park, what with the competition for the recreation
   lane and the exhaust and grit in the air. When skating after dark, it
   would probably be very wise to wear a light to alert fast moving
   bicyclists to your presence.

   According to the New York Road Runners Club map of Central Park,
   distances on the loop are:

   71 W to  72 E: 1 mile, 716 yards, 31 inches  =  2264.8 m
   72 E to  90 E:        1748,       26         =  1599.0
   90 E to 103 E:        1351,       11         =  1235.6
  103 E to 102 W: 1,     1264,       19         =  2765.6
  102 W to  71 W: 1,      246,       22         =  1834.8



   This comes to 6 miles, 48 yards, 1 inch (9700 m) for a big loop. The
   72nd St. crossover is 542 yards, 3 inches (495.7 m), making the small
   loop 1 mile, 1258 yards, 34 inches (2761 m). The 102nd St. crossover
   is 468 yards, 18 inches (428.4 m), making a medium loop 4 miles, 963
   yards (7318 m).

   The small loop is relatively tame mild rolling hills. The big loop is
   a good workout which takes even professional speedskaters at least 16
   minutes to complete; if you can do it in four-wheel skates in under 30
   minutes, you're probably in pretty good shape.

   _Skate Patrol Stopping Clinic_:
   At both 72nd St. entrances to Central Park, on weekend afternoons
   during the prime skate season (mid-April to November 1), the Central
   Park Skate Patrol is available to give beginning inline skaters some
   much-needed instruction on how to stop.

   _The Cones (NYRSA Slalom Course)_:
   On the west side of the Central Park loop at 67th St., between Tavern
   on the Green and the Sheep Meadow, is the slalom course. (If you're
   trying to skate laps, this is also the locus of the biggest traffic
   jam on the loop.) Virtually any weekend in which there is no rain,
   snow or foot/skate/bike race, a line of 27 orange cones is set up in
   the recreation lane, usually from noon until about sundown.

   _Dead Road_:
   Variously known as the Dead Road or Skater's Way, this is a road
   between the carousel and Olmsted Way that was blocked off and turned
   into some volleyball courts and a skating area. This is _the_ place
   for dancers, both inline and quad, to congregate. Typically there are
   several activities happening, depending on the time of day you may
   encounter small classes and private instruction, skaters dancing to
   the music of their headphones, an improvised roller rink, etc.

   _Bandshell_:
   Just east and slightly uphill of the Dead Road is the bandshell. With
   a slightly smoother and flatter surface than that of the Dead Road,
   it's a bit more like an ice skating rink, with some people skating in
   circles, some trying figure skating tricks, etc. This area can be very
   crowded on weekend afternoons but is fairly wide open on weekdays,
   making it a decent place for practicing new maneuvers.

   The stairway which leads from the bandshell to the Bethesda Fountain
   (passing beneath Olmsted Way and the Bethesda Terrace) occasionally
   sees some radical stair bashing.

   _Harlem_:
   Riverbank State Park, between Riverside Drive and the Hudson River, is
   not a bad place to skate, and the view of the river is pleasant.
   However, the park is built over a waste treatment facility, so it's
   possible that you may not care for the air, although I didn't
   particularly notice any objectionable odors the one time I skated
   there.

   Many of Riverbank State Park's walkways are paved with brick, but the
   park is new enough that the bricks have not worn enough to be terribly
   troublesome to skaters. Additionally, there are some extremely smooth
   handball and basketball courts at the south end of the park which
   newbies might like to skate on when they're not otherwise in use. Near
   the north end of the park, there is an ice skating rink which is
   converted to roller use during the summer. Entrances to the park are
   on Riverside Drive at 138th and 145th Sts.

   _Upper East Side and East Harlem_:
   Carl Schurz Park, between East End Ave. and the East River at 86th
   St., has some very skateable paths and some very unskateable paths.
   There is one large open asphalt area where a lot of the local kids
   play rollerhockey. Dog-walking is a major activity here, so keep your
   eyes open. Also watch out for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; he has a pair of
   skates and Gracie Mansion is at the north end of the park.

   Lying between FDR Drive and the East River is the John Finley Walk,
   aka the East River Esplanade. It is primarily paved with hexagonal
   bricks and is very skateable. Major exceptions to this are the portion
   right next to Carl Schurz Park, where the bricks are pretty worn and
   bumpy, and the broken asphalt slope right next to Gracie Mansion..
   I've skated the Walk from 81st St. all the way up to the Triborough
   Bridge (125th St.). It's supposed to extend south to about 57th St.,
   but there's a massive stairway at about 81st St. which I can't see
   many skaters willing to navigate. Because FDR Drive separates much of
   the Walk from nearby businesses or residences, it can be a very
   secluded skate. I would caution against skating it after dark.

   Sticking right out into the East River is the East 110th St.
   Recreation Pier, an open but covered pavilion. Like much of the John
   Finley Walk from which it projects, it is very skateable, but there
   are some rough spots to be navigated.

   _Upper West Side and Morningside Heights_:
   The avenues of the Upper West Side are a mixed bag. Columbus Ave. is,
   of course, almost unskateable for much of its length due to the
   current reconstruction project. Both Amsterdam and Broadway have also
   seen some light road work which has reduced their skateability north
   of 100th St.; Amsterdam can be especially nasty north of 100th St. and
   Broadway is touch-and-go in several places in the 80s and 90s. West
   End Ave. seems to be in better condition, and Central Park West is
   fine up to 92nd St. or so. Riverside Drive is currently in pretty good
   shape and quite skateable except for one area around 114th St. and
   another just north of Grant's Tomb. If you're feeling ambitious you
   can follow Riverside all the way up to the George Washington Bridge
   and cross over to Fort Lee, New Jersey, and from there skate to
   Hoboken and take the PATH train back to the city.

