Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” I: Stewart Avenue to Deadman’s Curve, Bethpage
On Sunday, April 2, 2017, Dave Russo and his 12-year old son Sammy embarked on their third annual "Vanderbilt Day". Instead of duplicating the Queens to Melville route, they decided to hike the "unknown" sections of the Motor Parkway from Bethpage to Dix Hills. In the first in this new series, Sammy and Dave documented their excellent Motor Parkway hike from Stewart Avenue to Deadman's Curve in Bethpage.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Dave Russo April 2, 2017: "The original plan was to start at the Maxess Road Bridge and work our way east but we feared that would not be long enough so we decided on a new starting point.....The starting point was Stewart Avenue in Bethpage and we made our way to Dix Hills. This time we left the bikes at home and walked 13 miles. And not a normal 13 miles, there were large portions of the exploration through woods, thorns and thickets. We both came out with many scratches and bites, but at the end of the day we completed our mission and can add another chapter to the memory book!"
Stewart Avenue, Bethpage
Our lone joint photo of the day. We drove to Dix Hills and parked one car, mommy drove us back to Bethpage, took the picture, called us crazy and all sorts of other names, and left us to our mission.
On top of the abutment - pavement, looking west.
Looking west at top of abutment.
The bridge as seen on September 3, 1908. The road under the Motor Parkway then was called Jerusalem Road, often confused with Jerusalem Avenue.
Heading east - approaching Broadway, pavement.
Foran Halfway House Tea Room, Bethpage
The first and only fast food restaurant on the Motor Parkway.
Ellen Foran's establishment in 1938.
Heading east, more original pavement leading up to the curve. Notice how the LIPA lines are always to our right.
Lots of posts along fence line - just east of N. Windhorst Avenue
Pavement
Deadman's Curve, Bethpage
Looking east over N. Herman Avenue at the curve of the Dead Man.
Great curve picture.
Sam's all time favorite location.
Right after the actual curve, looking east.
Deadman's Curve during the 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes, looking south and west.
Comments
Sam and Dave ROCK. Thanks
Not sure if I made the mistake when sending to Howard, but it’s important to note the LIPA lines are always to our RIGHT when walking east. That will be important for future posts.
My writing was not up to snuff this time! I must have still been recovering from all of the thorn wounds.
The joke was supposed to be….what better place to start then the starting point! This is where the LIMP was begun so we decided this is where Vanderbilt Day III was to begin!
Great photo of you both! You and Sam did a hardcore version of a 1/2 marathon! Having a machete would’ve been ideal, but I guess it would’ve brought on unwanted attention. Dave, I’m picturing the whole scene with your wife, etc
Nice shots Sam and Dave. That must’ve been one hike and a half that day, I’m estimating 12mi.? Great to see Deadman’s curve being maintained considering the time lapse of the previous cleanup. The rest of the ROW looks good too. Looking forward to the following segments.
As always; great and thanks. Takes me back to when I first slogged and forced m,y way through the more over-grown areas which I, and later Al and Howard and a few others (and then LI Parks), cleared. Slowly but surely you can see how it looked “before” as I restore more and more of my old website. Keep it up! The 71-year older Sam (III)
As I’ve noted a few times already, my grandfather Donato Lerario worked on this portion of the VMP and, in fact, then bought some property just to the west of it on Windhorst ( one house south of Central) where he built his house. He moved to that house from one in Astoria which he also built.
As kids me and my cousins would constantly walk along the Deadman’s Curve which was fully paved at that time. The road was surrounded on both sides by blueberry bushes and already completely obscured from the small neighborhood in that area.
My son Gram and I explored this particular section many times over the years and it remains our favorite portion as well!
Just did some shooting at Deadman’s curve the other day. Love the pics…keep’em coming.
very well done, brings back memories when I was in Plainview, almost 2 years ago. where does the time go when you’re having a good time. In a way I miss Long Island, being away from you guys and not joining in with the events that go on with the VCR and especially not seeing the newest addition to the car collection The Tucker, don’t know when I will see it, maybe if I’m lucky you’ll bring it to Florida to that event you went to, about 1 and half years ago, or even here to the Villages, like I said previously, you don’t need an invite, just come, let me know and I’ll tell you when, you’ll be a real big hit, with any of your cars. The car show is once a month 4pm-9 live entertainment, just about anything you want,
Exploring in the woods never grows old! I love it myself,,,