This place is crazy with trails, and we are loving it! Today, we walked about 30 minutes northeast of the house to Tarrytown Lakes Park to walk some trails there.
This nearby park is Neparan Park, where there was a sign noting that it is on the former site of the Mott House Hotel, 1860-1910.We passed this house with a cool looking bridge connecting the house to the sidewalk.There are so many flowers around, which I have neglected to capture, but these bright ones caught my eye.This is a small pollinator garden in a triangular median separating a few roads.
Tarrytown Lakes Park is a72 acre park in Tarrytown featuring two man-made reservoirs which were the village’s drinking supply until 1993. Today, it’s a recreational area with paths for hiking/biking/running plus opportunities for canoeing/kayaking and fishing.
The map we used for hiking. We started at the parking area and went east on the red trail along the upper and lower lakes before going to a parking area (off the map) for the Westchester County Path and then returning.View of the Upper Lake from the parking areaHeading out on the red trail Following the red markers through the woods around the lakesAnother view of the Upper Lake A trail marker in a clearing near a trailhead on the road between the two lakesThe Lower LakeSome interesting looking fungiA shaded spot to sit a spellThe paved Westchester County Path Near where we turned around to head back. One of the old waterworks structures that remain on the lakes.Looking back up the Lower Lake as we headed back to the start and then into downtown
The small town south of Tarrytown is the town of Irvington. We decided to walk there today following the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail that we had taken north on Friday. Our goal was to check out their Main Street area, but we found another site to check out along the way and a different path that connects the two towns that we decided to bring back.
This is a house on Broadway near where we are staying, with their large yard skeleton dressed for the 4th.Starting out on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail today before it narrowed into a dirt path
We saw a number of large, attractive homes along the trail.
Irvington (sometimes referred to as Irvington-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County just south of Tarrytown with a population of about 6,700. (Tarrytown has a population of almost 12,000.). The .5 mile Main Street area that we walked along once we got there is designated as a historic district.
Irvington’s Town HallA cute restaurant A wine shop and another restaurant along Main Street
Besides a cute Town Hall and businesses, we saw this year’s collection of a public art initiative called The Bulldog Gallery. The bulldog is the mascot for the Irvington School District.
The painted bulldogs line both sides of Main Street. The name of the artwork, artist, and sponsor are listed on each statue.
On a much more serious note, this plaque called “Yesterday,” acknowledges the role that slavery played in the success of New York farms from 1600-1827.And finally, Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle is getting some love with this life size statue crafted in bronze.
When we were walking to Irvington on the Old Croton Aqueduct trail, we noticed other people walking on a wider trail just below us. We finally found signage that the other trail was part of the Westchester RiverWalk Trail that we had walked from Tarrytown north to Sleepy Hollow. We decided that we would walk back to Tarrytown on that trail, at least as far as it would take us as some of the connection between Tarrytown and Irvington is still undeveloped.
The very scenic RiverWalk trail
Both trails took us on the grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion, which is on our To Visit list. Their website gave us the impression that we had to pay just to get on the grounds, so we were surprised that we were able to see quite a bit of the pretty estate from the trails.
Lyndhurst Mansion, former home of William Paulding a one-time Mayor of New York CityA lovely sitting area on the estate between the mansion and the Hudson RiverThe view of the Hudson River from the sitting areaMore of the landscaping and another viewpoint Our first view of the Mario Cuomo Bridge from the south
Bob and I have a list of places/things to do in the area that we have gathered via AI and maps that are posted around Tarrytown. Today, we drove a quick 3 miles northeast of the house to the Union Church of Pocantico Hills.
The Union Church was organized as a non-denominational Protestant church in 1915 and John D. Rockefeller was among the founders. The church was built in 1921 on Rockefeller owned land and financed by the family and other church members.
Over the years, the Rockefeller family commissioned stained glass windows by European artists to adorn their church. We paid $12 each to visit the church and see the works by Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall. The church is currently used for marriages, funerals, concerts, and some services.
The rear wall of the church. The large window is the back of the current stained glass window discussed below. The smaller window is the original glass that was once in all of the windows of the church.The entrance to the church (on the right) which is at the rear of the sanctuary.
The first special window commissioned for the church was the rose window at the front of the sanctuary. This was dedicated on Mother’s Day 1956 in memory of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (1874-1948), a founder of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and an active member of the church. She was the wife of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
The stained glass window, which didn’t photograph well with the light shining through, was made by Henri Matisse. It is the last piece of art that he created.
Directly opposite the rose window at the back of the sanctuary is the first nave window created for the church by Marc Chagall. It was installed in 1964 in memory of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960).
