Sometimes in life, the un-expected events bring the most pleasure. Stamford Village is one of those pleasures. I was on my way to another town but since I needed to check my email at a library before closing time, I queried my GPS for "library" and Stamford Village Public Library popped up. Only nine miles away on Main Street, how convenient!
The library's parking required parallel parking on Main Street and if you've ever tried to parallel park a Ram ProMaster, you'll understand why I opted for the hilly little alley next to the library, hoping and praying for a better place to park behind the library. Down the hilly alley was a nearly empty huge parking lot which was hidden from view by the many trees on Main Street. Doubling my luck was a major grocery store at the other side of the almost empty parking lot (to the left side of parking lot, not in view in photo). You can see my van in this photo.
At the library were old photos of huge old resorts (most had burned down) right there on Main Street from the turn of the 19th Century. The librarian told me a quick story of the town's history, which I found fascinating, who would have thought!!?? After checking my email, I walked to the grocery store and got a bag of hot fried chicken, bananas and yogurt for only $6 and change. Eating well means "nap time" so I laid down in La Lair, but was awaken by kids outside. There was a Little League baseball game going on right next to me! College and professional sports bore me, but this game brought smiles and chuckles and a couple of wow's when the ball almost went over the fence. Those kids, skinny ones, fat ones, short and tall ones, mostly boys but about four or five girls, kept me entertained with their antics! None were terribly athletic, and the coaches in my opinion, get a gold medal for being supportive, good-hearted and non-competitive. Didn't seem to matter if they lost or won, everyone was having a great time. It was a treat to watch these kids with a handful of parents. I decided to spend the night in the parking lot, and explore this town more the next day.
Lots of historic homes and old tree-lined streets in Stamford Village.
Behind one of the homes on Main Street, I saw this wetlands area full of blackbirds with red and yellow-striped wings.
There was a little trail with a stream on the other side . . .
Then, I saw this sign announcing I was on the Catskills Scenic Trail, the very same path the former railroads used 100 years ago to bring New York City residents to resorts in Stamford and other places in the Catskills. A few hundred feet later, I came upon the old railroad station converted to a Chamber of Commerce. Info there explained that the wetlands and streams in Stamford and other Delaware County villages are the headwaters of the Delaware River.
I stopped by La Lair to eat a left-over chicken breakfast and get my hiking poles and mittens. It was about 42 degrees at 9 AM. I began hiking to Hobart, three miles further, a round trip hike of six miles. Below are photos of my hike.
On top of a pile of old railroad ties was a woodchuck or groundhog.
The tales this old tree could tell . . . . .
Many homesteads apparently still use wood stoves and chop their own trees and firewood. This man is obviously a pro, he's wearing a hard-hat, ear-muffs, and leather chaps.
The tales this old barn could tell . . . .
Symbiotic relationship between beavers and wetlands that provide a home for many birds and fish . . .
Uh oh! a couple of fence jumpers. I reported them to the authorities.
Stamford Village was worthy of a second night in this wonderful little town's parking lot.
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