Roads in New York are confusing. They all have several names and are not well labeled. Thus, our New York field trip did not go as successfully. I had planned another full day: Kaaterskill Falls, Camphill Village and a stop at Bash Bish to get our stamp in our passport, which we did not have during our previous stop.
The day was bright and sunny when we headed out. The first sign that there was going to be trouble was a non-existent road Google maps had sent me to find. (Although perhaps it was currently under another name.) So using what knowledge I have of roads in New York, I managed to get us on our way. ( I also would like to point out that I did not want to take the thruway and so basically wandered a long and winding path to the Catskills.) We then came to two different construction detours, which sent me into a nervous tizzy. It also did not help that I had no map nor cell phone connection. At any rate, Google’s directions took me to the trail at the top of Kaaterskill Falls, which may or may not have been illegal for us to hike according to the woman we met later on the bottom trail who cried when I tried to ask her a question….
The view from the top trail was beyond amazing.
And just over that ledge was a breathtaking drop of hundreds of feet…
The children all stayed well above the falls, claiming fear of heights and trying to avoid the freezing spray the 60 mile per hour winds were blowing back up over the falls…
And then from the bottom trail
I am seriously amazed how many times my children asked why I didn’t pack their bathing suits for the hike. And why don’t they allow swimming along the trail.
Back in the vehicle we headed out for Camphill Village, which is a community designed for adults with developmental disabilities. Because Google Maps took me in the back way to the camp, through the sheep meadow, across stream and dale, we arrived just as their many shops were closing for the day. I had wanted to go and watch them do their weaving and possibly visit the wood shop, but that will be for another visit…or if they will let the children and I move there… So we left with some of their wood lego blocks and loads of information about the village and pushed on towards Bash Bish.
Upon arrival at Bash Bish, heavy clouds moved in and a light rain began falling. Thinking that the trail from the top might be shorter to the passport box, I parked at the top of Mount Washington and thought we would work our way down. 20 minutes into the slick and treacherous climb down I knew I had made a dreadful mistake. Not only was it growing darker by the minute, but the steep, rocky incline meant slow and cautious climbing. By the time we made it to the box and started back, the forest could be pitch dark. We picked our way back up the trail to our vehicle and resigned ourselves to using the passport stamps we made on separate sheets of paper from our previous visit.
Following Route 9H back to Albany, we stopped in Kinderhook to check out Martin Van Buren’s homestead and grounds. It was already 7 p.m., so we followed a foot path around the house that included interesting facts about our 8th President. Such as, he was the first president born a citizen of the United States, and one of only two to serve as Secretary of State, Vice President and President.
Then it was back to Joe’s, where the electricity went out a couple of times and the sirens went off due to high winds.
Quite a day!
Emerson is going to dress as 
(Note to self: Must hike Texas Falls when trail repaired)
