Influence-ers

Yesterday, we were researching and charting our plans to continue north to Lake Champlain (strict requirements for boaters; crossing into Canada procedures), the St. Lawrence Seaway (big boats!), and Montreal (things to do/places to see).  Today by 9 am, all those plans were tossed aside.  After seeking advice from a GOLD Looper (someone who has already completed the loop) at Shady Harbor Marina (where we've been docked for the past 3 days) and learning that our route north to Montreal involves strong currents (vs. just currents--which we had planned for), we changed our minds.  Instead, we will go with the flow (meaning most Loopers go this way) on the Erie Canal!

We spent our July 4th and 5th with a rented Ford Flex (ugly!) to admire Hudson River sites--Catskills on the east side, and FDR's home and presidential library and museum, Eleanor's Val-Kill home, and Frederick and Louise Vanderbuilt's Mansion on the west.  At Shady Harbor Marina, we enjoyed dinner out with Penny and David  (MV "Southern Cross" with their Nantucket friends, Lisa and Buddy) and getting to know our dock neighbors, Jade and Elwood (MV "Escapade").

About 25 miles east of the Hudson River on the Erie Canal, we are docked on a free (of charge) "wall" next to Lock 7.  We will continue cruising east along this scenic waterway, hoping to connect with Andrew Brolsma along the way, as well as make plans for visiting family in Perth, Canada, and friends Lori and Norm Low in Ottowa!

Doris Kearns Goodwin's "No Ordinary Time," sparked our interest in the lives and works of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.  The FDR Home and Presidential Library and Museum is an extraordinary gift to anyone who wishes to visit.

The FDR Home and our nation's very first Presidential Library and Museum is located in the lovely town of Hyde Park, NY.  It's the only presidential library used by a sitting president.

The Roosevelt Home belonged to FDR's mother, Sarah.  Besides FDR (an only child), all of Sarah's grandchildren were raised in this home.   

The home is as it was when the Roosevelt's lived there...warm, welcoming, and comfortable; tasteful, humble furnishings.

This was one of the living rooms.  On the piano are photos as Sarah would have had them...of family, as well as photos of Churchill, the King and Queen of England, and other guests who visited them at their home.

The main floor of the home was space for entertaining guests and enjoying family time.  The second floor consisted of bedrooms and baths.  The third floor was for the grandchildren and hired help bedrooms. 
Despite having 14,000 square feet of space, it was funny to find Sarah's bedroom right next to Eleanor's which was right next to FDR's--and each were interconnected by doorways!
This photo is of the family room where FDR would enjoy his children and grandchildren, as well as time with honored guests. If you look closely to the left and behind one of the lighter-colored chairs, you'll see one of FDR's wheelchairs.

FDR and Eleanor (and 2 of their favorite dogs) are buried in this flower garden, just a few steps from the Roosevelt Home.

FDR had a hand in designing and building his presidential library and museum.  He gave some of his radio talks from here.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, a special exhibit was at the library and museum which included communications between Churchill and FDR.

The museum included this 1936 Ford Phaeton which President Roosevelt enjoyed driving whenever he was at Hyde Park.  The car was specially modified to be operated with hand controls which gave FDR the freedom to drive despite his disability.

The museum had artifacts, films, original communications, audiotapes...many different ways to learn or research the life of FDR and Eleanor.  These two individuals strived to make the lives of the common American better with freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of want, and freedom of fear.

After the Roosevelt Home, we drove to Eleanor's retreat house called Val-Kill.  Val-Kill Industries was a company Eleanor and 2 girlfriends started.  When the company died, Eleanor converted the buildings into a cottage, the first home she ever owned.  Guests enter the house through the back door--our names can now be added to names like Jack Kennedy and Winston Churchill.

The inside of Eleanor's cottage was very humble.  Franciscan dishes with glasses that could've come from IKEA.  The wood paneling and furnishings were warm and welcoming.
 (The silver candlesticks in the photo were items she inherited from her parents)

This was the living room in the cottage.  Eleanor did not apologize for her simple living!
Eleanor lived here until her death.  She enjoyed flowers from her garden and meals using local and homegrown foods.
After FDR's death, Eleanor served as our nation's first ambassador to the newly formed United Nations.  She was named chair to the Human Rights commission and worked to get the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

Our second day in Hyde Park was spent at the Vanderbuilt Mansion, built by Frederick and Louise Vanderbuilt, grandson to Cornelius Vanderbuilt, the railroad baron.

The drive from the gates to the mansion was inviting and beautiful!

Unlike the Roosevelts (who had money but didn't need to show it off), Frederick and Louise portrayed their lives as if royalty--specifically French royalty. 
The house and its furnishing could be planted on the grounds of Versailles and fit in perfectly.

This was the home's front room with doors to all other rooms.  Every detail is meant to communicate wealth.

The light made it hard to photograph the rooms.  However, if you look closely, you might see more details in the furnishings and construction.
All of the furnishings belonged to Frederick and Louise.  They had no children to inherit the home.  A distant relative who DID inherit the home didn't want it and couldn't sell it.  So, as suggested by FDR, the relative gave the properties and home and its furnishings to the National Park Service.  

This was Frederick's study.  Lots of carved wood!
This home is the only home of the "gilded age" in American history owned and run by the Park Service.
The mansion is a work of art and craftsmanship.

The gardens on the property were beautiful and today are cared for by local volunteers.  Next to the gardens is a home that was willed to one of Frederick and Louise's servants; it remains in the servant's family and continues to be a private residence.   

This is a segment of the Erie Canal which is part of the New York City Canal System.  It's amazing to think that this canal was completed in 1825!

Despite having only traveled about 25 miles on the Erie today, we went through 7 locks, located very close to one another.

This photo was taken from the lock as we await the doors to open.  From here, we could see the entrance to the next lock (looks like a cave).

This photo is out of sequence...its of the old driveway that used to lead to the Roosevelt Home.  It's reported that when FDR was here, he strived to "walk" the entire way from his home to the end of the driveway.  While he never made it (secret service would find him fallen on the road, dirty and sometimes bleeding), he never quit trying.

On our last evening at Shady Harbor we enjoyed dinner with Penny and David (MV "Southern Cross") and Lisa and Buddy (friends from Nantucket, MA) at the marina's restaurant.