Day 306 – 312
On Tuesday morning, 07/13/21, we finally got an Uber to drive us from the marina up to the local Enterprise location to pick-up our rental car we reserved for our week’s stay in the Croton-On-Hudson area. We lucked-out and were issued a brand new Nissan Rogue SUV, which was very nice and still had that new-car smell. š We drove our rental to the local USPS, so I could mail off some recently-completed crocheted sections to Warm Up America! and pick-up some more mailing boxes. We then ventured to Walmart, in nearby Peekskill, NY, to buy more yarn and other supplies.
Upon the recommendation of several people, we tried our luck and actually scored dinner reservations for that evening at The Culinary Institute of America, in nearby Hyde Park, NY! Any Looper that stops in Croton-On-Hudson tries to get meal reservations at the CIA, but not everyone is successful, so we felt especially fortunate. There are several restaurants inside the large school, and we got to sample the delicious dishes from the American Bounty restaurant. Even though our drive was more than 42 miles, one way, the experience was well worth the drive – especially since we had such a nice vehicle in which to make the trip. Before and after our meals, we explored the lovely grounds of the institute, something else that was suggested. The food, the drink, the ambiance, and the entire experience was very much one to remember.
The next day we drove our fancy ride to a nearby Home Depot, Lowe’s, and a grocery store, where I managed to find a new plant for my growing collection of boat plants. During our travels that day, we crossed over the impressive Tappan Zee Bridge, west over the Hudson River, into central New York state. The SUN was actually shining that day, which was a real treat for both of us, even though more storms were forecast for that afternoon and night. Just as I’d expected, though, the sun being out made all the difference in the Croton-On-Hudson area. Every direction we looked was so much more interesting and beautiful with natural light shining on it. š
Another day, again upon recommendation, we drove up to Croton Gorge Park, located just a few miles from our marina. This whole area reminded both of us of the Smoky Mountains, down in eastern Tennessee. There is an impressive dam, multiple waterfalls, and rushing creek surrounded by park-like grounds, hills, and forest.
We drove to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, NY, which is a large and lovely old cemetery built on and amongst steeply rolling hills. Dogwoods, rhododendrons, and roses of Sharon bloomed prolifically during our visit. I was in love! I had never seen so many different species of Japanese maple trees all planted in one location. Some of them were very large, as Japanese maples go, so I knew they’d been growing there for many years. Those trees gave the entire place a magical, dream-like appearance.
Steve parked our car in the shade and waited for me as I walked all over the grounds, taking picture after picture. In every direction, I was surrounded by countless old and interesting grave markers, lovely flowers, and lush plantings with sunlight streaming through them. What more could I ask for? Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, William Rockefeller, and Leona Helmsley are among the hundreds buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, which was incorporated on 10/29/1849. Steve commented that the Helmsley mausoleum is larger than any house we’ve ever owned. And he was right!
On our way back from Sleepy Hollow, we stopped in downtown Ossining On Hudson, NY, at Sing Sing Kill Brewery for an afternoon craft beer and some wine. We sat outside and people-watched in that day’s glorious weather. Our general musings about Ossining, and this entire part of the country, were that the buildings here are obviously very old and not necessarily kept up. Almost to compliment the age and general dreariness of the area, the surrounding landscaping appears rarely manicured, being allowed to grow up around streets, sidewalks, and buildings, giving a rather unkempt appearance.
That evening, when we arrived back in Croton, we tried Black Rock Kitchen for dinner, upon the advice of a couple we’d met earlier at our marina, and agreed the couple knew what they were talking about.
On Friday, 07/16/21, we journeyed up to the US Military Academy at West Point, in Highland, NY. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), West Point was closed for tours due to Covid restrictions, but there was a very nice exhibit and museum we were able to walk-through and tour, which was better than nothing. I was able to take some pictures and we both learned a lot about the school, which was originally established in 1802, even though the site and some of the buildings were first utilized as a fort, dating back to the mid-1700s. Back when Steve and I had both worked for Sprint PCS, our director was Matthew W. Anderson, who was a graduate of West Point and an elite Army Ranger, to boot. It was fun reading about the place and imagining our friend once attending there. In fact, what I learned about the school, its core and values, and its rigorous curriculum, along with the teeming number of cadets enrolled today, gave me renewed faith in the youth of our country and their ability to carry our country forward.
After West Point, we drove up into the Catskill Mountains to visit Woodstock, NY. We were discovering that the terrain of New York state is much more scenic and beautiful than either of us had realized. Once again, we remarked on how comparable it is to the Smoky Mountains in the Appalachians. As we drove around the historic little town of Woodstock, NY, we were reminded that Woodstock itself was not the actual site of the infamous 1969 concert, even though it shared this town’s name. The iconic concert, itself was held 59 miles away on Max Nasgar’s farm, in Bethel, NY, where there is now a museum and memorial site constructed to commemorate the famous event. We vowed to drive to that exact site later in our stay in the area. One of the things that intrigued me most about the kitschy little town of Woodstock were all the young people strolling its streets, dressed exactly like Hippies. From the tie-dyed clothing, to the bell-bottomed jeans, long or dread-locked hair adorned with flowers, the round, wire-rimmed sunglasses, to their Birkenstock sandals, these kids appeared to be stepping out of the annals of time. It was so realistic and surreal, that I pondered if perhaps these true-to-life-looking youngsters might actually be reincarnated Hippies that had once roamed these streets some 52 years earlier, as it was certainly physically possible…(?)
