Don’t you just love it when things don’t go to plan? I decided to venture into upstate New York to visit the Rockefeller State Park Preserve today. You take the Metro North Hudson Line from Grand Central Station, and if you’re paying attention, you get off at Tarrytown. I wasn’t paying attention, because I saw a woman with this bag:
…so naturally, I was distracted. I sailed past Tarrytown and got off at Philipse Manor instead. Not a big deal, they’re not that far apart, but by getting off a stop later, I ended up walking into Sleepy Hollow – yes, as in The Legend of… just walked right into the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Gulp. Intrigued, I cast my well-laid plans aside and started to explore. It’s very picturesque, especially down by the original Old Dutch Church, which is the actual setting for Washingon Irving’s Sleepy Hollow tale. Irving’s gravestone overlooks the old burial grounds and you walk by it on the way there.
Burial grounds of the Old Dutch Church, with a precariously tilted headstone.
Not terribly creepy at all, except that there were at least a hundred shrieking birds whirling like dervishes around the old burial grounds the entire time I was there, so I turned tail and headed north towards the far less creepy Headless Horseman Bridge.
Headless Horseman Bridge
“If I can but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, ” I am safe.”
Curiosity satiated, I set off once again for the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, but as I was rambling alone along the carriage trails in the park, I heard the clatter of hooves galloping up behind me. I turned to see a figure cloaked in black whizz by and I don’t mind telling you, I had a bit of an Ichabod Crane moment. Thankfully, this horseman had a head.
Where's my backpack? 
Loved it!
Hee hee, thanks Randall!
Very cool adventure! I hope one day to visit and have a headless horsemen experience like your’s, not ichabod’s!
I hope the same for you, Kate. Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed your post! Sometimes going the wrong way can take you somewhere interesting. I didn’t know that Washington Irving was buried in Sleepy Hollow.
I totally agree, btweenblinks, the journey there is usually just as interesting as the destination. Thanks for reading! x
Bridge picture with the water is great. Both bridge pictures look at little spooky…but then it is Sleepy Hollow!
I risked life and limb getting that picture of the bridge with the water – flat on the ground dangling precariously off a stone ledge – and that water was pretty powerful, I wouldn’t have wanted to fall in! So glad my efforts didn’t go unappreciated 😉
What a cool adventure! I love cemeteries and Sleepy Hollow – and your pictures are great!
Thanks Jo, it’s a great place to visit, guaranteed to give you the heebie jeebies! 🙂
Might have to make a mental note to throw in a side trip there if we get a chance! It does sound awesome 🙂
Oh, my gosh. That is awesome! I so want to visit Sleepy Hollow. I have a bizarre fascination with all things creepy, especially the historically creepy. Glad I found your blog. Thanks for the “like” on mine.
You should go, Sandy, it’s pretty spooky – at least it was when I was there! So glad we’ve met in the blogosphere! 🙂
I think I would have been very freaked at the clattering of hooves…!
Haha, I know I was, Lu! 🙂