The Good Samaritan window, based on that parable from the Gospel of Luke
The remaining nave windows were also made by Marc Chagall and installed in 1964. Many are dedicated in memory of a member of the Rockefeller family or people important to them or the church.
The Crucifixion window, dedicated to Michael Rockefeller (1938-1961), son of Nelson Rockefeller, who died in New Guinea on an anthropological expedition.The Joel window, dedicated to Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979) after his death. The inscription, “Knock and it shall be opened unto you,” references the verse on the adjacent window (above) dedicated to his son.The Elijah window, honoring the memory of Lillian Bowles and Eunice Turner, sisters who had worked for the Rockefeller family for decades.The Daniel window, done in muted colors, so as not to compete with the Matisse window that it is closest to. It shows the angel Gabriel appearing to Daniel and lifting him up to receive the revelation of reassurance and hope.The Cherubim window inspired by the Creation story.The Ezekiel window, dedicated to Peggy McGrath Rockefeller (1915-1996), who along with her husband David Rockefeller (son of John D. Jr.) had suggested the Chagall commissions for the church.The Jeremiah window, which symbolizes personal anguish and loneliness.The Isaiah window, which tells the story of the rise and fall of nations, the destruction of the temple, and the exile of the Jewish people.
We have landed in an area with easy access to a number of multi-use paths. We have already walked the Westchester Riverwalk right along the Hudson River and the pedestrian/bike path across the Hudson over the Mario Cuomo Bridge, today we walked a very short portion of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (OCA). This is a 26.5 mile linear state park that stretches from the New Croton Dam in Cortland, New York, to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. It follows the path of an aqueduct constructed in 1842 and is now a multi-use path of varied surfaces (from hard packed dirt to grass to residential sidewalks).
We started on it a block from the house and headed north for a little over an hour before turning around and coming back into Tarrytown. Our walk roughly paralleled the Hudson River but much higher up. We started in a residential area before getting onto school property, then alongside the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and into Rockefeller State Park.
Our entrance onto the OCAIt is a great trail for summer, as it’s mostly shaded (at least the section we walked).It goes very close to people’s property, so we saw lots of backyards.Like so.The town starts at river level and goes steeply uphill, so we looked either up or down from the mostly flat path.Looking back towards the First Baptist Church (foreground) and the Mario Cuomo Bridge (background)A sign indicating the trail’s route around the Sleepy Hollow Horseman School A cute seating area behind the school Looking back over rooftops towards the Mario Cuomo Bridge An old structure near the trailA helpful sign when we were briefly on a roadWalking along the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Part of a long brick wall in Rockefeller State Park
Bob and I have joined a recreation center here. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the house — downhill there and uphill back. It’s just on the other side of the train tracks. Bob has developed a workout routine for the gym, and it allows me to bike until my foot (just my 4th toe at this point) is back to normal. It is the first time we’ve benefited from a senior discount —$26/month for non-residents. Quite the deal!
Yesterday, we met at the BakeHouse, a cute cafe in the train depot for breakfast after our workout. I’m not usually a food photographer, but this was the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had! Avocado toast, but I paid $1 more for the bread to be Brazilian cheese bread. So yummy!
The avocado was topped with everything bagel topping.
Today, I turned 61. Crazy age and honestly it seems like I just turned 60. I wish life would slow down a bit. To celebrate, besides dealing with Con Edison to get the gas turned on at the house (It has been off due to homeowner renovations), Bob and I walked across the Mario Cuomo Bridge. There were a surprising number of people out walking on it, including a large class of female students on the Nyack, NY, side.
The bridge is 3.6 miles long from Westchester Landing in Tarrytown to Rockland Landing in Nyack. Our walk ended up being close to nine miles with the walk from and back to the house added on.
The welcome sign at Westchester Landing where we started the out and back crossing.The bridge is not straight across but curves as it goes onto land.The first mileage marker we passed.
Along the bridge, over the water portion, there are 6 sitting and view point areas off of the bike and pedestrian path.
