Date: 2006-07-16
From: Palisades Interstate Parkway

To: Graymoor Spirtual Life Center
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

Thank you, Tom, for everything, especially the NYC tour!! Bama and Little Wing were up early to get packed and have breakfast in the room before Tom drove them to the Palisades Interstate Parkway Visitor Center (Anthony Wayne Recreation Center). The unique Palisades Parkway has a history that is intertwined with the protection of the Palisades Highlands from the developers in the 19th century (check it out on Google).Back on the trail and after hardly two minutes ¢ there was Drum standing on the trail ahead of them! He seemed to just be standing there, not waiting for anything. As Bama approached, she saw why Drum wasn¢t moving . . . a slight speed bump in the form of a three-foot long rattlesnake who was none too happy. After a few photos and a discrete bypass, Drum said he had to go get some water, so Bama and Little Wing hiked on ahead only to run into two more ol¢ friends, Cohiba and Otter.Bama called me from the top of Bear Mountain at Perkins Tower and Memorial Observatory. This originally was to have been the site of the Sing Sing penitentiary before the Palisades ¢Barons¢ decided not in my back yard (NIMBY) and the Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park was created. Leaving there, Bama and Little Wing went on to have lunch at the picnic area and zoo at Hessian Lake on the west side of the Hudson River ¢ part of the Park. Bama said there were thousands and thousands of people, families picnicking, cars and motorcycles everywhere, you name it. She said the zoo was not very nice and the animals were pitifully kept in tiny enclosures, e.g., a river otter was being kept in a large aquarium about the size of a big bathtub. Very sad. Oh! Big news! Bama finally saw her first bear after almost four months on the AT. It happened at the lowest point (elevation) on the trail ¢ 124 feet above sea level ¢ right in front of the caged black bear at the Bear Mountain Zoo. How about that? 1,388 miles of wilderness and she sees one in a cage.Activity, crowds, traffic, noise, congestion ¢ probably a little weird after all the time on the trail with handfuls of people and very small towns. Now it is time to walk across the Bear Mountain Bridge ¢ once the world¢s longest suspension bridge (short history to follow).At about 4:30 pm, Bama and Little Wing were nearing the turn-off to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, formerly the Graymoor Friary (short history to follow). Wingfoot¢s AT Guide said to turn onto the blue blaze and go until you saw a pavilion on the left. Bama saw a pavilion on the right and she and Little Wing were tired and hungry and thirsty, so they headed to that one. Turns out it was the wrong one, but they met a lovely Italian family of six that had been to the monastery for Mass today and a picnic afterwards. Bama struck up a conversation and found most of them spoke very little English, but the papa, Dominick, had pretty good English and he translated for everyone. He offered the girls Cokes and soon the family was pulling out everything they had left from lunch to feed these strange American women.They all wanted to know what Bama and Little Wing were doing. They talked and ate. The food and questions went on and on and the girls enjoyed fresh Italian bread, grapes, cantaloupe, watermelon, macaroni pie and cookies. The number one question? WHY are you DOING this? With some difficulty, Papa eventually explained to the family, ¢ uno sport! (It¢s a sport!)¢ This seemed satisfactory to all. What a treat and what very nice Trail Angels! Grazie! Grazie mille!Eventually, Bama and Little Wing found the correct pavilion about a half mile away and joined Cohiba, Otter, Identity Crisis, Nick and Sleepy the Arab at the ball field where the thru-hikers are allowed to camp. Later on, Bama and Little Wing had their showers (cold, but nice) and a tour of the monastery and grounds. They all ordered food from a local pizza place. Bama saved half of her dinner for Old Drum, because it would be too late to order when he arrived at 7:30. She had saved fruit and cookies for everyone from the nice Italian family. Nick played everyone a tune on his flute. They¢re all tired and ready for bed. The Graymoor chimes make a nice bedtime melody . . . Thank you, Brothers!Bill The Bear Mountain BridgeA technological success, but financial failure: The Bear Mountain Bridge set new standards in engineering that ushered in a "golden age" of big bridge building that lasted through the 1920s and 1930s. When it opened, the Bear Mountain Bridge had the longest main suspension span in the world, surpassing that of the Williamsburg Bridge by 32 feet. It held its title for only two years, giving it up to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge across the Delaware River in Philadelphia in 1926. Despite the bridge's technological success, it turned out to be a financial failure as a toll bridge. The vehicular tool was eventually stopped when the state bought it from the private owners.The bridge today: According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the Bear Mountain Bridge carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day (AADT) over the Hudson River. In addition to carrying one 12-foot-wide lane in each direction for US 6 and US 202, the roadway has eight-foot-wide shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists that accommodate the Appalachian Trail. To discourage through trucks from using the bridge, the NYSBA prohibits rigs weighing more than 56 tons from using the span.In 1999, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced plans to restore the vintage tollhouse on Bear Mountain Bridge Road. In conjunction with the Town of Cortlandt, the state plans to rehabilitate the tollhouse for use as a visitor information and interpretive center, provide parking for cars and recreational vehicles and encourage access to the nearby Camp Smith Trail.Graymoor Spirtual Life CenterOn December 15, 1898 Lurana White and two companions traveled to Graymoor to look after the abandoned chapel of St. John in the Wilderness. Every year the Friars and Sisters celebrate December 15th as Foundation Day. The communities began to grow very slowly in the Episcopal Church. Father Wattson joined Sister Lurana at Graymoor in the Spring of 1899 after making his novitiate with the Holy Cross Fathers in Maryland. He professed his vows as a Friar of the Atonement in June 1899 and took as his religious name Paul James Francis. As time developed the founders became more convinced that one of their major ministries was to pray and work for Christian Unity. By 1908 Father Wattson along with a friend from England, the Revered Spencer Jones, established the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Father Founder would speak about the Octave in later years and say that "the first fruits of the Octave was the acceptance of the Society into the Roman Catholic Church" in 1909. Many people began to visit Graymoor. In 1910 with the building of the railroad along the Hudson river, men began to come looking for shelter. Father Paul offered the only place available, a chicken coop. The Founder always referred to these men as Brother Christophers - Christ Bearers. The small chicken coupe turned into St. Christopher's Inn and the Inn for the homeless still serves Brother Christophers today. As the number of Friars increased, they were sent out to the "missions", first to Texas and then to British Columbia. It was not until 1949 that the Friars first went to serve the people in Japan. Shortly afterwards they opened the friary in Rome, Italy. In the late 50's they opened their first friary in England. The 60's the Friars went to Brazil and Jamaica, West Indies. Today the Friars serve in parishes in the United States, Canada and England. They also serve in Ecumenical Ministry in the United States, Canada, England, Japan and Italy. Friars serve in Social Ministry in the United States, Canada, England and Japan. The Friars invite interested men to become members of their community. Visit http://www.atonementfriars.org/page/vocations2.htm.