Liberty, NY

The center of town.

Haverstraw Bay Park ~ September 11th Memorial

Haverstraw Bay County Park has two fine playgrounds, large picnic areas, a double size boat launch, walking paths, fishing areas, a WTC Memorial and fabulous river views.





A pleasant little sculpture area. Haverstraw is known as Bricktown


One station in the WTC Memorial to Rocklanders lost on September 11th.





There are many peaceful places within the park and it's kept spotlessly clean.







Friendly park employees are always around.

New "Old" Postcards: Callicoon NY

Delaware River ~ Woman on Bridge (Pennsylvania shoreline on right, New York on left.)


Downtown Callicoon New York


The Callicoon Theatre has a lovely old fashioned art deco interior. The owners are so great. I remember when the film Chocolat was shown there, they handed out chocolate candies to everyone.

the usual summer suspects

Grandview~on~Hudson NY

Going ashore... don't get the wrong idea... I was rowing ashore in an old rowboat. This house was built to resemble a ship. The same guy has lived there for decades--it's his summer house.


It's good to be out on the water.


The rowboat. It always reminds me of Ratty and Mole drifting down the river in "The Wind in the Willows" ~ except they had a wicker hamper filled with delectable picnic foods.


I stopped rowing and took pictures. I waved to this boat but no one waved back, not even the dog. The dog made a point of ignoring me.

Walnut Mountain ~ Liberty NY

Monday's Hike Started here.

Hey! I can see my house from up here! ( Not really.)


The climb up Walnut Mountain is easy. I would have to say ridiculously easy. It requires no huffing and puffing, and no scrambling over boulders--just nice well-maintained paths and a gentle grade. Since the mountain is shaped like a walnut, you can wander around on top for quite awhile.


Hey! I can see Swan Lake from here!


Long ago there was a lookout tower up here someplace. I found some old ruins and foundations ~ not much left of them, you really had to look to find them. They were behind these boulders.


There were many trails, well marked.

Trails and Toys

We wanted to check out the rail trail in Parksville NY yesterday and saw that what appeared to be a bypass was being worked on.


The rail trail system is becoming popular.


The trail was gravel at first but gave way to some terrifically muddy spots. It was a another warm day (a shorts and sleeveless day) but I wear a t shirt , long hiking pants and boots. (thanks to modern technology we have lightweight boots and these light miracle fabrics = no sweat.) but this trail was wet and overgrown.


here you can see the trail becomes a little bit of bridge above this creek.


The nearest landmark for the trail is Litwin's Drug Store on Main Street. A beautiful building, with a carved mortar and pestle design on top, obviously built for a pharmacist. Who knows how much longer the building will be there?


We gave up on the muddy trail after a short time and decided to go and hike up nearby Walnut Mountain instead (photos tomorrow.) We followed it for less than half a mile.


Toys were a summer promise at all the little stores.



Litwin's had a toy department in the back, with a little neon sign above it... TOYS... Since kids got plenty of picnic foods and sweets all summer, toys were the big deal items to plead for, hope for, wish for.


Toys advertised again... and hardware. I like the grocery store a lot. The couple and baby walked up as I was taking pictures and walked right into the frame and stopped. So I snapped them. The baby was checking everything out with great interest.

Callicoon NY Canoe Regatta ( 11th Annual )

Getting ready for the regatta.


A beautiful day ... I'll post more Callicoon photos throughout the week.


Modern kayaks are descendants of Inuit canoes and are very popular in the Catskills and Hudson River Valley Region. They were raffling off a nice kayak, but I forgot to go back and buy some tickets.


The beautiful Delaware River


I forget what the good cause was, but they raised a lot of money for it, which is the main thing. Getting out and doing something fun for a good cause.


Canoeists who live along the Pennsylvania shore came down to the river from their back gardens and joined in.


The Sullivan County Democrat canoe is in the crowd.

Stormy Haverstraw NY

I enjoy walking around the Village of Haverstraw, but especially love the river views and Emeline Park. It's a very small park within walking distance of two marinas.

I was trying to get a snap of lightening, but missed it every time.

For the past few weeks it's been puddles and mud.


a little herb garden behind an Italian restaurant next to Emeline Park... and a few ducks.


View from First Street, where I'm standing in the rain.


These steps lead from the park to First Street.


Many architectural gems in Haverstraw.






Barn door






Thunderstorms all week...