   Riverside Park can be skated from 72nd St. up to about 116th St., but
   there are areas where you have to be very cautious. In particular, the
   paths between 74th and 80th Sts. are in terrible condition. Also of
   some concern is that many of the paths north of 96th St. lie below
   trees and consequently are strewn with twigs at all times. When
   crossing 96th St. it is probably better to take the Riverside Dr.
   overpass rather than follow park paths directly to the street and try
   to wait for a lull in the traffic. Always keep your eyes peeled for
   dogs, because the park gets a lot of activity from nearby residents
   exercising their pets.

   _Midtown (14th St. to 59th St.)_:
   The avenues of midtown make generally good skating for those
   travelling north-south because of the bicycle/skating lanes which many
   sport on the left side of the street. However, this is also a high
   auto traffic area and the bike lanes usually disappear for a block
   where the avenues cross Broadway, so be careful.

   Just across 42nd St. from the United Nations is Robert Moses
   Playground, a smooth asphalt area which has been painted for hockey.
   One presumes that there might be rollerhockey here during the day
   (weekends?). The only deficiencies are that the playground has a slope
   (the south end is low) and that it's often cluttered with twigs.
   Although most or all of the gates to the park are locked at night, the
   gate at the southwest corner has been wide open the last couple times
   I've been there.

   Union Square can be a fun place to skate after dark or on Sunday, when
   the greenmarket crowds are gone. On the south side, along 14th St.,
   there are a lot of shallow steps that are great for practicing stair
   bashes and curb grinds. The north side of the square, along 17th St.,
   is a large, wide-open paved area where you'll often see skaters
   practicing dancing moves or maybe playing a pickup game of
   rollerhockey.

   _Greenwich Village and Alphabet City (Houston St. to 14th St.)_:


   The pavement in Washington Square Park is in generally poor shape.
   This plus a usually high density of pedestrian traffic makes this a
   poor place to go skating.

   The paths in Tompkins Square Park (bordered by Avenues A and B and
   East 7th and 10th Sts.) are in _terrific_ shape, suggesting that new
   asphalt was put down within the last year or so. So, if you can find a
   time when pedestrian traffic is minimal, this would be a great place
   for newbies to do some learning. (Note: As part of the clean-up effort
   to return this park to neighborhood use, there is a midnight curfew.)
   On the north (10th St.) side of the park there are stickball and
   basketball courts. The former has an incredibly smooth surface, useful
   for even advanced skaters to practice their stuff, and the latter is
   used by a roller basketball league during summer weekend mornings.

   _Downtown (Below Houston St.)_:
   A great place to skate is a smooth bike/skate/ped path which extends
   northward from Stuyvesant High School (Chambers St. at West St.),
   along the (Hudson) riverfront side of West St. It continues up to just
   below 14th St., terminating at the Gansevoort St. intersection. Most
   of the path is in excellent condition, the exception being a
   multi-block stretch in front of Pier 40. At some entrances to the
   path, there may also be large concrete barriers to slow down cyclists
   and skaters who come bombing along.

   Another fun place to skate is along the southwest edge of Manhattan.
   You again start at Stuyvesant High, but skate west into the Hudson
   River Park, and then follow the paths along the river south to the
   World Financial Center, then into Battery Park City, and finally to
   Battery Park. It's also great because almost the entire route is along
   the water, offering views of New Jersey and the Statue of Liberty.
   However, this route also gets a lot of pedestrian traffic (lots of
   romantic couples on the Esplanade in Battery Park City, and families
   with children in Hudson River Park) and it would be pretty foolish for
   you do any speed skating here. Also, the Esplanade is divided by trees
   and bushes into two parallel paths, and skating, cycling, etc., are
   barred from the upper, inland path. The only two areas here which are
   pretty wide open in this area are the plaza between the North Cove and
   the Winter Garden, and the fenced-off road (Little West St.) between
   Battery Park City and Battery Park. The latter is a particularly
   excellent place to practice skating maneuvers and tricks on a weekend
   afternoon.

   The stairs at the north end of Hudson River Park make some good
   bashing, but while skaters (especially teenagers from the school) can
   often be seen there, it's a no-no. There're usually some park security
   folks wandering around in little white trucks, and whenever they get
   to the steps, they chase away anybody they catch skating on them.

   The plaza at the base of the World Trade Center is very skateable, but
   the security guards are waiting to chase you off.

   Over along the East River, directly underneath the Brooklyn Bridge
   between Pearl and Madison Sts., there is a sort of semi-halfpipe known
   as The Wall which seems to be fairly popular, despite the brick
   surface and the broken glass strewn liberally about. Police
   headquarters is not all that far away, but I would not recommend
   skating here alone, especially after dark.

   A friend of mine has reported that the East River Park, which lies
   along the river from about Gouverneur St. to just below 14th St. is
   skateable, but only marginally so. He did not recommend going there
   after dark.

    Brooklyn



   One of the finest places to skate in New York is the Brooklyn Bridge.
   It's not because it's so smooth, as the wooden boards which make up
   the pedestrian/cyclist path over the bridge are pretty hard on the
   feet and calves, but because the view from the bridge's midpoint is
   unbeatable, particularly at night. The Manhattan access to the bridge
   is just east of city hall and just south of 1 Centre St.; the Brooklyn
   end of the walkway is at the intersection of Tillary St. and Adams St.


