Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com

Join The Slow Pedaling Movement!

Al Budde — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 13:50:26 +0000

The Battenkill Valley has become almost as famous for its plethora of fast-pedaling, lycra-encased team bicyclists as it is for its hills and covered bridges. OK, but I’d like to suggest an alternative for those of us who take a more Zen-like approach to life.

Slow Pedaling.

It means you wear comfortable clothing, sit upright on a comfortable bicycle seat, keep your head up and your senses engaged and bike slowly, even reverently, though the Battenkill Valley.

Nobody will keep time. Nobody will count your miles or the number of rotations you pedaled or how long and how hard your heart rate was raised. And nobody will give you an award when you’re done. Slow pedaling is, after all, not about you. It’s about the wonder and the beauty of the place you are passing through.

And that sounds pretty refreshing, don’t you think?

The post Join The Slow Pedaling Movement! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Find Out What WINNING THE LOTTERY Is Like!

Al Budde — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 16:05:20 +0000

The first two weekends in August at the Fort Salem Theater, 8pm Friday and Saturday with 2pm matinees. Call 854-9200 for tickets now!

The post Find Out What WINNING THE LOTTERY Is Like! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Tour Of The Battenkill Is Back April 13,14! (So why the plow?)

Al Budde — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:29:15 +0000

Yes, America’s largest bike race is back upon us April 13 and 14 in Cambridge, with over 3,000 amateur racers from 40 States and 15 countries participating…and yes, there will be a giant Expo starting Friday from 10am in the heart of Cambridge with all sorts of vendors…but what, you are asking, does any of this have to do with the plow pictured above? This is to call your attention to McCartee’s Barn, one of the many easy-to-miss treasures you’ll find while you’re out exploring the Battenkill Valley during the races. McCartee’s Barn, located next to the Salem Central School, is a wonder to behold; chock full of local artworks, antiques, garden ephemera, jewelry, cookware, etc., etc., etc. So by all means begin your Battenkill weekend with the race, but don’t miss the opportunity to “plow through” the barn and the many other local wonders you’ll find while you’re out cruising around (and take home a better memento than just a race t-shirt)!

The post Tour Of The Battenkill Is Back April 13,14! (So why the plow?) appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

The Battle of Bennington? Well, not really…

Al Budde — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:38:19 +0000

Where was the Battle of Bennington fought?

The answer should be as obvious as “who is buried in Grant’s tomb?” Actually, the great battle that set-up the battle at Saratoga – the turning point of the Revolutionary War – was fought right here in the good ol’ Battenkill Valley.

On August 11, 1777, British General John Burgoyne dispatched about 650 soldiers to Bennington, Vermont under the command of Col. Freidrich Baum to collect the cache of weapons that were know to be held by the rebels there. Burgoyne believed they would outnumber the rebels by about five-to-one. Long story short, on August 16 the band of mostly German soldiers tried to hold a redoubt on a hill just outside of Hoosick Falls and were defeated by General Stark and several waves of rebel soldiers and militia from New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. About 70 rebels were lost, compared to over 900 of Baum’s troops.

So, the Battle of Bennington monument, that great monolith of limestone that pierces the sky on a hill in Bennington and can be seen for miles, actually marks the spot of the cache of weapons, not the battle
itself. If you’d like to see the actual battle sight (and I’d highly recommend it) you need to go just beyond Hoosick Falls on Rt. 67 and look for the National Monument site. It’s closed for the season now, but you can drive up to the top and see where the redoubt was and have a picnic (tables and ranger station provided) and enjoy a gorgeous circular view of the Battenkill Valley.

There is an enormous amount of Revolutionary War history dotted throughout the Battenkill Valley and the experience is all the better in that much of the landscape has not changed since that time. So get out there, keep on the lookout for those ubiquitous history signs along the road, stop and check out some old burying grounds (Salem’s is of particular note), and get a feel for the history of your country on the grounds and battlefields where it all began. Right here in the Battenkill Valley.

The post The Battle of Bennington? Well, not really… appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Fear This: A Haunted Courthouse and Jail!

Al Budde — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:43:36 +0000

The Courthouse is once again preparing for a true
old-fashion haunting. Partnering with Rik Sassa, the imaginative
creative force behind the event for the third year, every inch of the
Courthouse will come to life with ghouls and creatures from beyond the
grave. A grand hair-raising time will be had by all, but only if you
dare! Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 9:30 pm, October 12 & 13, 19
& 20 and 26, 27 & 28 (Sunday the 28th is being included as well
for last minute Halloween thrills and chills!). $10 for adults – $5 for
kids 13 and under – $5 for volunteer firefighters and EMS workers – $25
for families (mom/dad or caretaker & children).
The Salem Courthouse is within sight of the traffic light in Salem heading East. If you went last year you know how amazing this attraction is…and it’s completely different this year so you won’t want to miss it!

