New York: the Saugerties area

It is always good to have friends when you travel.  As we volunteer for the Florida State Parks we meet people from around the country and work with many from the north eastern part of the US.

Summer Flowers in full bloom

This year we decided to visit our friends Reg and Bill in the Saugerties, NY area.  Unfortunately, we were so busy visiting that the photographer (me) neglected to snap many pictures.

Downtown Saugerties

We arrived on a Monday morning to find the Blue Mountains Campground was recovering from a weekend music festival.  This is interesting as our next stop was the Old Songs Festival in Altamont.   Being festival goers we certainly understood the clean-up process and were glad they could accommodate our early arrival, far before normal check-out time.

Beautiful gardens in most every yard

Once settled we headed to see Regina and Billy.  Reg said, "Bring your bathing suits!" The air seemed cool for a swim but we had to remember this is New York.  At our friends' house we learned this was a continued celebration of Regina's birthday... well sort of.  Seems a group of friends had an informal gathering at one house on Friday, Saturday was a cookout at Marie's house, Sunday was Regina's party at a Michelle and Mark's house... so Monday it was time to party at Reg and Bill's house.  Did you keep that straight?  

Typical Catskills house

The following day Bill and I replaced the truck battery and in so doing toured Saugerties.  This is a quaint town and what I might call the 'real deal' as it is not touristy.  After a stop at a The Hudson Valley Dessert Company, a local bakery, for coffee and snacks and phoning Reg we headed towards the car.  So, who should we meet on the street but Michelle and Mark from the previous day.  Soon we were on our way to our friends' house.

Center of Woodstock

The plan was to drive the mountains and stop at the Village of Woodstock for a tour and lunch.  Good plan as Billy spent his childhood summers in the area.  The Catskills are the summer retreat from the heat of New York City.

There are many wild raspberries
in these mountains!

On our return from a busy day we just had to stop by Vinnies' Farm Market which is quite an unusual market, everything from seedling plants to finished food.  Vinnie grows a some of the produce but seems to be more of a bakery and provider of pre-cooked dishes such as pots of soup and stews, pies and cakes, cookies, sweet rolls, and breads..  In speaking with Vinnie we learned he delights in making all of these items in his huge kitchen and then sharing them with the public in his store.  Yes, we purchased several prepared items and were delighted with the results of his labor.

Vinnie's Soup
Perhaps a bit salty but tasty