So much to say; so much to see

Almost a week in and so much has happened! We started on the road towards NYC, our first choice of destination, and after hours of breath taking back roads through New Yorks' beautiful Catskill mountains we found a small camping area and, by that point, set up the tent in the dark. While an interesting challenge to connect poles to a tent frame with minimal lighting and rummage through the trunk of a car for pajamas, this is one challenge that we quickly found out is better done in daylight than darkness. Let me just add here I have grown a whole new appreciation for the luxury we call "the mattress". I'm getting used to ground sleeping though and from what I've heard it may actually be better for your spine.
The small town we found ourselves in the morning in was an artsy town called Woodstock. Riding bikes down the main street and getting lunch at a small pizza shop filled our morning quickly and we found our afternoon consumed by busy city traffic as I wound the streets into Manhattan. A first and not too stressful experience for me- driving into the city. Leaving the city was another story...not too interesting but involving an extra hour of wandering and winding through the outskirts of the highways that themselves wind around places and buildings one would never know to exists except out of pure coincidence and an uncanny ability to take the wrong roads. But the great part of getting lost or off the projected route on this trip is the fact that we have no deadlines or specific places to be by a certain point in time. Getting lost turning on the wrong road, or taking the incorrect exit ends up being nothing more than an invited unknown adventure.. a pleasant change from the normal stress and anxiety that inevitably ensues after one wrong turn for most travellers.
Our three days in NYC were filled with friends, family, and rain. John's sister was so kind in letting us crash at her place in Manhattan. Although the rain decided to visit the city the same time as us I did not allow the dreary weather to keep me indoors. After three days of the subway and visits in and out of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan I had seen so many beautiful friends and places. To reconnect with some of my so well loved friends was such a boost and recharge to my spirit. To see everyone settling in their own burrow of NYC and hear how drastically their lives are moving in different directions since graduation from Fredonia was truly interesting. I'm so proud of all of them for following their dreams and working extra hard to make a dime in the big city.
Columbia Law school was an important visit while in Manhattan. I toured the entire law school and stopped into the admissions office for a quick chat. Also, right around the corner from the school was Grant's Tomb and beautiful landscaping on the river. This was not the first National Park/Monument that I visited. On our way into the city we spent the afternoon in Hyde Park touring the Vanderbilt Mansion, FDR's Presidential Library and home and Eleanor's country home. My favorite was the Vanderbilt mansion- luxury upon luxury and all kept in it's original condition and furnishings from the early 20th century. The most interesting part of the tour was a fact our guide Demetri told us: that the woman of the day had to have mistresses that travelled with them in order to help change the woman into their 4-16 different outfits a day! And I thought my occasional habit of changing clothes 2-3 times a day was a lot!
After camping in Pennsylvania's Ravensburg State Park last night we arrived in Sterling Virginia to a wonderful tasty home cooked meal at my Aunt and Uncles' house. How wonderful to have such welcoming and warm family! Tomorrow brings Washington DC and visits to George Mason Law and Georgetown Law. Although less than week since we have departed I have met and shared meals and conversations with many loving caring friends and family. What a blessing to have these beautiful people apart of this life I am living.