   Once over the bridge into Brooklyn, you'll find that the Brooklyn
   Heights Promenade is not far away, about six blocks directly west.
   However, while you can skate along there for another terrific view of
   the Manhattan skyline, the pavement is in poor shape and the
   pedestrians can be extremely slow, hard of hearing and erratic. So,
   it's worth it to pop in and take a look, but not to hang around.

   Prospect Park in Brooklyn is similiar to Central Park, but not as
   crowded. It's also a lot smaller loop.

   The Shore Parkway bike path from Bay Parkway to Bay Ridge Avenue is a
   haunt of many skaters. The terrain is nice and flat, offering
   wonderful views of New York Bay and Staten Island.

    Queens



   The Little Neck Bay bike path has recently been repaved and is flat,
   making it extremely skateable. It runs along Little Neck Bay from Ft.
   Totten (Bell Blvd.) down to Northern Blvd. for a total distance of
   about 2.5 miles. A possibly major disadvantage is that it parallels
   the Cross Island Pkwy., so depending on traffic conditions it can be
   noisy and exhaust fumes can be a problem.

   In Forest Park, Park Lane South is closed on weekends for recreational
   use only between Woodhaven Blvd. and Metropolitan Ave. The terrain
   there is rolling hills, shared with joggers and cyclists. It's
   supposed to be quite a pretty place, containing some of Queens' only
   virgin forest.

    The Bronx



   A block or two north of Yankee Stadium is Mullaly Park, which contains
   a number of ramps and quarter pipes, plus a half pipe or two, for use
   by skateboarders and vert inliners. This is a public park, so you
   won't have to pay to get in, but that also means that the condition of
   the facilities may be lacking.

   The North Bronx Bikeway along Pelham Parkway (from the last stop on
   the #6 to the Pelham Parkway stop on the #2) looks to be skateworthy,
   as well as the Bronx River trail (parallel to Bronx Park East and the
   Bronx River Parkway) from East 233rd Street south to Pelham Parkway
   Both are fairly flat, with pleasant scenery and pavement in decent
   condition.

    NYC Rinks
     * Chelsea Piers In-Line Skating Center, Pier 62, 23rd St. at West
       Side Hwy, 212-336-6200:
       This project along the Hudson River contains both ice and roller
       skating rinks.
     * Rivergate Ice Rink, 401 East 34th St. at First Ave.:
       This is a small rink which is flooded during winter and operates
       as a commercial ice skating rink. During the summer it is
       apparently open to free rollerskating, or at least it was in the
       fall of 1994.
     * The Roxy, 515 West 18th St. btw Tenth and Eleventh Aves.,
       212-627-0404, 212-645-5156
       Evening roller skating sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
       Admission is $12. They allow/rent inline skates as well as
       traditional roller skates.
     * Wollman Rink, Central Park Loop at East 68th St., 212-517-4800
       Famous for the ice skating here during the winter, this is where
       people go to learn how to skate in a safe, controlled environment.

    Long Island



   Neal Mason maintains a Web page of Long Island skate sites at the URL:
   http://www.li.net/~masonn/skate.html.

   From: David Madeo ([e-mail])
   Date: Unknown

   [...], there's a trail on Long Island a lot of skaters use. It's a
   five mile trail along the Wantagh parkway from Cedar Shore park in
   Wantagh, to Jones Beach. The cement path goes from Long Island over
   several smaller islands and bridges to Jones Island fronting the
   Atlantic Ocean. It's flat and there isn't much in between the two
   ends. Bikes and joggers also use the trail. It's much easier to park
   at Cedar Shore than Jones Beach during the summer.

   From: [e-mail] (Gary B. Berns)
   Date: Sun, 13 Aug 1995 21:11:35 -0400

   [Cedar Creek Park] in Wantagh. Has a nice smooth rink where learners,
   practicers(?) and roller hockey players co-exist without friction.

   Tried the path towards Jones Beach, The combination of being a new
   skater, the 90+ temperature and the sea breeze coming down the parkway
   from the ocean made us turn back fairly quickly. The surface seems
   fine and the path flat. I think it was resurfaced within the past
   year. This is, however, based only on the first 1/4-1/2 mile.

   From: [e-mail]
   Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 07:35:04 -0400

   Bethpage bike path runs approximately six and one-half miles from
   Sunrise Highway to Bethpage State Park. The trail begins (northbound)
   immediately east of the Long Island Rail Road Massapequa train
   station. (Park in the east end of the train station parking lot on
   weekends). The first two miles are relatively flat and OK for
   beginners with one street and two short wooden planked bridges. The
   path followings a lake and a stream for a good distance. After the
   second street (Linden St.) their are several steep hills that should
   only be tackled by intermediate or better skaters. The paving is good
   although the width varies from place to place and their is
   considerable use of the path by cyclists, walkers, etc. At the
   northern terminus of the path their are bathrooms and water from May
   through September or October.

   From: [e-mail] (JRGanson)
   Date: 24 Aug 1994 22:53:04 -0400

   Take the Grand Central Pkwy to the Northern State to the Wantagh Pkwy.
   Proceed south on the Wantagh to Merrick Road East. Exit to Merrick
   road, turn right proceed approx two lites the turn right into Cedar
   Creek park. This is the staging area for skating on the bike path
   along the pkwy doen to Jones Beach (about 4 mi). Also lots of skaters
   in the park esp Wed, Fri, Sun when LIRTSA (Long Island Road and Track
   Skating Assoc. meets for informal skating at 6:30 PM (See you there!)

