Beautiful Hudson River Valley

Greetings from Rhinebeck,

We are in the middle of the Hudson River Valley just outside of an quaint old town, Rhinebeck, founded in 1686 by Dutch immigrants. In the center of town is the Beekman Arms.

 

Built in 1766, it is the oldest inn in continuous operation in the US. Everyone from George Washington and Aaron Burr to FDR  slept or ate here. So, of course, Dad had to go into the old tavern for a beer.

Then we walked around looking at the old buildings and churches. We came here to visit the FDR Library and house, and fell in love with this beautiful area and the mighty Hudson River.

 Mom and Dad spent a day visiting Springwood,the home where FDR grew up and spent most of his life

and where he is buried.

Mom and Dad got to tour the entire house, furnished just as it was when he died. After he was stricken with polio when he was 39, it put a halt to his rising political career and he came home to Springwood. He was determined to walk again and he said that when he could walk down the driveway to the highway, then he would get back in politics.

Seven years later he made it to the end of the driveway on his crutches and soon after he became governor of New York.


He spent so much time here during his presidency that he built the first Presidential Library in 1941 on the grounds next to his home and at the time it was called the second White House.

 The library was very interesting and had a large collection of his artifacts from his birth through his presidency. The next stop was to Val-Kill, the small cottage

where Eleanor Roosevelt established a separate residence after she found out about her husband's numerous affairs.  She remained there after his death. Eleanor improved the lives of millions as a reformer, journalist, political activist, advocate for the underprivileged and as delegate to the United Nations, champion for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Quite a woman!


 The best part of the trip for me was getting to go over the Walkway, a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Hudson River.

I was feeling my oats on the way over, barking at all the dogs and tugging on my leash, and kissing up to the young girls.   

I looked at all the beautiful scenery,

 


watched a sculling race and sailing boat

and saw a train right on the side of the river.

But I have to admit, I got a bit tired when we got to the end only to turn around and walk back over the bridge again to get back to our car.  Here I am later in the day, knocked out on the sofa, how embarrassing, showing my privates and  my Einstein hairdo.

We are now on our way to visit Mom's cousin, Becky who lives in Webster, just outside of Rochester, NY.

Adios,
Yuki