My goodness, it has been over two months since I have reported some “shunpiking” and adventures.  But, as you know, November and December I devote to my production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and now I am happy to report that in seven seasons we have raised over $24,000 for local area food shelves.

I have some aggressive international travel ideas for 2015, but the best way to start the year is to visit my daughter, Julie, her husband, Dave, but most importantly grandchildren, Nikhil (6), Devi (4), and Vijay (going on 2).  I think this will be more images than words, and remember I write for myself, but also I want to preserve the images to look at in my old age in another 20 or 30 years.

Now, it is about a four hour trip to my daughter’s home in New Jersey, but why would I ever want to drive directly somewhere? On this excursion I took 6 1/2 hours to get to her home, and 8 hours to get home.  Actually, that is really fast time for my “shunpiking.”

Heading out on Friday, 16 January, my destination (en route) was Cold Spring, New York.

Parked on the street in Cold Spring, NY

I cheated heading down I-91 to I-84 and then US 9 to NY 301 into Cold Spring. Often, when my shop was in Connecticut, Cathy and I would head there to search for books, jewelry and antiques and enjoy lunch out.  It had been awhile since I had last visited, and I wanted to see what was up.  This visit I found the way to get across the railroad tracks down to the Hudson River.

This view is across the Hudson River towards Storm Mountain, and West Point would be a tad to the south (left in image).

And this looks past the gazebo across the tracks to the village.

Then I discovered the historic Foundry Dock with history dating way back.

Nest I headed south on 9D first passing Boscobel in Garrison, NY, which we visited maybe 15 years ago – definitely worth a revisit.  But what was amazing was heading south on this route with the leaves off the trees giving great views of the Hudson River (Rob, take note of this route for future West Point visits). Fortunately, I took a quick right turn into the river village of Garrison – amazing and worthy of the turn to see.

Garrison, NY looking across the Hudson River to West Point

Bear Mountain Bridge heading west.

Continuing along I crossed the Bear Mountain Bridge (now 90 years old).  Every passing I remember in the early 1950s when my Dad would tell me to look to the cove to the south of the bridge at the Liberty Ships mothballed there. It was an impressive sight.  At the traffic circle I decided to head south a short distance to the Bear Mountain Inn, which was recently restored for its 100th birthday this year. We visited there once or twice to eat, and I remember picnicking there in the 1950s with my 5th grade teacher, Jim Burke, and his fiancé Miss Forney, who had been my 4th grade teacher) and Jeff Meyer when we were on our way to check out Museum Village in Monroe, NY.  I will have to go again – in fact, there is a ton of stuff I have to do along the Hudson River in this area.

Bear Mountain Inn

An inviting dining room, albeit empty this time of year.

I then headed across US 6 to I-87 then I-287 to get to my daughter’s home in northern New Jersey – I arrived at 4.  Friday night was just grand playing with the kids. Julie’s husband, Dave, got in from work after 8, we played some more, got the kids tucked in, and then discussed plans for the weekend.

I had no agenda other than to “hang-out” but I knew that they enjoy taking the kids out on weekends to various educational venues.  The weather did not sound good for Sunday (and in fact a bad ice storm did keep everyone in on Sunday).  Dave suggested going into the city (New York City that is) and head to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on 83rd Street.  But we were also talking trains (Nikhil loves trains, and you know I do too), and I mentioned that having recently seen a documentary on the old Pennsylvania Station I was longing to again see Grand Central Station on 42nd Street.  I could not remember when I was last there – but it has been decades.  As a pre-teen and early teenager I would take the train from Wilton (by myself, and dressed in jacket and tie – those were the days) for a day in the city.  I would walk and explore. Favorite thing was to take the subway to the Staten Island Ferry, ride for a nickel to Staten Island, and sneak back onto the Ferry without paying for the return trip.  And, then I would walk back up Manhattan.  Don’t think youngsters can do the same thing these days at that age.

Well, I have stories about my time in Grand Central Station – interviewed for a TV news program, soup at the counter in the original Oyster Bar, etc.  It struck me that I have to start spending a couple nights a year in the city (taking the train there, of course) and explore Grand Central and traipse around (anyone want to join me?).  Dave suggested that

Julie and kids heading to Grand Central Terminal

he drop us off at Grand Central and that he and Vijay head up to the children’s museum while Julie, Nikhil, Devi and I explore the terminal, the gallery museum there, eat, and then take the subway north.  A great plan.

A quick tour of the terminal,

then we went to the train exhibit before having lunch in the “new” food area. Here is Nikhil as he and I started exploring the exhibit.

Remember, you can click on any image to open a slideshow:

Taking the subway — entertainment all along the way – musical and then some:

And, at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan:

Nikhil and Devi inside the intestine watching the video of how we swallow

Future driver, Vijay. Will he want BLACK BEAUTY or BLUE BELLE?

DOLL Devi at play with the roller coaster experiment.

A very full day was Saturday in the city.  Sunday as I mentioned was horrible outside with ice, but warm and comfy inside playing with and enjoying the kids.  Monday was more of the same, but the two older ones had a playdate at 10AM, so Dave and I headed out with Vijay to a play area at a mall.  Lunch followed at home with Julie, and sadly full of tears I left at 2PM on Monday, January 19th.

My plan was to have dinner, of course, at The Red Lion Inn, but I decided that I had to “fill in the map” and explore US 202 from New Jersey to the Bear Mountain Bridge.  I got off Exit 66 on I-287, and before crossing into Suffern, New York, I gassed up for $1.89 — remember that – Jersey gas is cheap.

I can report that you do not need to explore this slow way of getting back to the Hudson River.  Nothing to see, but I did enjoy stopping briefly at the Stony Point Battlefield a real treasure for the folks living nearby.  The last few miles along the Hudson were fantastic, again particularly with the leaves off, but you can always experience that driving south from Bear Mountain Park, and turn back around.  Crossing the bridge I went south to Peekskill which is much changed from when I drove over in my 1929 Model A Ford Roadster in about 1964 to trade wheels with Walt Levino.  I felt I should have brought my passport and brushed up on my Spanish.

Looking north up the Hudson to the bridge and cove where the Liberty Ships were mothballed

Heading east back across the Bear Mountain Bridge

But it was getting dark, so back to US 9, I-84 exiting north on the Taconic State Parkway, and then to my home away from home – the RLI.  And here is another log of images from my favorite spot.

Entrance to The Red Lion Inn – 19 January 2015

Just getting started for travels in 2015 – and this was a great start.  Thank you Dave and Julie.  And, you all “stay tuned.”  As always, yours, RAY