    Westchester County



   From: [e-mail] (Dave Torok)
   Date: 3 Aug 1994 03:20:06 GMT

   Joseph P. Cernada ([e-mail]) sez:

     There's a fair amount of skaters at the Kensico Damn park/plaza in
     Westchester County. I thinks it's in Valhalla (or maybe North White
     Plains). Decent paved path, just under a mile around. Large concrete
     area in the middle to practice moves. Good selection of stairs and
     things to jump over. Cones set up for slaloming.



   I also skate at the dam much of the time. It can get crowded, and
   between Memorial Day and Labor Day they charge $1.25 parking, but if
   you go in the late afternoon it's free. Good place for beginners.
   Seems to be a decent social scene & good for people-watching. I'm a
   beginning-intermediate so I can't comment on the center area or cone
   area other than being an impressed spectator.

   From: Mike Kahn ([e-mail])
   Date: Mon, 08 Apr 1996 11:08:24 -0400

   I haven't seen this path mentioned anywhere yet. There's a relatively
   new multi-use path in Northern Westchester County, NY. My wife and I
   had the opportunity to skate a very short portion of it this past
   weekend (since we were with walkers we couldn't go very far). It
   starts in Yorktown and goes into Mahopac - I'm told. It's a pretty
   nice trail although some of the road crossings are quite gravely and
   at one point it goes past a sewage treatment facility. We enjoyed the
   scenery and FINALLY have a place to skate when we are visiting family.

    Albany



   From: [e-mail] (Heather)
   Date: Unknown

   When I want a good workout, I head down to a nice path that runs
   between the Hudson River and I-787. It's called the Corning Fitness
   Trail, and it heads from Watervliet down to Downtown Albany. It's
   about 5 miles in length. Although it's designed more for bikers and
   runners and has a few bumps in the pavement, it's a good place to
   skate.

   From: [e-mail] (Scott Weintraub)
   Date: 18 Sep 1994 23:31:50 GMT

   The campus is decent but nothing special, IMO. You can find some
   really nice skating around the capitol buildings though. Skating is
   permitted there so the cops won't give you any problem and it's all
   marble. I don't know what kind of skating you're into but if you're
   into street, you'll find some really nice stairs, jumps, grinds, etc,
   there. And if you're not into that stuff, it's just really smooth and
   fun.

   From: [e-mail] (Lorre Smith)
   Date: Sun, 18 Sep 1994 20:54:22

   The interesting thing about Albany for skaters is that the city gets
   really empty after about 6pm and you can skate just about anywhere
   (except Lark Street) unhindered by car traffic. There _is_ a big hill
   right in the middle of the city, though - you could scream your way
   right into the Hudson River. There are a couple of college campuses in
   the city, but not decent skating on them. The University (west of
   downtown on Washington or Western Avenues) has decent but not great
   parking lots - the podium here is interesting there if you're into
   long colonades. If you have a _car_, well, you got a different story.
   Guptil's skating arena and Rollerama are the rinks - they're in the
   phone book if you want to call them for directions. There are 11 miles
   of bike trails along the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers, and there are lots
   of people who say that the park in Saratoga Springs (24-mile drive
   straight north on Highway 87-exit 13 north) is awesome. There's an
   interesting outdoor track on the north end of Troy (103rd Street in
   Lansingburg) straight up route 4 and then about four blocks east on
   103rd Street.

    Rochester



   From: "Orlando C. Fernando" ([e-mail])
   Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 02:34:39 -0400 (EDT)

   _Outdoor skating sites:
    1. Erie Canal pathways - [Henrietta & Pittsford suburbs]
       directions: accesible through several roads crossing the Erie
       canal through the Pittsford and Henrietta areas, among them,
       Clover St., Edgewood Ave., and Main St./East Ave. (Route 96).

       descriptions: probably the Edgewood Ave. car park (at Lock 33
       across the street from the Jewish Community center) is the best
       place to start as you can either pick up the path going east or
       west. Going west starts about 1.5 miles as a mainly easy path
       going under major bridges along the way, after the 1st I-390
       overpass, it gets easy/intermediate with some construction going
       on leaving some sand and the path being a bit rougher. After about
       the second I-390 overpass, it gets progressively tricky as more
       tree roots come into the path and the grading gets considerably
       rougher (this portion not recommended for beginners) as it gets
       into the more forestlike area.

       If you choose to go east from the parking lot, it's moderate
       conditions (remember to cross the street first!), with occasional
       tree root bumps which are manageable for beginners and
       intermediate alike. After a water bridge, it opens out into a wide
       driveway into a canal park gradually reaching Clover St. (choice
       of continuing either via down stairs or cross the street and a
       slope). Path then gets easier 1/2 mi. until an industrial site,
       which forces you on a 25 degree downhill into a residential street
       to continue. After you rejoin the canal, it's a easy ride (passing
       another bridge or two) to a set of small shops, restaurants, and
       an ice cream store. (near Marsh Rd.) Good spot to rest on the
       wooden benches, then can't go much further as path turns more
       gravel-like. Approx. 30 min. for beginner/intermediate skater.
       Much more scenic than the western run.

