My Road to Recovery description starts in Poughkeepise, NY, which is located is in the Hudson River Valley, New York  (1.5 hours outside of NYC). Now in mid-fall, the colors are popping with greens turning to vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds.   Not unlike the thousands of other tourists in the Hudson River Valley, I too left each day to walk amongst the colors and became a “leaf peeper” (nickname for those that come to view the fall foliage and photograph).

For those considering a trip to the Hudson River Valley, here are my two favorite routes in Poughkeepsie and its neighboring town, Hyde Park for leaf peeping.

Hudson Valley recommendation #1: Walkway Over the Hudson State Park

Officially opened on October 3, 2009, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park provides pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bikers (and even Ms Traveling Pants) access to the Hudson River’s landscape (see picture from the East side overlooking the Hudson River and fall colors).

The walkway is built upon a railroad bridge that was erected in the late 19th century. Struck by a fire in 1974,  the bridge was abandoned and sat for decades as an oprhaned relic. Now reworked, the bridge stands 212 feet above the river’s surface and is 1.28 miles long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

On Columbus Day weekend, just one week after its grand opening, probably a thousand of locals, tourists, and I walked this bridge.  It was THE place to be with the gamant of visitors, including bikers, rollerbladers, dogs, owners, children, strollers, and more. Truly, the only way that I could describe the phenomenon was that people were coming out the of the woodwork to walk for the first time across the bridge and take in the colors. Despite all of the crowd’s energy and the beauty, I was pooped and made it to the river’s edge only.  So, I must return to walk the entire bridge when I am further along on my Road to Recovery.

Hudson Valley recommendation #2: Vanderbilt Mansion

The Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is located in Hyde Park. Established in 1940, the grounds have been set aside as an arboretum for public enjoyment.  The park offers tours of the mansion and 211 acres of land with stunning Hudson River and Catskill Mountain views (see Mansion to the left and view of the Hudson at start of post).

Having taken the tour earlier in 2009 (roughly $8), I learned that this mansion was only a summer cottage for the Vanderbilts.   From May to September, the Vanderbilts would host social gatherings of New York City’s elite at the cottage.  So in essence, the Vanderbilts started the tradition that continues even today of New York City’s elite escaping the City to spend their summers in the Hudson River Valley.

Over the last weeks, I came numerous times to walk and take in the beautiful views. From the park’s road, you can see the Hudson River (both to the North and South) and the Catskill Mountains (to the North and West).  Having enjoyed its balance of majestic views and peaceful environment,  I have no doubt why the Vanderbilts chose such a place to entertain. Who could not be in awe of the vast grounds,  rose gardens, Hudson River, Catskill Mountains, or the worldly masterpieces inside?

So I will leave you with my two picks and share with you that I have relocated my Road to Recovery to be closer to family in Massachusetts.  I will continue to feature fall colors (now n New England) as well as daily insights.

As always remember that, “Every occasion in life can be categorized as either a good time or a good story.”

Thank you for letting me share my good times and good stories with you.

Ms Traveling Pants

Yes, without a sign or warning a very large tree limb tackled me and left me unconscious to be taken to the nearest trauma center (limb shown to the left).  Never in an accident previously and in basic good health, this took both myself and family for a very treacherous ride. The tree hit my head straight on and caused a skull fracture, internal bleeding, as well as a broken neck vertebra.  My husband was in the ER with me for the first day where they told him I was in very serious condition followed by four Cat Scans.

My poor husband had the duty of calling my parents one in Boston, one in Fort Lauderdale, and then various colleagues of mine also scattered throughout the continent.  All were in shock and many in route to the hospital. I don’t remember anything from exiting the house before the tree accident until the second or third day in the hospital where I was in an immobile neck brace with beeping monitors and nurses visiting numerous times per hour to check on my pain, vitals, and the like.

Not a good patient, I was itching to move and progress to the next stages.  Having never been in such a situation, everything was strange and rather limiting.  But, Thursday (5 days after being admitted) was the big day in which the neurosurgeon took me to operate on my vertebra and successfully fused the broken vertebra with metal .  Since that day, I have been in recovery.  The first day was without any movement, but it was a miracle that my first steps were just two days after surgery.

Although it will be a long road to getting Ms Injured Pants back to Ms Traveling Pants shape, I am so lucky to have survived such a freakish accident.  It really put my priorities and values into perspective.  I have always believed that you should learn each day and above all have FUN, but sometimes with the daily grind and pressures, those things loose out.  So, as I make my way to full recovery through walking everyday, sporting a neck brace looking like a NFL superstar, and progressing to more challenging foods, I want to make myself a promise to remember the quote that started this blog,

“Every occasion in life can be categorized as either a good time or a good story.”

The tree falling and tackling me into a multi-month recovery certainly was not a good time, but I believe it is a good story that will be the basis of many good times in the future. It will limit my travels over the next three months, but I am certain that my daily adventures and insights will be material enough to draw upon.

To my family, friends, co-workers, and followers, I appreciate all of your support, calls, jokes, videos, flowers, cookies, and more.  I cannot repay you in any other way than getting back to my happy, vivacious self that explores new places, foods, wines, and cultures with my friends, family, and unknown people that will soon become part of the gang.

Keep you posted on my walking adventures to recovery. And to all, be cautious of trees. If you own a property or rent a property, please take this month to take care of limbs, branches, and general health of your trees so that no one else falls prey to a tree tackling.