NEW YORK: WOODSTOCK

 July 26, 2021

In August 1969, 450,000 people descended on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the small town of Bethel, New York, for a four-day rock concert. The organizers had originally hoped to hold the event in Woodstock, New York, but local residents refused to host it. (For some reason, however, the name "Woodstock" stuck to the event.) Organizers then contracted with a site in Wallkill, New York, but those residents also protested, and eventually the event was moved to Max Yasgur's farm near the town of Bethel.

Planners assured the locals that the crowd couldn't possibly be larger that 50,000 people, but word spread quickly and 50,000 people arrived before the concert even began. 

Today there is a museum on the site, and visitors can walk to the giant natural bowl where spectators sat over 50 years ago and listened to more than 30 different acts, including Arlo Guthrie; Joan Baez; Santana; The Grateful Dead; Creedence Clearwater Revival; Janis Joplin; Sly and the Family Stone; The Who; Jefferson Airplane; Joe Cocker; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Jimi Hendrix.

We noticed a definite hippie-flower-child feel the moment we got out of our car.

NEW YORK: KAATERSKILL FALLS

 July 25, 2021

We rented an Airbnb in Kingston, New York, for a couple of nights. It turned out to be a brand new house built specifically to be rented out. We could even smell the fresh paint. It was perfect for the four of us. 

Having an equipped kitchen was very important . . .

. . . as were the extensive woods and trails located behind the house, which produced, among other things, this:

NEW YORK: THOMAS COLE HISTORIC SITE, THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY, FREDERIC CHURCH'S OLANA, AND PEEKAMOOSE RESTAURANT

July 24, 2021

We continued to make our way north, farther and farther away from the wonderful craziness of New York City. Our next stop was the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. 

Thomas Cole (1801-1848) is considered to be the father of American landscape painting as well as the founder of the Hudson River School of Art.

His home in the Catskill region has been preserved and restored and is now a national landmark.

I got a kick out of these signs.  I can see that second one still being taped to the wall four or five years from now.

My favorite thing on the property was this purple gazebo with its fancy Victorian sofa.