It was a beautiful three day weekend and I enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was perfect for hiking, reading in the hammock and then watching DVDs after dark. Ive been staying outside as much as possible lately. All too soon its going to look like this again.
On Saturday I visited Scenic Hudsons newly opened Franny Reese State Park. The day began on the Mid Hudson Bridge. I parked on the Highland, NY side at Johnson Iorio Park and walked out onto the span to treat myself to an excellent interlude of Bridge Music. As interesting as it is online and as great as it sounds coming out of the speakers of my audio system (yes, I purchased the CD) the best way to listen and truly enjoy is while standing high above the Hudson River on the bridge itself. If youre ever in Poughkeepsie, be sure to check it out.
The entrance to the park is under the bridge. I took the stairway down and found myself among several trucks, front end loaders and steamrollers in a construction site parking area. It would appear that the park isnt actually officially completed and opened yet. I made my way past all the obstacles
including these last two, walked up a steep switchback path which was still under construction and eventually set on out a very pleasant, newly blazed trail along the ridge top. I am led to believe that someday paths will be built and clearings made to provide spectacular views of the river and surrounding countryside. At this point there is only one, and it directly overlooks the bridge.
I loved it, of course, but something a bit more nature centric would certainly be appreciated.
There was much wildlife and wildflowers, many old stone walls and several fascinating ruins.
This area must have been an estate at some time in the past. Im naturally curious and trying to locate more information
After completing my circuit of the park, I took a walk along a narrow road that runs beside the river. I was hoping to spy a for rent sign. You wont find if you dont look. Its not a prime location so rents shouldnt be too ridiculous.
Freight trains pass on tracks just across the street between the road and the river several times every day and night. That wouldnt be a problem for me. Im a sound sleeper and I love trains. I would really love to live here. Its just one of the places that Ive been looking. Speaking of looking, theres another reason why I came walking this way theres something rather interesting here that I wanted to get a close look at.
This is the Poughkeepsie Bridge. With a total length of 6768 feet (2062.9 m) it was the longest bridge in the world when completed on January1, 1889. The 525 foot (160 m) connecting truss spans are still the longest and heaviest in the world today.
The bridge carried railway traffic for 75 years until a catastrophic fire took it out of service on May 8, 1974. The bridge is about to begin a new chapter in its history. Decking and railings have been installed and it will officially reopen this October 3 as Walkway Over the Hudson, the worlds longest elevated public park. I cant wait. Construction is currently underway on the 12 mile (19.3 km) Dutchess County Rail Trail along the former Maybrook Rail Corridor which will connect with the bridge on the Poughkeepsie side. Additions will be made to existing trails and new ones are being built on the Highland side of the river as well. Its going to be a walker, runner and bicycle rider's paradise.
I really enjoy when people mention the books and films theyve enjoyed in their blogs. Its way past time for me to begin doing the same. I refuse to trivialize reading by putting this section under a spoiler, so if youre not interested (and I havent totally bored and lost you already) you should probably skip the rest of this. In the interest of keeping this short I would ask you to link to more complete reviews for these titles at amazon.com or your local library before deciding it theyre your cup of tea. I promise to discuss some films (and another book or two) next time. I also want to mention some people who've given me some excellent DVD recommendations.
I've just finished reading The Dark River which is book two in John Twelve Hawks Fourth Realm Trilogy. Kudos to LillithVain for reading and recommending TheTraveler (book one) and this one. Book three, The Golden City, was released today. Its on the way.
I recently thoroughly enjoyed Inherent Vice, the latest from Thomas Pynchon. I also just (re)read his The Crying of Lot 49 - either of these books would be excellent introductions to Pynchon if you havent read his work before. Some of his novels can be rather long and get somewhat complex. Theyre all excellent though, and all very much worth your time and effort.
I read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield last fall. I had just finished a New York Times bestseller which was recommended by a friend that was so mind numbingly awful that I couldnt even bring myself to pick up another book for a week or two. Im glad that when I finally did The Thirteenth Tale was the one I chose. This book made me love to read all over again. A brilliant modern gothic tale that will completely envelope and astound you. I loved it so much that I bought several copies and gave them as Christmas, Hanukah and Solstice gifts.
Its been a few years but Ill always be a huge fan of The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley an incredible reimagining of the Arthurian legends. If youre a man and cant stand strong women as central characters shame on you. Read it anyway, youll love it. I recently read a lesser know but equally amazing book by Bradley,The Firebrand. This one combines several different legends of the fall of Troy, all told from the point of view of Kassandra, the daughter of the king. Wonderful.
There's much more to discuss but this is running on a bit.
I hope that all is well in your part of the world.