Looking back towards Tarrytown from the Tides of Tarrytown viewpoint Looking towards Sleepy Hollow from the same viewpoint The seating at the Tides of Tarrytown viewpoint Looking towards Nyack from the Half Moon viewpointAnd back towards Tarrytown A small grate at this viewpoint which allow you to look down to the riverWalking towards the part of the bridge that we see lit up every nightAmong the cables and not yet halfway across The seating and view from the River Crossing viewpoint The spot on the path where we cross the county lineThis is what 61 looks like on a windy bridge walkLooking at Nyack from the Painters Point viewpoint Watching the bridge and path curve fairly sharply as we approach NyackThe seating at the Palisades viewpoint, which is supposed to evoke the unique geology of the region A boat lift along the bridgeA small beach as we enter NyackAlmost there!The attractive restroom/water/vending facility at Rockland Landing “Approach” by Fitzhugh Karol, 2020. It’s made from steel from both the former Tappan Zee Bridge and the Mario Cuomo BridgeThe welcome sign at Rockland Landing
Yesterday, was the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States as a country. It was a very hot day here, so we didn’t do much. We got some New York bagels for breakfast and also picked up a New York Times newspaper to read before we headed to the weekly farmers market, which was mostly to-go foods rather than produce.
Last night, at about 8:15 or so, a storm came through with thunder, lightning, winds, and heavy rain. The lights flicked on and off a couple of times. We were pretty sure the fireworks for Tarrytown would be canceled, but the rain eased and at about 9:15 or so, the fireworks started. We had a great view from the balcony off the top floor of the house, as they shot the fireworks off over the Hudson River.
More storms moved through overnight, but we’ve had a mostly dry day today. Since the rest of the week is looking pretty rainy, we got out to explore the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery which is about a 2 mile walk from the house. The cemetery is featured in Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and is the final resting place for a number of prominent figures, including: Elizabeth Arden, Vincent and Brooke Astor, Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, Samuel Gompers, Harry and Leona Helmsley, Washington Irving, Albert Lasker, William Rockefeller, among others. The cemetery provides a free map that lists about 8 prominent memorials to visit.
We crossed over the Sleepy Hollow Bridge, erected in memory of Washington Irving, to get to the cemetery.
A sign near the bridge noted that the Headless Horseman Bridge described by Irving in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” formerly spanned the stream at this spot. On the way into the cemetery, there was a sign advertising evening tours.
The Old Dutch Church within the cemetery. It was erected by Frederick Philipse in 1697. Restorations were made in 1837 and 1897.The gate to the Irving grave. The marker seen through the gate notes that this is the Irving family grave plot and that his grave receives perpetual care from local citizens and admirers.Washington Irving’s graveAn impressive mausoleum for a Benedict familyThe lovely setting for the cemetery, very close to a state parkThe Revolutionary War Monument The Civil War Monument A sign about another tie (pun intended) to “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”A Scottish emigrant, Dale Carnegie became a successful steel industrialist, but is perhaps more well known for his philanthropy.This is the relatively humble gravestone for Mr. Carnegie and his wife.Walking up to the much less humble mausoleum for William Rockefeller at the highest point in the cemetery.The front of the mausoleum surrounded by a circular driveA bronze statue of a woman at the Thomas (no idea of who exactly they were) mausoleum Again, don’t know who this was for but was impressed with the sculpture Looking down at the Helmsley Mausoleum A closer view of the resting place of the hotel magnates. She was referred to as The Queen of Mean for her tyrannical management style.
The heat is on! It’s been or is hot all over, so I guess it’s our turn now. No central heat in the house, as is typical in lots of areas, but we do have window units. We hadn’t been using them but have started over the past few days. It’s a 2 story house with a basement, and the lovely main bedroom is on the top floor, so we definitely enjoy that one for sleeping. We have been leading a rather more leisurely pace while settling into our Tarrytown home/pet care routine.
A couple of days ago, we had our first New York bagels of this trip. There is a good place near us, with lots of flavors, and Bob walked over and picked up a couple for us that I had ordered online. We walked by a little later in the day after our excursion over part of the Mario Cuomo Bridge (see below), and the bagel place was just as busy for lunch.
The Mario Cuomo Bridge, that we drove across to get to Tarrytown and that we can see from the house, was fully opened to traffic in 2018 and replaced the former Tappan Zee Bridge. There is a pedestrian/bike section walled off from the automobile lanes. The entire trail is 3.6 miles long over the bridge connecting Tarrytown to Nyack, NY, three miles of which are over the Hudson River. It is the longest bridge in New York State.
On Tuesday, we walked part of the trail but hope to do the full back and forth over the bridge some time before we leave in early September.
The sign at the Welcome Center on the Tarrytown sideThe Welcome Center building with clean bathrooms, cold water fountains, and vending machines.Always good to know where you are“Current,” by Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong, 2020. Made of 12 illuminated steel arches in the plaza at the start of the pedestrian path.Heading out of the plaza on the path towards the bridge A display showing the recent change in the bridge The bridge is supported by more than 1,000 massive steel piles measuring 3 to 6 feet in diameter.A view of Tarrytown through a partition as we started onto the bridgeA view of Tarrytown harbor through fencing on the bridge
Yesterday, we walked back across the railroad tracks and then into Sleepy Hollow to check out a market that Bob had seen online. It was actually a very pricey (but attractively displayed) grocery store, DeCicco & Sons, with space for events and a bar and patio on top with views of the bridge.
