Day 1.214: By the scenic route

To say that today's outing didn't go exactly to plan would be putting it mildly, but in the end we had a good day.

We visited the Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskill Park. The trail to the waterfall is short (less than a mile round trip) but pleasingly challenging:

Exile #3 and her cousin stormed up the trail and Exile #4, at a more measured pace, did a fantastic job while deflecting any compliments on her climbing ability onto her 'great climbing shoes'. The falls themselves are fantastic as was the sight of crowds of Orthodox Jews also visiting - including the teenage girls in the party clambering over the rocks in their ankle-length black skirts.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves both at the falls:

and fording the creek downstream at the trailhead next to the road:

We also saw some great views of the Hudson River as we took our round-about route to the Catskills.

Later on the road home we were overtaken by a man on a very-well-stocked touring motorcycle. "When can I ride one of those?" asked Exile #4. Wouldn't you rather drive a car? "No that looks funner. They go faster." Oh boy - we've got trouble ahead!