July 8, 2017 Saturday
A relaxed start to the day, the tide change was at 9:54 am so we had time for breakfast and news before casting off at 9:45 am. Traveling under the FDR Mid-Atlantic Bridge and the Walkway Over the Hudson we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Hudson River as we made our way north; commercial traffic, pleasure boats, stately homes, train whistles, and cliffs. By the end of the day we were amazed that, on a beautiful Saturday, there were no crazies on our section of the river.
Do you love a town that loves cats? If so, you will fall in love with Catskill, NY, a quintessential Hudson River Valley town. Home of the Rip van Winkle Bridge, named after the 1819 short story by Washington Irving, home of Samuel Wilson, the butcher who, according to legend, became known as Uncle Sam, and the home area of Jimmy Fallon. Catskill, named by the Dutch who settled here in the 1600s, means “Kaat’s Creek.”
As we strolled Main Street, we saw a multitude of fiberglass cats. After a little research, we discovered that the cats are used to raise funds for various charities. In its eleventh year, the cats have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities. Each year cats are designed by local artists, placed on display for the summer, and then auctioned off.
Cat’n Around Catskill – 2017
