By the time I got to Woodstock ... →[More:]the sky was full of cloud and I'd left the beautiful NYC weather behind.

First, Amtrak. How bloody impressive is Amtrak compared with UK trains. On time, clean, comfortable, cheap tickets, helpful conductors. It was great.

I sat on the left of the train so I got the view up the Hudson, and a lovely ride it was too. My friend Joanee met me at the station and on the way to her house we stopped at the farm which used to be 'Maggie's Farm' (now under different ownership and name) to buy some organic food.

Her house is amazing, like the Tardis. It looks tiny on the outside but it's huge, on many levels and it goes back for room upon room. I have a lovely room at the back, overlooking the pool.

Woodstock is a pretty little town, full of little artsty-craftsy shops. I saw more ponytailed men here in two hours than I've seen in four days in NYC!

We went out for Mexican food last night, which I absolutely love. We can't get it in England (we have Indian instead) so any chance I get for a burrito I grab.

It's so lovely to see Joanee, and to meet her husband, Peter. They're both really interesting people (I once Googled Joanee and almost fell off my chair when I saw her achievements.) They're a lot of fun, and they have two kitties too, which has somewhat made up for my lack of kitteh contact whilst in NYC.

Only downside, no cellphone service on my network up here.