I have to say I do miss the guardrail breakfast. Ever since the gummint shut that down, it's been the Plaza Diner for me - since when did that stop being the place to go? Who else serves breakfast at 4am so you can start climbing at first light, or slightly before?

Oh boy Rickster; it's so tempting to wallow in nostalgia. What it all teaches us is to appreciate what we've got because it may well be gone soon. Other than this website, what do we have now in and around our playground that's new and better than we had in days of yore?

That photo did bring back some great memories. You'd have to get to there pretty early to grab the primo "spot" at the opening between the guardrails. I had a pick-up w/a cap on it and spent more nights than I can remember sleeping in it. I may have mentioned before that I recall a busy weekend at the gunks meant there were only about 2 dozen or cars parked along the guardrails.

Then they put the outhouse at the top of the rise (sometime in the 80's I think) and every now and then you'd get a whiff of it. Putting that outhouse there to me was the beginning of the end of roadside parking.

Back on topic, Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, great beer, wine and liquor list as well as very good food. The Hudson Valley's 1st certified "Green" Restaurant.

www.aromathymebistro.com

Rick I agree, Aroma Thyme is outstanding food, but a bit on the pricey side. Have you had the Korean BBQ in Pine Bush yet?

Some years back, but my wife is vegan, so she often gets first choice on restaurant choices. And, I'm more the meat and potatoes kind of guy.

Another one with in the Northern Orange County area, is the Wildfire Cafe in Montgomery, great food as well.

heres one more, country inn in krumville....we tend to go there when we do the pedestrian road across the ashokan. A bit pricey but worth the experience. great food and beer selection.

Elephant in Kingston

MPNA

There's also a fine Mexican restaurant in Ellenville, right across from Aroma Thyme. Simple, good, and inexpensive.