    2. RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) - [Henrietta suburb]
       directions: I-390 to Jefferson Rd. exit. Go west for about 3 1/2
       miles. RIT campus has several entrances on the left.

       descriptions: the beginner can have nice short practice runs on
       some of the smooth parking lots toward the west of the campus,
       west of the tennis/ice rink parking lot. (There's at least 8!) The
       endurance skater can park at the sports lot and skate under the
       pedestrian bridge (going west from the Student Center) to join
       with the eastern campus road which takes a 2 1/2 mile semicircle
       around the entire campus (one major hill & drop on the far
       westside). Skating between the campus buildings are moderate.
       Several paths are rough, though the path leading to the student
       center & bridge are quite smooth. Other good paths here are
       certainly possible!
    3. Olympia High School - [Greece suburb]
       directions: I-390 to Vintage Rd. exit. End of ramp, left onto
       Vintage. Cross bridge. Left unto Fetzner Rd. Left onto Maiden
       Lane. After crossing the I-390 overpass, the high school will soon
       be on your right.

       descriptions: Park right of the building at the start of the
       parking lot (opposite side of tennis courts). From here you can
       take the north/south path on your right and go one of three ways.
       Can go south (haven't tried it yet), north, or west onto a
       pedestrian on-ramp leading to a pedestrian bridge over the I-390.
       If you choose the bridge, will come onto Fetzner Rd. Head north
       until you come to Vintage Lane. If you had taken the north path,
       you'd eventually join here as well, but not as much fun! At this
       point, you can cross the intersection and take the path going a
       slight downhill into English Rd. Park which is very rough and odd
       twigs here and there depending on season, has shade from the
       trees, and eventually opens up to an open area running into Cider
       Rd. I prefer continuing on the main road Fetzner until it hits
       Cider Rd. and making a right (safer for beginners/ intermediates
       and more aerobic as Fetzner overall is a nice level smooth road
       with generous shoulders). At this point, go a little east I
       believe on Cider Rd. past English Rd. park and the path will
       continue from the left side of the street just before the bridge
       going over I-390 again. (In case you haven't guessed by now, this
       north-south path runs close and parallel to I-390). You'll get a 1
       1/2 mi. easy run past several backyards, running close (but not
       on) to I-390 on its west side, making one intersection stop at
       Latta Rd along the way. Before passing a nice apple orchard, the
       path will briefly share a water bridge with the I-390. You'll have
       a barrier rail safely separating you from the highway, but the
       problem is some gravel and sand. I advise hanging on to the rail
       and "walking" your skates across the bridge. The path will veer
       off left after the orchard and eventually end. Total run from the
       high school approximately 4 miles.
    4. MCC (Mercer Community College) - [Brighton suburb]
       directions: I-390 exit 15 or 16B. Get onto West Henrietta Road
       going south. Will see signs for MCC on left.

       descriptions: The back of MCC has a series of parking lots. The
       farthest one to the north seems to be the smoothest and can stay
       there beyond sunset since it's lighted. The second best is the
       next one south (next to the tennis courts) which is a little
       rougher and unlit. Not too far for the Xeroids (Xerox workers) in
       Canal View and Bldg. 801. Good for practicing techniques,
       all-level skaters. Don't recommend the campus driveways as they
       are quite rough and cracked.
    5. Seneca Park - [Irondequoit suburb]
       directions: rt. 104 to Seneca Ave. exit. Make right onto Seneca.
       Make left onto East Ridge Rd. Make right onto St. Paul St. Will
       barely see sign for Seneca Park entrance on left (if cross
       railroad tracks, just passed it).

       descriptions: The 1/4 mi. entrance road to the zoo parking lot is
       very smooth and a great for beginners & endurance. The 2-section
       parking lot itself has smooth to slight rough surfaces. Just
       before reaching the zoo parking lot, you may see a car-blocked
       pathway on the left leading west. That is a good intermediate 20
       degree downhill on a smooth fenced path along the hillside to a
       small but breathtaking high fenced bridge, crossing west across
       the Genesee River. (You can make out a Kodak water treatment plant
       on the right of the west bank. Then, it goes uphill on the
       opposite side leading out to Maplewood Dr. This hidden scenic
       route is about a mile.

       If you drive past the zoo, you'll take the shaded forest entrance
       into the actual Seneca Park, the heart of which consists of about
       a 1/3 mi. path that runs all around a pond. Haven't tried that one
       yet, but seems mostly level, narrow, with some twigs in certain
       spots. Beginner/intermediate run (considering the twigs).
    6. Ontario Beach - [Charlotte suburb]
       directions: Ontario State Pkwy east until the end. Make left on
       Lake Ave. (if coming from south, can also pick up Lake Ave. off of
       rt. 104 or the I-490/downtown inner loop) Entrance to beach
       parking lot on the right before road ends.

       descriptions: the beach has several level smooth windy paths that
       weave around a pavillion, carousel, and covered eating areas. Many
       spots for beginners and intermediates to practice parallel turns.
       Can also skate on a beachside wooded boardwalk or the dockside
       walkway (but the walkway gets more and more cracked as you reach
       the north lighthouse at the end of the pier). Parking lot
       unadvisable to skate other than getting from/to your car.



   Indoor sites:_

   Horizon Fun FX
   directions: I-390 north to the end, make right onto Ontario Pkwy. east
   Take next exit to Dewey Ave. Make left on Dewey. Make right on Ling
   Rd. Rink is soon on the right.

   descriptions: moderate sized rink with skating always
   counterclockwise. Mostly Top 40 music on prime time. Snack bar inside.
   Rentals available. Hours vary summer/winter. Sat/Sun afternoon
   sessions crowded with kids/birthday parties. Mon eve. confortable
   adult night with backward skating sessions. Fri/Sat eve. family or
   teen/adult night depending on season. Admission $2.75-$5 depending on
   time/day. With the Ridge Rd. rink now closed down, this seems to be
   the only indoor roller rink for the area.

