Friday, October 19, 2012, Baldwin, New York

Hello from Baldwin, New York. After a whirl wind day of sight seeing and visiting yesterday we got up to the fore casted rain and did it rain. We took off for a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive in a moderate to heavy rain to go to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York in search for the fall colors I have been looking to find ever since I started this trip. Finally, I saw some beautiful fall colors but not able to get many good photos. Our destination was Shoken, New York 12481. At this point we boarded an old train for a 30 to 40 minute ride on The Catskill Mountain Railroad with the Esopus River ( Creek ) on one side and the mountain on the other side.The heavy rain let up to only a light rain and we saw some beautiful fall colors. It had rained very hard all day here so there was a lot of water running off the mountain and this made numerous little water falls which were very attractive. The volunteers which run the train said they had never seen so many water falls in the 10 years they had worked on the railroad. I suspect this was more for the benefit of the tourist ( there were about seven of us on board ) when you consider the comments about Hurricane Irene. They said that earlier in the day the train as packed because a couple of tour buses came in. This ride previously was 1 1/2 hours long but the 2011 hurricane " Irene " which came through here caused such flooding that it washed out a lot of their track. They are slowly working to replace the track but as you would expect with limited funds and nothing but a small volunteer work force it will take a long time to finish.

 

Old Engine Pulling Two Open Cars

And Two Coach Cars

Coach Cars We Rode In

Fall Colors

Yellow Leaves

Water Fall

 

Stream From Water Fall

 

 

Water Fall

 

 

Angry Esopus River ( Creek )

 

On the way back to New York City we stopped at a local fruit/vegetable stand for some local apples and other goodies. We then proceeded on in a heavy rain/impossible traffic trip back to New York City where we stopped at Bryan and Jana's apartment for a 4 generation photograph as follows. Pictured are left to right Grandpa Bill, My Daughter Joyce, Joyce's Son Bryan, and Bryan's Son & my great grandson Dylan. Now that is a proud bunch of adults.

 

 

Four Generations

 

Well folks that is about all for now. I am getting ready for breakfast, loading my stuff into Lady Blue and seeing if I can find Valley Forge. I am somewhat conflicted in emotions this morning. It is foggy and drizzly but suppose to be a nice day. In all honesty I have spent so many days paddling around in the rain trying to take pictures and see things that I don't want anymore. If during the day it doesn't clear up I may just point Lady Blue west and put her on autopilot and see if she can find her way home. At any point there should be another post somewhere on the road tonight so you can learn what I decided to do.

Thinking of all of you and as always I love you.

Grandpa Bill.