The post Fear This: A Haunted Courthouse and Jail! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Broadway Talent Comes To You…in Salem’s ‘Significant Others’

Al Budde — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:15:07 +0000

What would you do if you received a letter telling you that the person who married you was a fraud…and that your marriage is not now – nor never has been – legal? That’s just Act I in a trio of funny, flabbergasting and often poignant looks at significant others and the roles we play in one anothers lives. This is the fifth time around for me and my writing partner, Jay Kerr, owner of the Fort Salem Theater, and this time we wrote three separate acts specifically to showcase the talents of our cast, who hails from TV, the Movies, and Broadway. And man do they shine! Shows are this Friday and Saturday night at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and you can reserve tickets by calling 854-9200. Do it now, before they’re all gone…and I look forward to seeing you there!

The post Broadway Talent Comes To You…in Salem’s ‘Significant Others’ appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

A Great Idea: Destination Walking

Al Budde — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:27:50 +0000

OK…this idea is going to take a little effort on your part, so I’m going to make a bet with you: try it once and see if you don’t believe that little extra effort was well worth it. I’m talking about Destination Walking; driving to a place like Salem or Shushan in the Battenkill Valley to take a walk. It’s a completely different experience than “Mall Walking”. It gets you out in the open country, taking in that delicious country air, witnessing breathtaking new vistas around every bend in the road. More importantly even than that, it gets you out of your old routine and takes you to a beautiful new place to explore, putting another notch in your Life Experiences belt. Get your friends together and try it. To get you started, come to Salem on Rt.22, take Riley Hill Road, which starts out steep but levels out and opens up nicely. Make two left turns when you come to them and you’ll loop back into Salem on Blind Buck Road, past our beautiful school and just north of Riley Hill road where you started. I do it in 40 minutes at speed, but you’ll likely want to take twice that much time as the scenery – if not the walk – will take your breath away. Another nice one is in Shushan. Park by the covered bridge on Eagleville Road off of Rt. 313, then go over the bridge and bear left onto Binniger Road, take that out to Rt. 61, (the paved road you’ll come to in a mile and a quarter), make a right and then another right when you get to Eagleville Road again. This is a bit longer, a tad over 4 miles, but hey…you came all of this way, right? Of course, you really should make a day of it, to explore the funky eateries, art galleries, antique stores and curiosity shops that make the Battenkill Valley so unique. And if you should be passed by a car be sure to give a friendly wave. We do that here.

The post A Great Idea: Destination Walking appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Summer Sounds of Salem Is Back And Even Better!

Al Budde — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:45:18 +0000

Summer Sounds of Salem kicks off this Saturday and continues every Saturday through Labor Day. Come hear live music from 11a-1p while you shop a “real” farmer’s market. (C’mon, this is Salem I’m talking about here!) It’s a great way to recharge and there is no charge for the music! This year, the performers will be using the celebrated Front Porch donated by Salem Art Works, a front porch reproduction all the way from the U.K. that showcases the uniquely American tradition of “hanging out on the front porch.” Just drive through town with your windows down – you can’t miss it!

The post Summer Sounds of Salem Is Back And Even Better! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Biggest Antique Fair Ever At The Fairgrounds!

Al Budde — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:12:02 +0000

If you ever wanted to dip your toe into the Battenkill Valley then take this weekend – May 5-6 – to drive up to the Washington County Fairgrounds just east of Schuylerville (up the hill) on Rt. 29 and come to the big Antique Fair.

“We’re looking at the largest show we’ve ever had,” said Michael Green of Fairground Shows, NY. “We already have 225 dealers and more are calling everyday.” Gates open at 8am and tickets – good for the whole weekend – are only $3. Sr.s just $2 and kids under 14, free. In addition to antiques for sale, several dealers will also provide appraisals for customer’s antiques, so bring your stuff along and see what it’s worth. That old piece of junk collecting dust could be worth a mint! See you there!

The post Biggest Antique Fair Ever At The Fairgrounds! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.

Lambs and Llamas and Bunnies…Oh My!

Al Budde — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:22:05 +0000

It’s the 20th annual Washington County Fiber Tour April 28 and 29 from 10a to 4p…a FREE event that takes you over hill and dale through some of the most scenic farms you’ll ever see. Bring the kids, pack a lunch and visit alpacas, bunnies, goats, sheep and lambs, llamas, and more – on the farm – and meet the farmers and their families.

Free events. Watch spinning, knitting, weaving and felting demonstrations. Learn about raising the livestock and pets that we cherish.

Drive from farm to farm through scenic Washington County in the Battenkill Valley. Shop for handspun and dyed yarns, unique woven and knitted items, high quality fleeces, cuts of lamb, and more.

For more info go to www.washingtoncountyfibertour.org. With 13 farms participating this year, there’s plenty to see, touch, feel and taste!

The post Lambs and Llamas and Bunnies…Oh My! appeared first on Battenkill Valley Blog On Saratoga.com.