New York: The Hudson River Valley

As you probably know Bill and I volunteer for the Florida State Parks.  Now, this 'job' has many perks including meeting fantastic people.  So, when fellow volunteers Al and Phyllis invited us to visit...

Al & Phyllis - at Lake George

... we had no idea they lived on the banks of the Hudson River or adjacent to the Adirondack Mountains with a state forest, Pack Forest, directly across the road.

Watching the river from Al & Phyllis' home

Al and Phyllis along with some neighbors have converted old river summer camps into a permanent residence.  These camps date from the early 1900s when many families spent the summer along the river as an escape from the hot cities.

Marg late afternoon on the river

Camps typically did not have a bathroom or heat... it was a rough summer camp... my how our expectations have changed over the years.

The 'Line' or path along the river
Connecting camps and social gatherings

Now we visited around Independence Day which is a big gathering time at the 'camps' along the river. So one afternoon we were treated to a neighborhood gathering.

House Party on the River
Held in an updated camp

What a treat to visit Al & Phyllis with afternoons spent along the river,

Bill and Phyllis enjoying the Hudson River
late afternoon

... feeding the chipmunks, passing time with neighbors,

Bill taming another chippie

and sleeping beneath a forest of pines and fir.

Pines along the river
Planted by Al's grandfather in the 1920s
reclaiming pasture land

They have a blessed life in this little bit of heaven.  Now this Floridian can't imagine the camp being heaven in the dead of winter but they assure us it is wonderful.

Blossoms in the stairs leading to the river

To be truthful, these days they do spend a few months each winter volunteering at Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park where Al blacksmiths and Phyllis demonstrates various fiber crafts from crochet to weaving.

Bill on the banks of the Hudson