Woodstock

Subtitled: OPUS 40. A Rock Opera

We start the day with some wide ranging discussion of breakfast with our host and the other guests.

They are from a combination of New Zealand, Santa Fe and New York. No politics as that's far too contentious/ painful for the Americans. Topics include various food options, our amazement at the idea of visiting Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath all in one day whilst on holiday in London. Their amazement at our idea of calling in to Washington DC, as we were in Canada so would swing by DC on the way. Also included a long explanation of the difficulty of rehabilitation of an American Robin that fell out of its nest and damaged its wing. It included teaching it to dig for its own worms and convincing it it was able to fly. 

Incidentally the repast was a breakfast burrito for at least one, plus some other delicious goodies such as...

...fruit and still hot, straight from the oven blueberry muffins. We also have tea made with boiling hot water, which makes a change. There is also much discussion on this topic (both last night and this morning).

Perhaps this deer wanted some breakfast too - it was outside in the garden.

The weather is pretty poor, mountains are shrouded in mist, but we can hardly complain as in the  four weeks we have been on holiday we've had very good weather overall. We decide to call at the Mt. Tremper visitor centre to check if there are any good places to see in the rain. Even though it had stopped at a low level by the time we got there, we decided to give the walk to the top of Overlook Mountain a miss as it was still well covered in mist and one of the selling points for this walk is the amazing views - particularly from the top of the fire tower in a clearing on the top. Perhaps we secretly give a sigh of relief at this not being a good option for today - it is a two and a half mile steady climb up the mountain (to 3140ft) plus the climb up the fire tower if you are feeling adventurous, and then the same route back down - don't think that would have done much for our knees!  Apparently, what we are missing besides the views are some historic ruins half a mile from the top, a Buddist Monastery to visit, and a lot of Timber Rattlesnakes (well maybe the latter is also a positive in terms of giving it a miss).

A few other ideas passed on by the ranger are interesting, though many of you will be pleased to know it doesn't include too much avian viewing, as that's unlikely to prove successful. 

Instead we head towards the lower lands heading for a rather unusual sounding museum, which often appeals to us. In the past these have included such places as the Bakelite museum, the Pencil Museum, Driving Creek Railway, a Rope Museum, and an Agricultural Machinery Museum. This one, OPUS40, is dedicated to the work of quarrymen, but developed by a sculptor.  He was to take 40 years to develop the site, rather ironically, thirty-seven and a half years in he was killed following an accident with his tractor.  The 'sculpture' was so nearly complete that his wife eventually opened the site on a not-for-profit basis. An entry of $7 each (OAP rate) seems good value and we have a quick look around the visitor centre and museum.

A montage of tools and below another collection of 'things'. The other tools were too badly lit to take any more photos to bore you with.

Then it was outside to see the work of a single artist over nearly 40 years, celebrating the work of quarrymen exclusively in the blue stone quarried in the area. 

 There was also an area for you to have a try at building you're own rock 'sculptures'.

Eric the balancing dog.

I can't quite strike the same pose.

Flame is the name of the diving lady sculpture behind the fountain pool.

We stayed at low level for a while, heading for some lighthouses on the Hudson River.  We head for Kingston first, the Maritime Museum and Rondout Lighthouse.  Kingston is a busy town but manage to find some free parking right by the museum.

A view one way along the Hudson in the Maritime Museum precincts,

And then the other.

The lighthouse is a little further afield and we only gain distant views, and yes it is the large building behind the tree.  Not you're usual type of lighthouse we thought.

Second lighthouse on the list is at Saugerties, which is quite a pretty little town with interesting looking shops. Being good we don't stop to browse here ( partly because the place is heaving on account of the garlic festival - doesn't every town have one of those?) but park up and walk the half mile trail to the lighthouse.

The water is lapping quite close to the path. It did say to check the tides but we had assumed this meant a walk across a causeway to the lighthouse, which would be unavailable if the tide was in. 

Wrong!   The path should have given us a clue. Just as we approach the lighthouse (glimpses are visible through the over-head height reeds) the path is flooded to calf height! Frustratingly we do not have wellies and are not able to progress to enable a full view without getting very wet.  So here's a cheat on what the lighthouse looks like (www.saugertieslighthouse.com). Rather nice huh?

So perhaps this type of lighthouse is common around here.

A scenic drive was the next thing on the cards.

It takes past one of the the water sources for New York City, Ashokan Resevoir (although we notice the real estate people were calling it a lake). The mist still clung to the mountains.

I only want to look at the view!

Past some more of those pretty trees.

Another bridge

A  pink house - we are not sure if this is the site of Big Pink, the house made famous by Bob Dylan and his band for all you 'rock afficiandos' but the Lonley Planet guide, from which this quote comes, tells us it is in West Saugerties, and that's where we are, so we're going to assume it is because it's very pink and it's a house.

A sculpture park where Eric meets some more new friends.

A 'man' fishing from a bridge (something of a theme?), although this one looks a lot more comfortable than the last.

The next part of the drive takes us up into the mountains where, as you may be able to tell, it was still very foggy, enough to make the road very wet. It was still very scenic anyway.

Then, I guess because we were at higher altitude and the air chillier, we finally get an idea of what colour changes in big blocks of trees might look like.  

Returning to Woodstock it is time for dinner and a stroll around the village.  It is very reminiscent of Byron Bay in Australia and I guess that's because it has that same hippie vibe. 

Some interesting shops, which luckily were closed for the evening.

This one permenantly I guess - bitter or what?!

How would you like a cushion like this?

An interesting selection of very specific books, perhaps a typical thing to have in an alternative community.

Dinner was good too.

A cup of tea back at the homestead, accompanied by, in answer to our questions, an explanation of why the Woodstock Festival of 1969 was called that when it was actually held at Yasgur's Farm in Bethel, which is about 60 miles away. If you really want to know too, you'll have ask us when we get. back.