Johnstown to Hudson

Here we are like just the idiots that stand in the street at the foot of Lombard Street SF.

Andrea - the nook ( book) wine and America growing in the glass of Syrah. Camping at it's best.

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Today started with the 9^th straight day of rain. Up until yesterday the rain came down in spurts from broken clouds. There was some sun, some rain and multiple shades of gray. The countryside was close yet expansive. Then openness of California’s forest is matched by the tightly compacted grasses, shrubs, trees and creeping greenery of the east.

The green comes right up to the side of the two lane roads with trees over hanging the asphalt.

We started today’s trip entering route 9J south at Albany as it crosses the Hudson River.

There is a poem by Lawrence Ferlingetti “ Albany New York” I first heard him read this about 45 plus years ago. The poem comes from a book called starting from San Francisco, published in 1958. I have always been able to hear his opening line “ My how the Hudson burns in Indian Autumn” The poem describes a bus ride down the Hudson and ends up looking at the fallen leaves and how they are being hurt by wooden rakes and finally surrender in a fire and give it up. This is my only connection to Albany and it brought us here to start our slow journey to NY.

Route 9 is a tight two-lane road that starts in derelict beauty. Like a lot of the country that is off the interstate you finds nature reclaiming it’s territory. Wooden barns, brick silos, abandoned power plants, bridge pilings with no bridge,  all slowly being welcomed back to mother earth. Sad and beautiful. There are many fieldstone and cobble stone building that display a wide variety of TAN. I normally find the concept of TAN to be non-committal, not brown, not yellow not white. TAN? Like the painting of Agnes Martin the muted, honest tones of these stones, take TAN to a really good place.

We stopped in Hudson to see the gallery of Mark McDonald. Mark shows and sells great mid century stuff and has written many books that have put Artist like Lesa Mcvey in a place that history can find them. Great town, full of art, food and America’s first AWA restaurant. I had never heard of this. Apparently it stands for “ Animal Wellness Award” not only are the animals organic, they have also been provided with a very high standard of living; maybe they have cable? Whatever it is The Hudson Diner is the first!

Our campsite is great and we are alone in the woods. The sky is moody, the air is dead still and the temperature is warm and moist.

Andre’s giant pasta from last night was recycled into dinner for three people and cookies that were purchased at a street fair in Johnstown are desert.

Tomorrow – camping in New York City.