    Niagara



   From: [e-mail]
   Date: Sat, 2 Jul 1994 20:51:00 GMT

   The Amherst Bike Path is long, uncrowded, boring and windy. Cross the
   border. Park at Niagra-on-the-Lake and skate south on the bike path
   along the Niagra Scenic Pkwy. I've skated in Philadelphia, in parks in
   New Jersey, in Manhattan, in Rhode Island and in Boston and Cambridge
   and this is the prettiest stretch of road I've been on.

   If you skate far enough you can get a good view of the Lewiston-Porter
   bridge and the rapids. After you finish the skate there is an ice
   cream store on the river side of the main st in N-o-t-L that sells
   rhubarb frozen yogurt (it's set back from the road; next to a
   photo-shop).
     _________________________________________________________________

  Pennsylvania
     * Philadelphia
     * Bethlehem/Allentown
     * Pittsburgh

    Philadephia



   If you have Web access, the Philly skating FAQ is available at the
   URL:
   http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mengwong/phl.skating.html.

   From: [e-mail] (Donald P McKay)
   Date: Unknown

   I've skated at two places west of Philadelphia I recommend to anyone.

   _Philadelphia-Valley Forge Bike Trail_
   The Philadelphia-Valley Forge Bike Trail is a (mostly) marked bicycle
   route from the Art Museum in Philadelphia to Valley Forge National
   Park. Some of the bike route runs along an old rail bed and has been
   paved.

   There are two paved sections I've skated. One is at the Valley Forge
   end of the trail and the other is about mid-way.

   The Valley Forge section runs from a little used section of the
   national park located on the north side of the Schuykill River (exit
   off of Rte 422 at the Trooper Rd exit; the park is to the left). The
   section from Valley Forge park to Norristown is approximately 4 miles,
   paved, flat and level. The only bothersome part is that you share the
   trail with bicyclists, walkers and joggers. This part of the trail is
   decently wide and recently paved in 1992.

   The Conshohoken section runs from the Spring Mill SEPTA station in
   Conshohoken for 3 miles east toward Philedelphia. Except for the water
   treatment plant you have to skate by, this is an enjoyable area of the
   Schuykill River area.

   _Ridley Creek State Park_
   Located approximately 15 miles west of Philadelphia.

   _Warning--This is hilly and you must be able to brake and otherwise
   control yourself on rolling hills, 1 mile climbs and steep descents.
   Skating here is a good workout._

   In the state park, there is a paved circular path ostensibly for
   biking, blading and walking. Total distance is a little over 4 miles
   for one lap. There is a 1 mile section along Ridley Creek which is
   rolling, no steep grades up or down. The trail (no matter which way
   you happen to go) ascends from the creek bed to the main part of the
   park which is on the top of some hills. I would guess a few hundred
   feet elevation change although I've never checked a topo map. The
   steepest grade is approximately .4 miles (up or down depending). The
   trail is about 1 mile along the creek, 1 mile of gradual (compared to
   the other) grade, 1.6 miles rolling over the main part of the park,
   and the .4 mile steep grade--there are a few level parts of the run to
   help slow you down, but none at the bottom where it rejoins the creek.


   There are a few residences in the park proper so there can be an
   occasional motor vehicle.

   The fastest I've ever been on roller blades was going down the .4 mile
   grade.

   From: [e-mail] (JohnnyDull)
   Date: 18 Apr 1995 17:54:06 -0400

   Abington Junior/Senior High School campus. Hills, flats, dips, it's
   all there, and miles of it! East of Route 611, off of Susquehanna
   Road, about 1/2 mile. The driveway is on the left. (This is the
   entrance that I use, but there are others)

   (It's actually the Abington/Glenside area, north of Philly)

   From: [e-mail] (Crazy)
   Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 10:23:20 -0500

   I go to Drexel University on market and 34th. There are tons of places
   around me. The art museum is cool if you like steps and all that
   stuff. If you just like to skate for exersize, you can skate around
   fairmont park, there's a 10 mile section of paved sidewalk that goes
   around the river. It's real smooth and there's a lot of other skaters
   there. You can skate around center city, there's a lot of cool stuff
   there, city hall and all that.

   From: Steve Arsenault ([e-mail])
   Date: 13 Nov 95 14:23:57 (-0500)

   There's very good skating in the Chesterbrook area of Wayne --- about
   1/2 hour outside of the city. Take 76 West to 202 South and exit at
   Chesterbrook Blvd. You can park at any of the corporate office centers
   or by the pools in Chesterbrook. If you go to the shopping center,
   (right on Chesterbrook Blvd) Chesterbrook realty will even give you a
   trail map. If you park across Chesterbrook Blvd from the Doubletree
   Suite Hotel there's an entrance to the trails --- look for a wooden
   exercise station. The corporate parks have miles of paved surfaces ---
   I have skated and played hockey there and never been hassled. There
   ars some stairs and curbs -- but not too much in the way of exciting
   obstacles. One of the buildings on the same side as the hotel
   (accessible from the hotel parking lot) was unoccupied the last time I
   was there -- so the lot is usable even during business hours.