Walking up to the market/grocery store A Sleepy Hollow-esque exhibit outside the entrance Grass art on the roofLooking down into the produce section from the upper floorThe Hallows Bar, where the England v Democratic Republic of Congo World Cup game was onThe outdoor patio and the bridge in the background
One risk with housesitting for pets and pet ownership is the chance that your adorable ball of fur might find another small creature to eat/play with/bring to you as proof of their awesome hunting prowess. This morning, these two lovely ladies found and caught a live mouse. That’s up there on my list of undesired things to deal with. I first saw Bella with a tail hanging out of her mouth, and then she eventually put it down, and Cleo grabbed it. Long story short, Cleo finally gave it up, and I was able to trap it under a container, which Bob then took outside. Eek!
Cleo and Bella pre-mouse episode this morning
We have been shopping at a local coop-type grocery where we have become members, but today we decided to drive to a larger grocery that the homeowner told us about that we had never heard of, Stew Leonard’s. It was a unique experience that might be a one and done for us, but we’re glad we tried it.
The family opened a small retail shop in the 1890s in Brooklyn to sell goods from their farm. They now have 8 stores total in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. It still retains the farm/market look with a silo near the store and produce displayed market style both inside and out along with a large garden section. They also have a small cafe on the patio as well as an ice cream shop. We both got ice cream (soft serve only) before we shopped, as the weather almost seems to require it. Heat advisory here until 9:00 pm tomorrow night.
We didn’t test them on it, but this policy sounds okay to me.The burger barn next to the ice cream shop. Bob just read that you get a free cone if you spend $100. The store is very loud. Lots of people talking, machines running (they make doughnuts and bagels onsite), staff pounding as they make guacamole, and a number of these musical animatronic displays.There is something a bit Freudian about this display.Who knew? Ben has a brand of Stiller’s natural sodas that are sold at Stew’s.
Before I get into our recent outings, I wanted to share a photo of Cleo and Bella that I took yesterday. Bella (the white one) is the alpha of the two and also the friendliest with humans. I took this mid-cleaning session with the 2 of them.
Cleo and Bella
Yesterday and today, Bob and I have walked on the Westchester River Walk along the Hudson River. Yesterday, we were down there to check out a rec center that Bob is thinking of joining and then we headed into downtown for a community block party that was held yesterday afternoon. Today, we continued on along the Hudson into the village of Sleepy Hollow.
A rail line, one that could take us south into NYC or north to other communities along the Hudson, lies between the house and the Hudson River, so there are only a couple of places where we can cross the railroad tracks to get close to the river. One goes through a small train station.
The crossing over the railroad tracks at the train stationLooking back at the train station as we crossed the tracksA map and sign providing information about the path
The sign also provides some historical information on Tarrytown. What is now Tarrytown was first settled by the Weckquaesgeek American Indians. Dutch settlers arrived in the early 1600s, and the village was incorporated in 1670. On September 23, 1780, during the Revolutionary War, British Major John Andre was captured at what is now Patriots Park in Tarrytown (site of their weekly farmers market that we hope to get to). Andre, acting as Benedict Arnold’s co-conspirator was caught carrying plans of American defenses at West Point.
A memorial plaque along the waterfront The closest shot of the Mario Cuomo bridge from a viewing platform along the River WalkA view of the River Walk as we walk north towards Sleepy HollowOne of many new residential buildings along the River WalkDowntown Tarrytown yesterday at the small community block party.
Today, we continued along the River Walk.
A memorial in a small waterfront park for John Horan, a resident of Tarrytown, who at 23, was the youngest resident to be killed at Pearl Harbor.A statue of Margaret Horan, John’s mother, as a tribute to all Gold Star MothersMore new residential buildings along a portion of the River Walk in Sleepy Hollow named for Chick Galella, a lifelong Sleepy Hollow resident and Pearl Harbor survivor A gazebo on the River WalkA small plaza and sitting areaLooking across the Hudson River to Nyack, NYThe Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, which was once 1/2 mile off shore and warned boats of the dangerous shoals along the east side of the Hudson.Part of a long, painted Wishing Wall along the River Walk in Sleepy Hollow. The famed headless horseman is holding the flags representing the nationalities of the town’s residents as of the 2000 census.Philipsburg Manor a few blocks from the downtown area. This was closed today but is a restored 18th century living history museum that was a colonial era trading and milling center.A fire station with a stained glass window of the headless horseman A colorful mural along the main downtown street in Sleepy Hollow
Bob and I have had a chill couple of days settling into the new house. The house is situated right off of Broadway, one of the main streets through town and very close to the small downtown, rail station, and with views of the Hudson River and the Mario Cuomo Bridge, which is lit up at night.
