Hyde Park

We began the day in Matamoras - No! You say - well, we did, because we pushed ourselves to leave last night. After two false starts (one to retrieve my sandals and one to go back and get his shirts) we went on to Chorale and left directly from there. A full tank of gas and a couple hours of driving gave us a good start on our day.
We enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at the Best Western in Hunt Valley. The day dawned extremely cloudy (think airplanes in the clouds), especially so in the higher elevations. We crossed over the Hudson River at an unbelievable height leaving plenty of room for three masted schooners or whatever and arrived shortly thereafter at "Springwood", FDR's home. The home is just as it was when he died. It seems Eleanor handed it over to the National Parks people almost immediately after his death. She never felt like it was her home (FDR's mother was just a tiny bit possessive of both FDR and the house - kept the best bedroom for herself). The upstairs was in the throes of repair so w couldn't go there, but we were given the rare treat of seeing the kitchen and butler's pantry,etc. Following that tour we headed to the library and museum to see that on our own. So much to see and read! In the basement is the ford he drove with a box on the steering column that dispensed a lit cigarette.

We were unable to go up to see "TopCottage" - his retreat up on the hill overlooking the Hudson, so we went on to Val Kill which was Eleanor's retreat while she was married (no doubt to get away from Mother-in-law) and was her home until her death in 1962. So different from the house at Hyde Park - much more homey. By the way when they say cottage they are thinking large . We walked aroung the grounds a little - very woodsy - a tennis court, garden area, a tiny cottage (really) - also a swimming pool that is now boarded over.
We were on the road again and seemed to zigzag our way up the Hudson, crossing twice more, finally just above Albany. We then cut across to Rt 9 in Vermont and continued through the mountains. The weather had cleared so the light was just right for seeing a few areas where the leaves were starting to turn. There was some evidence of "Irene" along the route especially after Wilmington - roads washed out and some mudslides - bridges redonstucted, some foundations askew, ect. We ate at the Royal Diner and had a hearty meal shepherd's pie and chicken pot pie (not the PA Dutch kind). Bathroom had a lifesize mura of a queen on the wall facing the "throne".
Darkness had fallen but we had just a short ride to Keene, NH, where we are staying for the night. Off to Mount Washington tomorrow with some varied stops along the way.