Ooohh Ahhhh

Last Saturday to celebrate some friends turning 30 I was invited to play paintball!

It was all the way across the other side of Staten Island which meant getting to the Staten Island Ferry for 9am. The ferry is free and is noted in guide books as a cheaper way to get a decent view of the Statue of Liberty than paying for the normal tourist boat cruises.

Plus the trip meant I got a good view of the fifth borough and the one I'd never visited properly. The bus from the ferry terminal to the paintball venue took around 50 minutes, which was okay going there as you could see the contrasting housing on the island. Massive mansions, proper american houses with yards and normal New York style flats and 'dodgier' areas.

We played on & off for about three hours. It was in the high 80's but mostly shaded. I wore my heart rate monitor as I was interested to see what my HR would be, plus the calorie count.

I've played before and know how the adrenaline of the situation really pushes your HR up.

So I averaged 156, what I would do for an easy run, maxed at over 200, and burned 2000 calories, ha ha. Our referee did compliment me on my stealthiness though!

The return journey to the ferry on the bus, not so nice. A quick march to the bus as they only come once an hour, followed by a tired, dirty, sweaty trip back, counting our bruises and then a change of clothing in the ferry terminal toilet.

Just like the end of The Dark Knight

That's how you live here though. I hate it. No time to go home, just onwards for food and drinks at a bar in the nearby financial district. Worse when it's in the sticky 80's and you feel so grubby.

Finally I got home at around 10pm for a shower and to check out my wicked bruises.

The best one... of seven