Since New Paltz isn’t Newport, I’m usually met with confused looks when people ask what I did this past weekend and my reply is, “I went to the New Paltz Regatta“. I think most don’t even realize there’s a river that runs through town, let alone enough crazy people to spend all the time and energy making a water craft that may or may not even float when it’s finally dropped into the Walkill, only to paddle it a quarter mile and often have it fall apart by the time it reaches the finish line! It’s a great day that begins with a parade of all of the “boats”, as well as music, food and tons of people. I didn’t get too many shots of the parade, and since it was so crowded in town, I was buried in the woods during the race. Here are a few of the shots I was able to grab.
New Paltz in 5
New Paltz is an amazing town. I’ve probably said something to this effect before on the blog, but, there have been plenty of weekends where I get home on a Friday and don’t get back into my car until Monday, all the while being able to hike, bike, eat, drink, shop and see live music within a comfortable walking distance from home. Often I’ll wander around town with my camera, looking very touristy, especially on the high traffic weekends. There’s such an interesting mix of people and things to see in such a small town, like a roving troubadour playing guitar along the rail trail yesterday, that I feel the need to document it a little more than I have been. Since I usually shoot landscapes, this is a nice change of pace and a great way to show others some of the beautiful things I see around here every day. Here are 5 shots from the past couple of weekends — New Paltz in 5!
Local New Paltz bluegrass band Yard Sale playing at In Good Taste
New Paltz Christmas Tree Bonfire
Getting rid our our Christmas tree seems to be an annual annoyance, so you can imagine my excitement when driving home the other day and seeing a banner on the side of P&Gs for “Christmas Tree Bonfire in the Park”. Yesterday, on a not so wintery Saturday in January (at least snow is on the ground!) ND and I lashed a bungee cord around our tree, dragged it through town and over to Hasbrouck Park to join dozens of families and neighbors all united around setting our Christmas trees on fire. The Mayor, Jason West, spoke, reminding everyone that the Christmas tree bonfire was an old New Paltz tradition, and his hopes to make it even bigger and better next year, while a local bluegrass trio, Yardsale, played in the background and the fire department carefully tended the bonfire. Magical moments in a magical town.
Yardsale was playing in the dark. I was lucky to catch them lit up for just a moment when a huge dry tree got thrown on the fire.