…and the road trip begins! Km became miles, centigrade became Fahrenheit, and we shifted to the other side of the road. It feels particularly strange to have no pedals at my feet!
We left Newark and headed to Evergreen parkrun in Green NJ. It was a perfect way to kick off the trip in the same way this whole marathon journey started in 2015! It was the most welcoming parkrun I’ve ever been to thanks to Run Directors Dot and Rich. Where else does everyone introduce themselves as part of the briefing?!?! There were 29 participants with lots of first timers, a new course record + passionate parkrun visitors from London, Virginia, Baltimore and of course Brisbane Road Runners Club. Such a cool detour in every way 😀
Heading North along the Hudson River through the Hudson Valley the sky was clear and blue while the trees are still bare and waiting for Spring. We headed into New York State and crossed to the East of the Hudson over the twin cable stayed Governor Mario M Cuomo bridge. I love a great looking bridge 😊
We paused in Tarrytown for decent coffee and a quick pic of the bridge with NY in the distance before driving through Sleepy Hollow, and on to Beacon. They’re all quaint little towns although the names sound like something out of a creepy movie! Sleepy Hollow is the name and setting for Tarrytown’s Gothic writer Washington Irvine’s book about Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
Next stop, Poughkeepsie – home of the worlds longest elevated pedestrian bridge (212 feet tall, 1.28mi). It’s an old steel cantilevered rail bridge that was built in 1889 to provide a connection for coal one way, and goods the other. It was closed in 1974 and then restored and reopened in 2009.
At the Western end of the bridge there’s a sculpture recognising ‘Sojourner Truth’. Born enslaved in the local area Isabella Bomefree became one of the leading voices in the abolition of suffrage in the 1800s. She travelled the nation speaking of the inequities and suffering of women and people of colour while calling for systemic change. Listening to families that walked by, she’s clearly an iconic figure whose story is shared widely in schools.
Final stop for the day was at the Catskills – our home for the next couple of days. Andrew managed to find this place in the woods just outside Saugerties with the coolest renovated Airstream caravans, complete with a campfire and a BBQ pack to cook your own New York cut steak. A beautiful spot and a great place to spend a couple of days relaxing.
Thankfully the campfire offset the chilly evening… down to 0 (or is that 32?) overnight! After a long day in the sunshine and on the road I think we’ll both sleep well!!!
Love M & the Grady 🥰
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