Indeed, the scenery was magnificent. On the way to Tobay Beach, we passed over a series of islands –– Great, Low and Green –– on the Wantagh Parkway path before we reached the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, where we stopped briefly. From there we picked up the Ocean Parkway trail, which is designated as a coastal greenway. We faced a mean headwind as we pedaled east. To our right, the Atlantic Ocean peeked through the dunes as it shimmered in the sunlight. To our left was Zach’s Bay, which was full of boats, large and small. A plain, populated by reeds and low-lying scrub pines, stretched from the path to the bay

Halfway between Jones and Tobay beaches, we passed the John F. Kennedy Wildlife Refuge. I noted a kiosk beside the bike path with information about and pictures of the northern harrier, a raptor with a 4-foot wingspan. Then I spotted a large, brown bird, which I assumed was a harrier, circling in a gentle arc above the brush in the distance.
Tobay Beach park was closed when we reached it at around 8 a.m., so we turned around and went back to Wantagh. The trip back was considerably easier because we had the wind at our backs.

“As an avid biker for most of my life, it’s great to have trails like this on Long Island, so close to home,” said Hackmack, who lives in Hicksville. “The extension along Ocean Parkway is a nice ride, although riding three miles into the wind certainly can be a challenge.

“Overall,” he added, “I’d like to see Long Island made more bike-friendly, especially along the regular surface streets, so it can be a practical means of alternative transportation.”