Along the Hudson - Anniversary 43

June 7, 2014

It was our 43rd anniversary. Since we retired, we have tried to do short trips to celebrate. This year we decided on the Hudson Valley as a destination. For quite a few years now, I have tried to do a commemorative sculpture as well … usually on a body of water. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do that this year, so I created by sculpture on the Rock River behind our house several days earlier. It contained 43 objects and one for good luck. I tell people that I do not know how long I can continue this tradition. Every year, I get older and the rocks get heavier. 

We headed out early on the day before our anniversary in order to reach our first target activity just as it opened for the day.  We had a three hour drive ahead of us and a long list of things we intended to do. Anne snoozed in the passenger seat and let the Garmin do most of the navigating. By the time she really woke up, we were already in cruising through the small towns lining the banks of the Hudson. The farm scenery along the way was beautiful.

Our first destination was Olana. Olana was the home of Federic Church, a leading landscape artist of the period. Church was the only artist to actually be taught by Thomas Cole, the head of the Hudson River School group. Church's interest in both Persian and Mexican cultures inspired him to build the Persian mansion on his estate overlooking the Hudson. 

Directly across the bridge, from Olana was the studio of Thomas Cole.

There is no better example of the Persian style of Olana than the main entryway.

I particularly like the use of natural wood fencing and seating around the grounds to compliment the mansion, but still make the mansion the focal point of the grounds. 

Although the flower gardens were minimal, there were some interesting offerings there.

Following our tour of Olana, we headed into nearby Hudson for lunch. It had a small Main Street that was well worth the time to explore. We, on the other hand, had little time to spare and chose American Glory BBQ for lunch. For some inexplicable reason, I ordered the BBQ turkey leg. Last year at the Medieval Fair we attended, I had a delicious one. Perhaps the leg, I had at American Glory was left over from that fair. It appears that the waitress forgot to include a hammer with my utensils to break through the turkey leg skin. I have made better choices in my life. I thanked my lucky stars that I had not broken a tooth on the leg and we were back on the road.

Millbrook, NY was our target. I had read about two artists who built a castle, 85% of the building material being salvaged goods. As we drove along the driveway to the castle, I noticed a somewhat strange sculpture in the treelike. I slowed to take a picture and realized that was exactly in the right place … or, I was so in the wrong place.

We pulled up to the castle only to find signage indicating it was closed. It seems that you had to call in advance in order to tour the castle. Oops!  A picture out of the car window was all we would glean from this stop.

Better luck in Poughkeepsie.

Along the banks of the Hudson, just outside of Poughkeepsie, is Locust Grove. Locust Grove was the home and estate of Samuel Morse. Besides being an artist, Samuel Morse was an inventor. In fact, the inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code need to use it. 

The tour of the house was interesting and informative. Outside, unique gardens complimented the views of the Hudson. I particularly enjoyed the huge trees surrounding Morse's home. 

                I

t was back on the road again … this time to Newburgh, NY. Despite Anne's fears, having read some less than sterling reviews, the Ramada Inn was fine. I chose Billy Joes Ribworks for dinner. Maybe I am overdoing the barbecue, but it was located right at the marina on the Hudson.  It was a little loud and boisterous ( pounding like a heart about to explode ) and I have to say karaoke is clearly not my thing. Perhaps the pounding I was hearing was the pounding of our hearts … it was our anniversary trip. I made a mental note to check my pillbox back at the room to be sure I have taken my bp medicine. Nevertheless, the ribs were great and being right on the Hudson was definitely the place to be. Anyway, how can you go wrong for ribs when you see a faded, white pig painted on the brick wall of the dining room?

We awoke refreshed. Yesterday had been a long day … but fun. Today, however, was the day … the anniversary … the 43rd roundup. Perhaps, I let my imagination get the best of me.

                                       

Anne was helpful in bringing me back to my senses. Off we went!

First stop of the day was the Dutch Reformed Church. It a National Register site and is begin restored. I didn't really know what to expect here. Turned out that we could not get inside due to locked fences all around. Even in its current state, it is a formidable structure and should be magnificent when the restoration is completed.

I couldn't help but notice the building just down the street from the church. I loved the ornate architecture. It had once been the town library, but now house a church. Beautiful building. 