   But the real reason to go there is the trails. There are several miles
   of paved trails going through the woods --- most are in very good
   condition. There are a number of hills, but none are too big. There
   are a few wooden bridges that are treacherous (bumpy and the
   guardrails are more imaginary than real). The trails are not very
   crowded. Some pedestrian traffic and some bikes, but everybody is good
   about getting out of the way of skaters. In summer the trails are
   shaded, so are quite comfortable. In the fall there can be a lot of
   wet leaves and the trails can be useless for skating for days on end
   (impossible to get any edge). In several places the trails come out
   into residential areas and it takes a little bit of exploring to find
   where the trail continues. Most of the people in Chesterbrook are
   unfriendly to inline skaters and skateboarders --- especially in the
   condo section. You will not be hassled on the trails, but don't expect
   a hero's welcome when you enter the residentail areas. The trails are
   public property and anyway, the place is so big that no one has any
   idea who is really a resident.

   The trails allegedly connect into Valley Forge Park. I have found one
   connection passable by mountain bike, but no paved connections.

   There's a very limited stretch of trails near the corporate parks that
   is lit.

   There are rumors of another path also opening soon -- somehow
   connected to the on-going construction of Route 202. Rumor has it that
   it will connect into Philly.

    Bethlehem/Allentown



   From: [e-mail]
   Date: 11 Apr 1995 11:00:56 -0400

   Anybody who lives around the Bethlehem/Allentown area in PA should
   definitely check out Lehigh University. There's "tracs" a campus bus
   system that takes you from the bottom of the "hill" by the library to
   the top of Goodman campus. I would guess the vertical rise to be at
   least 700 feet. From the top, there are so many options. Every thing
   from gentle hills to steep stuff where you have to take jump turns
   (unless you brake all the way down). There are stair cases all over
   campus that you can ride or clear and a skate park (Cheap Skates)
   about a 30 minute drive away that has three half pipes (different
   sizes) a pool and a street skating area. There's a bunch of us who
   skate here all the time so if you need someone to skate with, write
   me! Don't worry if you are just starting out. A lot of my friends have
   been skating for less than a year but I guess the hills around here
   forced all of them to be better cause' they all rip it up pretty hard
   now. :)

    Pittsburgh



   From: [e-mail] (Randy Bryant)
   Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 13:59:01 GMT

   There IS good inlining in Pittsburgh, but the combination of hills,
   traffic, and potholes makes it hard to choose good routes. Here are a
   few recommendations:
    1. Schenley Park, convenient from the Oakland area (where UPitt & CMU
       are located). There's a nice loop of 5K featuring some exciting
       hills with decent runouts. Traffic is reasonable either early AM,
       or midday.
    2. Zoo parking lot, in Highland Park. Popular hangout for racers,
       because it's flat, uncrowded, and smooth (contrast to general
       conditions listed above). There's a 400M oval marked out, but you
       need someone to show you where it is. There's a group that
       generally gets together at 5pm on Sundays & 6pm on Wednesdays
    3. Oakland street skating. I understand there's a group that goes out
       on Thursdays and skates stairs, parking garages, etc. Contact Rob
       at Shadyskates [phone] for more info.
    4. Various suburban locations... I know of skaters who like both
       North Park and South Park.


     _________________________________________________________________

  Quebec

    Montreal



   From: [e-mail] (Paul Yatrou)
   Date: Unknown

   There are several bike paths in the city. Try the Lachine canal bike
   path. Go to the old port in Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal) and skate
   Westwards along the river until you get to the Lachine canal path
   entrance (ask anyone with blades on for directions). The path is
   around 8 km long one way.

   There is another path that ventures West towards Montreal West along
   deMaisoneuve Boulevard (beginning at Greene Ave.), one that heads East
   towards the Olympic Stadium (can't remember what street), and along
   the North shore of Mtl (along Gouin Boulevard) --- all in all plenty
   of klicks of skating available.

   Of course, you can street skate along Ste-Catherine, St. Laurent, St.
   Dennis streets (among the most interesting in the city).

   From: [e-mail]
   Date: Sat, 08 Jul 95 22:11:15 PDT

   I was just in Montreal for the Jazz festival and found a good route
   besides the ones you mentioned was from a bike map called Pedaler Le
   Quebec. Start at Rue Rachel by Mont Royal, go through Maisonneuve
   Parc, follow path to St-Zotique and stay on until you get to Rue
   Boyer, then go Left (south) and follow path back to Rue Rachel. It
   took me about 50 minutes, it was great, especially through the Parc.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Rhode Island
     * Providence-Bristol
     * Newport

    Providence-Bristol



   From: [e-mail] (Tim59)
   Date: 22 Sep 1994 14:41:03 -0400

   As requested, directions to Rhode Island 14 mile bike path.

   Info:
   "The path is approx. 14.5 miles long extending from Independence Park
   In Bristol to India Point Park in Providence. Constructed along an
   inactive rail line, the path offers some of the State's most scenic
   views of coastline, estuaries and woodlands. The bikeway has a 10 foot
   wide asphalt paved path with grass shoulders..."(1.)

   The path crosses four towns and eight State parks. The surface is very
   smooth and mostly flat with some very gradual hills. There are eating
   places, shops and resting areas along the path within these 8 towns. I
   feel it is best to start in scenic Bristol ...plenty of parking and
   the path starts right on the Bristol harbor. The path follows the
   water and through nice neighborhoods, past boat yards and state parks.
   Most days, you face the wind on the way out and have a tail wind back
   to the start in Bristol. It does cross 3 very busy streets so be
   careful.

   Directions:
   Bristol, R.I. The start is located on Route 114 on the Bristol harbor.
   Take Route 95 N or S to Providence. Take Route 195 East to Fall River/
   Cape Cod Take Exit 7 off 195 East. Follow 114South for approx. 13
   miles to Bristol Harbor.

