The 20th annual Great Saunter, the 32-mile walk around the rim of Manhattan conducted by Shorewalkers, the urban hiking and environmental group, begins at 7:30 a.m. Sat., May 7, rain or shine at the corner of Fulton and South Sts., and for those who make it, the walk ends about 12 hours later at the same corner.
Some 500 people joined the walk at one point or another last year and 152 of them completed the long march, according to Cy Adler, founder and president of the group.
Walkers may join and leave the clockwise saunter at any point. The estimated arrival times at some points are: 7:35 a.m. at South Ferry; 7:40 a.m. at the plaza near the North Cove of Battery Park City; shortly before 8 a.m. at 14th St. and West St.; a press conference stop 9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m. at the Circle Line Pier at 42nd St.; 11 a.m. or later at 125th St.; 11:20 a.m. at Riverbank State Park atop the North River Water Pollution Control plant; and 1:30 p.m. lunch rest near the flag pole at Inwood Park. Great Saunter finishers will begin meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Heartland Brewery at Fulton and South Sts.
Pete Seeger, 86, the celebrated folk singer and environmental advocate who for many years joined the Great Saunter at Inwood Park, told Adler that he sprained his ankle last week and will not join the Shorewalkers on May 7.
Sponsors of the 2005 walk include Con Edison, Time Warner and Heartland Brewery.