With the aid of Google Maps, we left the main streets of town and found the actual location of Levon Helm’s Studios (think The Band) that were still supposedly located at 160 Plochman, there in Woodstock, NY. We found the gate to the property, which was standing open, with a paved alley winding down and into a grove of woods that obscured the house/building itself. Steve was too respectful to enter that alley, even though I would’ve been game, since the area was completely void of any no trespassing signs. To be honest, the area did appear much more residential than commercial, and since Levon himself passed away in 2012, we weren’t sure if that property was even still owned by the Helms family. Plus, Steve said he didn’t want to be responsible for “causing an incident” in the laid-back town of Woodstock, NY.
On Saturday, 07/17/21, we took advantage of more nice weather and drove to Bear Mountain State Park and Hessian Lake, another very scenic area, which had also been recommended. As we drove around this part of New York, we were struck by the number of towns, counties, and areas with names that end with “kill” or “kills”. Finding this odd, I researched it and found that the Middle Dutch word, kille, meaning “riverbed” or “water channel” was used in areas of Dutch influence in the Delaware and Hudson Valleys and other areas of the former New Netherland colony of Dutch America, to describe a strait, river, or arm of the sea. Since there are so many streams, rivers, and waterways in this part of New York, it explains the high number of communities with “kill” in their names. Another thing I’ve noticed here in New York (although completely unrelated) is all the Veronica Speedwell flowers growing wild in the medians and in the fields along the highways. And my favorite color, to boot – fuchsia!
We had plenty of time left in this day of rural exploration, so we consulted our GPS and headed for Bethel Woods, outside of Bethel, NY, and the actual site of the famed Woodstock concert, held exactly 52 years earlier, during the period of August 15-18, 1969. And what a treat this place turned out to be! It was so much more than either of us had imagined. It was unbelievable, actually! We found an impressive memorial establishment, beautiful grounds, a breathtaking view of the hillside valley location, at which the monumental event had originally occurred and had precipitated the area we were now enjoying. The museum and it’s exhibit, which included beautiful artwork exhibits, music, and videos, was informative, fulfilling, and moving. We learned so much about this concert and just how much was involved in bringing it to its fruition. Not only were there many key people involved and major challenges overcome, there were very likely a couple of miracles involved, as well. š
On Sunday, 07/18/21, we drove to Tarrytown, NY, and toured the magnificent Lyndhurst Mansion, on its acreage perched high on the Hudson River. I had read and heard about Lyndhurst through the years, so I naturally jumped at the chance to tour it. This elaborate example of 19th century Gothic Revival architecture was built by William Paulding, Jr, the then mayor of New York City, in 1838 as a summer retreat for his family. The Pauldings called the house “Knoll”, until .it was purchased, enlarged, and enhanced by the George Merritt family, who double the size of the mansion and renamed it Lyndenhurst, after the many Linden trees planted on the 67-acre estate. Merritt also created the English naturalistic style setting of the grounds. Sadly, the Merritts only lived in the home for six years, before Mr. Merritt died from kidney disease. Mrs. Merritt sold the house and property to self-made railroad tycoon, Mr. Jay Gould and family, in 1880, who shortened the name of the house to Lyndhurst. A portion of the grounds were dedicated to a private rose garden and spacious green houses by Mr. Gould, who fancied himself a horticulturist. He was especially fond of orchids, and nurtured hundreds of them as a hobby. The Goulds were one of the richest families in the world at that time. For 80 years, the home was occupied full and part-time by at least one member of the Gould family, before it was bequeathed by Anna Gould to the National Historic Registry, upon her death in 1961. The estate remains in the hands of the Registry, is maintained by funding, and open to the public for tours.
We ate dinner that evening back in Croton-On-Hudson at The Tavern at Croton Landing, enjoying the perfect evening weather by dining outside. When we returned to Legacy after dinner, we found her rocking wildly in her slip, as the wind had risen considerably throughout the day. So we got to live and attempt to sleep on a roller-coaster that night… UGH.
The next day was cooler, cloudy and a misty-rainy day. We drove the Rogue into town for groceries and adult beverage supplies, then drove to the Maya Riviera restaurant, in Briarcliff, NY, for a Mexican lunch. The place was all but abandoned, but we received terrific service from the staff, and the food tasted about like you’d expect a Mexican restaurant in a small New York town to taste. š Reluctantly, that afternoon we turned in our rental vehicle to the local Enterprise office and walked back to our marina, which was only about a mile away. We sure did hate to see that car go!
Position: N 41Ā° 11.802, W 73Ā° 53.392
Total marina nights: 288
Total nights at anchor: 23
Locks today: 0
Locks Total: 28