All the best
On Saturday I visited Scenic Hudsons newly opened Franny Reese State Park. The day began on the Mid Hudson Bridge. I parked on the Highland, NY side at Johnson Iorio Park and walked out onto the span to treat myself to an excellent interlude of Bridge Music. As interesting as it is online and as great as it sounds coming out of the speakers of my audio system (yes, I purchased the CD) the best way to listen and truly enjoy is while standing high above the Hudson River on the bridge itself. If youre ever in Poughkeepsie, be sure to check it out.
The entrance to the park is under the bridge. I took the stairway down and found myself among several trucks, front end loaders and steamrollers in a construction site parking area. It would appear that the park isnt actually officially completed and opened yet. I made my way past all the obstacles
including these last two, walked up a steep switchback path which was still under construction and eventually set on out a very pleasant, newly blazed trail along the ridge top. I am led to believe that someday paths will be built and clearings made to provide spectacular views of the river and surrounding countryside. At this point there is only one, and it directly overlooks the bridge.
I loved it, of course, but something a bit more nature centric would certainly be appreciated.
There was much wildlife and wildflowers, many old stone walls and several fascinating ruins.
This area must have been an estate at some time in the past. Im naturally curious and trying to locate more information
After completing my circuit of the park, I took a walk along a narrow road that runs beside the river. I was hoping to spy a for rent sign. You wont find if you dont look. Its not a prime location so rents shouldnt be too ridiculous.
Freight trains pass on tracks just across the street between the road and the river several times every day and night. That wouldnt be a problem for me. Im a sound sleeper and I love trains. I would really love to live here. Its just one of the places that Ive been looking. Speaking of looking, theres another reason why I came walking this way theres something rather interesting here that I wanted to get a close look at.
This is the Poughkeepsie Bridge. With a total length of 6768 feet (2062.9 m) it was the longest bridge in the world when completed on January1, 1889. The 525 foot (160 m) connecting truss spans are still the longest and heaviest in the world today.
The bridge carried railway traffic for 75 years until a catastrophic fire took it out of service on May 8, 1974. The bridge is about to begin a new chapter in its history. Decking and railings have been installed and it will officially reopen this October 3 as Walkway Over the Hudson, the worlds longest elevated public park. I cant wait. Construction is currently underway on the 12 mile (19.3 km) Dutchess County Rail Trail along the former Maybrook Rail Corridor which will connect with the bridge on the Poughkeepsie side. Additions will be made to existing trails and new ones are being built on the Highland side of the river as well. Its going to be a walker, runner and bicycle rider's paradise.
I really enjoy when people mention the books and films theyve enjoyed in their blogs. Its way past time for me to begin doing the same. I refuse to trivialize reading by putting this section under a spoiler, so if youre not interested (and I havent totally bored and lost you already) you should probably skip the rest of this. In the interest of keeping this short I would ask you to link to more complete reviews for these titles at amazon.com or your local library before deciding it theyre your cup of tea. I promise to discuss some films (and another book or two) next time. I also want to mention some people who've given me some excellent DVD recommendations.
I've just finished reading The Dark River which is book two in John Twelve Hawks Fourth Realm Trilogy. Kudos to LillithVain for reading and recommending TheTraveler (book one) and this one. Book three, The Golden City, was released today. Its on the way.
I recently thoroughly enjoyed Inherent Vice, the latest from Thomas Pynchon. I also just (re)read his The Crying of Lot 49 - either of these books would be excellent introductions to Pynchon if you havent read his work before. Some of his novels can be rather long and get somewhat complex. Theyre all excellent though, and all very much worth your time and effort.
I read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield last fall. I had just finished a New York Times bestseller which was recommended by a friend that was so mind numbingly awful that I couldnt even bring myself to pick up another book for a week or two. Im glad that when I finally did The Thirteenth Tale was the one I chose. This book made me love to read all over again. A brilliant modern gothic tale that will completely envelope and astound you. I loved it so much that I bought several copies and gave them as Christmas, Hanukah and Solstice gifts.
Its been a few years but Ill always be a huge fan of The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley an incredible reimagining of the Arthurian legends. If youre a man and cant stand strong women as central characters shame on you. Read it anyway, youll love it. I recently read a lesser know but equally amazing book by Bradley,The Firebrand. This one combines several different legends of the fall of Troy, all told from the point of view of Kassandra, the daughter of the king. Wonderful.
There's much more to discuss but this is running on a bit.
I hope that all is well in your part of the world.
All the best
VIEW 11 of 11 COMMENTS
This was the guy who would stage abductions, one time he had the entire County Police department looking for an abducted girl - some farmer called it in - it was all a hoax. They sat at home and listened to the police radio just busting a gut. I know it was irresponsible. Probably why I trod the straight and narrow today - after living through some of that.
As a teenager he tried to get one girl's attention by dynamiting the tree in her front yard.
He didn't want anyone to mourn his passing. If he's anywhere reading this he's just laughing his head off. I know it seemed irreverent - but that's who and what he was.