   Additional Info:
   Ask for Jane at Bristol Chamber of Commerce [phone]. She said
   she would send BayPath maps out to anyone interested.

   ref. (1.) Bristol County Chamber East Bay Bike Path Map

   From: Walter Clark ([e-mail])
   Date: 27 Jun 1995 18:29:14 GMT

   The part we have experienced runs from Bristol harbor north, roughly
   parallel Rt 114 through Warren, Barrington and into E. Providence. In
   doing so it passes by the harbor waterfront in Bristol and Warren, a
   strech of Narangansett Bay, a pond, Colt State Park in Bristol,
   crosses over inlets with wooden bridges twice, crosses 114 twice, and
   by several places to stop for refreshment, rest or food. I think it is
   about 12 miles long end to end. We havent probed North beyond
   Barrington.

   We park either at the Ames on 114 in Barrington and skate south to the
   end or we park in a small water front park and boat launch at the
   south end of the trail in Briston on 114. We were told by the folks in
   the first paragraph that Colt State Park was a good place to park and
   set out from but, this weekend we found out they have banned inline
   skating from that park.

   The trail itself is pretty smooth, though not as smooth as either the
   re-paved trail on the east side of the Cape Cod Canal or the Minuteman
   trail from Bedford to Boston. The asphalt itself is a bit coarser than
   either of the above, but it is not too rough, just not as fast. The
   only rough spots in the trail are where the trail crosses 114 in
   Warren, and the two wood bridges in Warren/Barrington. The bridges are
   easy enough to skate onto going North but the Northmost bridge has a
   1" or so lip going onto it when heading south that might not be
   obvious until you are sliding along on your knee and wrist pads over
   the wood timbers. In a few pastoral sections, surrounded by trees keep
   an eye on the pavement for roots pushing up. There are a few nearly
   invisible bumps from this that can through you off your stride or on
   your nose if you are just enjoying the scenery.

   We have stopped for refreshments at the TJ Cinnamon's in Barrington
   and the Dell's in Warren. Both alongside the trail and both skater
   friendly (though the Dell's has wooden steps up the front). There seem
   to be other skater friendly places along the way too.

   One unusual thing to notice and be aware of. The trail markings
   suggest that pedestrians walk on the left and bikes on the right. I
   found that walkers and joggers may be right, left or both.

   If you are in Southern NE, I recommend the trail. Nice scenery. Too
   bad about Colt State Park.

    Newport



   From: "stern" ([e-mail])
   Date: 17 Jul 96 09:13:59 -0400

   I had been warned that Newport is not a skate-friendly community but
   perhaps their recent (6/96) hosting of the X Games lead to a change in
   standards. I did not try to skate in most shops or restaurants, but I
   skated through both private property and parks without being
   admonished and without seeing a single _no skating_ sign. It beat
   Manhattan in that regard.

   I suggest four areas for skating in Newport, though the town is so
   small that any active skater will find all these in a day or two in
   any case.

   _The Harbor and Thames Street_
   These are the gentrified, areas along the western side of Newport,
   crowded with restaurants, bars and souvenir shops and filled with
   tourists during the summer. During the height of the season, the
   streets are too filled with (admittedly slow moving) cars for any kind
   of spirited workout. The sidewalks are simply out of the question. I
   did see some local youths out for aggressive skating, though I
   couldn't figure out where they found any patch of concrete sufficient
   free of people to allow for tricks, unless they went into the empty
   lots along the water (see below).

   In some confused twist of city planning, there are some parking lots
   on the waterfront. The underpaid teenagers administering the lots
   didn't mind my skating in them, and I was able to get some good
   practice in along the edge of the water there without worrying about
   pedestrians.

   _Memorial Drive and Easton's Beach_
   The best beach in Newport proper lies along the southern shore and can
   be reached by a short skate (~4 miles) with one hill along Memorial
   Blvd. Experienced skaters will not find the route challenging, though
   the beach is lovely. I was warned that the town has a problem with
   drunk drivers and that Memorial Blvd. may be dangerous at night for
   this reason.

   _Ocean Drive_
   The best bet for those trying to get in real workouts. This road
   twists along the coast around the promontory to the southwest of the
   island. The views are without match, but wear a helmet. This route is
   not for the inexperienced or the faint of heart.

   _Bellevue Ave. and the Mansions_
   100 years ago, the wealthiest of America's industrial and banking
   families built their summer mansions in Newport. Many of these
   buildings still stand and are open to the public. During the day,
   during the tourist season, the roads in these neighborhoods are
   clogged with cars. However, even shortly after hours, these areas make
   for great skating. The area around Bellevue Ave. and Ochre Point Road
   is particularly nice. The estates are enormous, only a few per mile,
   and some are unoccupied, so there=B9s effectively no traffic at all.
   The pavement is pristine, and the environs are lovely, especially in
   the cul-de-sacs that end on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Some
   hills, but nothing bothersome.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Vermont

    Stowe



   From: "Susan M. Kennedy" ([e-mail])
   Date: 12 Jul 1995 16:48:12 GMT

   Stowe, VT has a great bike path through an incredibly beautiful
   valley. Also the Stowe Ski Resort has a smallish skate park in their
   parking lot, which has some ramps, an open area, a hockey rink, a
   track and even a little tow to take you up a short slope for slalom.
   Its fun! It also cost $10 bucks for the day, but the bike trail is
   free.
     _________________________________________________________________



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