Headed South October 20-21, Newburgh New YorkHeaded South October 20-21, Newburgh New York

Turning tree on FDR's estate

Today we drove 250 miles and entered into 5 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.  We felt kind of guilty not stopping to explore these places, but we were in Boston not too long ago, and we’ve been on the Maine coast for the last three weeks, so we didn’t feel inclined to do more beach and ocean in Mass and Conn.  I must admit I felt especially guilty driving past Walden Pond.   NYC is definitely out because of the trailer.  We will visit the Big Apple on another trip.  We are on the Hudson River and plan on stopping at Hyde Park to see FDRs home and possibly go up to West Point.

The fall colors are now in full swing.  Looking at the fall colors is akin to watching a fourth of July fireworks show; red, yellow and golden leaves seem to gleam in the sun like a starburst rocket.   It won’t last long as the leaves are beginning to fall, we have a layer of them every morning all over the ground.  It is truly a glorious sight.

We have been on six lane divided highways almost all the day.  Some of them toll roads.  We saw a huge flatbed truck carrying a full size swimming poll which had to be 20ft wide.  The truck was driving down two lanes (fast lane and middle) with two trucks in each lane behind with “Wide Load” signs.  I have never seen such a sight on a major highway—Only in New York?

Pats schmoozing with Franklin and Eleanor

We went to Hyde Park and visited Franklin Roosevelt’s home and his Presidential Library.  The property was acquired in the 1860s by his father James and Franklin grew up there, lived there as an adult,  and he and Eleanor are buried on the property.  I have only been to one other Presidential Library, JFKs in Boston, but  the FDR library is much more impressive by virtue of the length he was in office and the world events that he shaped and presided over, the great depression, and World War II.  His legacy of  programs like Social Security, FDIC insurance, and the United Nations were truly significant achievements that have lasted over the years.

Civil  War Memorial

This is where the chain went across the Hudson

The Civil War Memorial at West Point

In the afternoon, we drove down to West Point to visit the US Military Academy.  We were able to take a guided tour of the grounds and it is indeed a very impressive place.  It was founded in 1802 and  began with only 5 cadets the first year.   We only got to visit the Chapel and the parade grounds in which there is a very impressive monument dedicated to the soldiers who died in the Civil War.  The campus overlooks the Hudson River at one of its narrowest points.  During the revolution, the colonists  pulled a heavy chain across the river at this point to control ship traffic on the Hudson.  We did not see very many cadets milling the grounds (there are 4000) they must have been out on a long march.