Daytime view of the bridge through the trees from the top floor (balcony off main bedroom) of the houseLooking away from the bridge and towards the downtownLast night’s view of the bridgeAn amazing sunset!Bella being even more chill than us yesterday
Today we explored the downtown area a bit more, basically Main Street off of Broadway before stopping into a local market to pick up a few items.
What do we know about Tarrytown, New York? Very little at this point, although I’m about to do some quick online research, but one thing you can’t fail to pick up on when you’re in the area is the connection to Washington Irving. Tarrytown lies just south of the community of Sleepy Hollow, and our house is only a couple of blocks from Washington Irving School. Our homeowners tell us that the area is pretty rabid about Halloween. You are definitely expected to decorate.
Wikipedia tells me that Irving was born in 1783 in Manhattan and died in 1859 here in Tarrytown. He is fittingly buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. In addition to writing short stories such as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which is how I’m familiar with him, he also wrote a number of biographies (including one of George Washington) and served as Ambassador to Spain in the 1840s. Hopefully, we will continue to learn more about the area during our stay.
A map of all of the places to explore in Sleepy Hollow CountryWashington Irving School, the top of which we can see from the houseChrist Church, built in 1837, where Irving served as a vestryman and wardenWestchester County BankTarrytown Music Hall, the pride of Main Street
This music hall was built in 1885, which makes it the oldest operating theater in Westchester County. It has 843 seats and hosts stand-up comedy, musical acts, and films. The night we arrived, Patton Oswald was playing. We are hoping to get tickets to something while we’re here.
More buildings on Main Street. The middle building houses Mint, a Michelin recognized restaurant where we ate with the homeowners on Thursday night.Two more restaurants on Main StreetBasque, a Spanish restaurant we have our eyes on for one of our birthday celebrations that we’ll have while we’re hereA hardware store in a nice looking older building A Tarrytown mural on a downtown business Cute retail on MainThe Second Reformed Church, erected in 1837 as the South Church of Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. It became a separate congregation in 1851.The local post office A mural on the downtown marketThe Tapp keeping the Halloween theme going year round
As a quick update on my foot injury. The swelling has gone down quite a bit, and it was feeling much better yesterday after trying to stay off of it and icing it on and off, elevating it, etc. This morning it was pretty painful again during our walk, so we headed to an urgent care center just to have it assessed. No fracture or broken bones, so just have to keep icing, blah, blah, blah. I have ordered a walking boot to help keep me mobile through the recovery.
Yesterday was one of the very few times that Bob and I ended one housesit and began another on the same day, and based on my behavior, maybe it’s not something we should do often.
We left Newtown, Pennsylvania at 11:00 am, and prior to departure, as per usual, we were doing our last bits of cleaning, taking out trash, etc. While I was vacuuming the floor on the main level yesterday, I managed to hit my right food hard against the corner of a wall and then again against the vacuum. It now looks like this.
It was very tough to walk on it yesterday, but today it feels much better but looks worse. I’m trying to take it easy today and then see how it feels tomorrow to see whether I need to get it x-rayed or not.
The 2.5 hour drive got us into Tarrytown, New York, at about 1:30, but we weren’t due at the homeowners until 4:30, so we checked out a couple of local gyms, had a picnic lunch in a park, and visited the local library before heading to the new house.
Being welcomed into New Jersey shortly after leaving the Pennsylvania housesitCrossing the Hudson River into Tarrytown over the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Our homeowners have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and fish. However, they are taking the dogs with them on their 2 month cross-country driving vacation. We will be caring for their adorable cats — Bella and Cleo (short for Cleopatra) and a few small fish in their aquarium.
The curious Cleo with soft squeaky noises and a soft purrBella in a window cat seat in front of a seductive sculpture.
After a thorough walk through of the pet responsibilities, home, and small yard, they treated us to dinner at a local restaurant downtown, about a 10 minute walk from the house. They also showed us a great walking/running path on the way back. They left about 6 this morning.
We are looking forward to exploring Tarrytown and the surrounding area — hopefully both of us on 2 good feet!
Peckish Travels 