ROPE SWING

Anybody in the New York area can attest to the fact that it was hot as blazes last weekend. And while I wasn't quite prepared for the sweltering temperatures (I mean...what happened to SPRING?)...I was definitely excited to kick off swimming hole season. On Monday our friend Eddie took Justin and I to a spot under the Eddyville Bridge with a big old rope swing. As far as swimming spots go, it isn't as serene as some of our other haunts...and the water definitely isn't quite as clear. (And full disclosure: it may or may not be vaguely contaminated depending on the amount of recent rainfall.) But the rope swing part? SUPER FUN. So c'est la vie.

THE QUARRY

I know...I know. ANOTHER swimming hole post?!

I can't help it! The last 6 summers I spent living in Brooklyn I barely ever saw water...and did very little frolicking outdoors...so when I find all of these amazing natural wonders up here I get REALLY excited and HAVE to share them with you.

These pictures are of an old quarry turned swimming hole. It is fed by a natural spring and the water is clear and beautiful. And it's right in Kingston...super close to our house. I have a feeling Justin and I will be seeing a LOT of this place this summer.

Kaaterskill Creek

New favorite swimming spot! Kaaterskill Creek.

It's pretty much perfect. There are a lot of different deep pools and waterfalls all up and down the creek...so no one spot gets too crowded...even on a hot Sunday afternoon.

And it's easy to access. No crazy hikes or trespassing.

We followed directions we found on swimmingholes.org...which tells you where to park, where to find an easy path down to the creek and provides the approximate latitude and longitude of the spot.

That's a 35 foot cliff jump above the waterfall.

And if you look closer...

...you can see a kid jumping. Justin managed to take the picture at the exact moment he leapt off!

RESPITE

Oops.  I guess I haven't posted anything since last Tuesday?  Sorry mom!  I know you get disappointed when I don't have a new post up by sunrise each morning.  

I've been super busy working on the house and, more importantly, doing fun upstate summery things like going to yard sales, swimming holes, farmers' markets, roadside ice cream stands, cute cafés and antique stores.  

The photo above is the path down to a swimming hole that is just 13 minutes from our house.  It was pretty standard fare as far as swimming holes go.  Not too deep and pretty rocky...but fun and relaxing nonetheless.  We have directions to some other ones that I am DYING to check out.  They may or may not involve waterfalls and naked hippies. I'll report back.