Someone once said that you don’t go on vacation to rest, and if that’s so, today we proved the point. We started at Olana, the estate of Fredric Church, one of America’s most renowned landscape painters. We roamed the grounds of the estate among colorful fall trees and pristine habitats. Afterward, we moved on to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, home of the painter who launched the art movement known as the Hudson River School. After lunch, we had the chance to visit the Churchtown Dairy, founded to be a beacon for those working to promote organic agriculture and sustainable communities. The interesting architecture of the buildings and the livestock were fascinating and amusing.
11/2/2022
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Popolopen Creek & Sleepy Hollow
Sun broke through the early morning near Bear Mountain Bridge in the Lower Hudson Valley. A large group of adventurous hikers took to the trail for scenic photographs and to take a few steps on the Appalachian Trail over the bridge. The morning light shown on a cloudless sky and allowed for beautiful view down upon the Hudson River that has been at the core of our journey. On the way back to the landing site, an osprey was sighted and photographed. Zodiacs offered a scenic cruise and a couple paddlers made their way up Popolopen Creek. After brunch we boarded the Zodiacs as transit to the shore and went to a poetry reading at the Hudson Valley Writers Center. Several poets read selections from their work and then many of us took a walking tour to the Old Dutch Church. The Headless Horseman Bridge and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery provided the perfect atmosphere and setting for a spirited one-man performance of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Washington Irving spent time among the hills that became the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and his final resting place. We returned to National Geographic Sea Lion , had a wonderful dinner, and got to see the world premiere of the Guest Slideshow that will help everyone recall this amazing trip for years to come.