It was  straight shot across town for our next site, George Washington's Headquarters. We and about an hour to kill before the first tour and were directed to a coffee chop across the street. One of the wonderful things about exploring in a city or small town is finding unique little shops. Macciachio served specialty coffees and pastries and was decorated with an Indian theme, complimented by lots of local art. Very relaxing and welcoming. 

After coffee, we walked back over to Washington's Headquarters  to take the tour. The site includes a visitors' center, the building where Washington was housed, and a monument. All of this strategically, sat on the high ground overlooking the Hudson. We learned that over the period of the 8 years of the Revolutionary War, Washington had 165 different headquarter sites and that his stay here was the longest. 

It was here he rejected the idea that he be made King after the war, he outlined the format of what became the constitution of the Sate of New York an slater the model for the US Constitution, and he create the first military award of honor for regular soldiers, which was the forerunner of the Purple Heart.

Checking out where George and Martha Washington slept makes a man powerful hungry. We drove across the river to Beacon, NY.  Main Street was  great spot for just browsing.  Lots of small galleries, a small sculpture park, and restaurants lined the street. 

We chose Max's on Main for our lunch for typical American fare and it was exceptional. The place was absolutely packed with locals watching the World Cup match with Germany and cheering on the US every time the players did anything. Perhaps the massive consumption of alcohol had something to do with their exuberance.  Lots of fun.

We spent the afternoon in Beacon, at Dia: Beacon, a huge contemporary art museum. The exhibit spaces are huge, rivaling those at Mass MOCA. I love the space, but I must admit that I don't have a clue what 99% of the  exhibits were getting at … strange, strange and more strange. I did recognize that one piece was a spider. It was very similar to pieces I saw in Ottawa and Bilbao and possibly is the same artist.

I was drawn to one particular piece that spoke to me and seemed strangely familiar, but try was I may, I could not figure it out either.

We finished up a little early at Dia: Beason. Confusion doesn't take that long. Decided to try out the Roundhouse Hotel to sit and relax before dinner.  The hotel is located at Beacon Falls and has a seating outside along the river.  Beautiful setting.

We drove back across the Hudson to Newburgh for dinner. I had found a Peruvian Restaurant for us to try  and it proved to be a great choice. Unfortunately, the Peruvian tamales are not available (I really wanted to try them). The meals were authentic and delicious. Best eats of the trip for sure. Anne had a baked flounder with a Peruvian sauce to die for. I chose n old style Incan meat stew over rice with some of the hottest sauces I have tasted in years … one drop to light you up.

The next morning, we were so full still from the Peruvian meal that we neglected to do the senior citizen snatch and run at the hotel breakfast. That's when the old timers see a basket or bowl of fruit on the buffet and grab multiple apples, pears, oranges, etc.and shove them in their purse saying they are taking them to someone else in the room. Saw a bushel basket of apples emptied by a senior citizen bus group at thePutney Inn once in less than three minutes … then they asked if there were any more apples.

We checked out and headed for the cars. Funny, Anne's purse seemed suspiciously heavy and she appeared to have to use two hands to carry it. Destination Germantown and Clermont, the Robert Livingston Estate. Home to seven generations of Livingston's, including Robert of the Clermont steamboat invention with Fulton. 

The grounds were great and we rambled around, ending up in a great conversation with the gardener. Originally, the estate here was 165,000 acres along the Hudson. They eventually added another half a million acres across the river. In seven generations if was virtually all gone, the remainder finally donated to the state when the family could not afford to keep it up. The house tour was enjoyable … but we really liked roaming around the grounds.

It was getting late in the afternoon. Louis and Susan and Peyton were scheduled to arrive in Williamville at 5:30PM to stay with us for some vacation time. We decided id we hurried just a bit, we might be able to see one more site before our anniversary adventure would be over. So be it. We sped to Kinderhook, NY to visit the 8th President of the US, Martin Van Buren  Museum and Homestead.

Afterwards, we raced home.

The Childrey's were in hot pursuit.

We were about one exit on the Mass Turnpike ahead of them.

But we beat them home

and were at the ready to receive them.

Like the good hosts we are!