Meat Vending Machine

October 3-5, 2019

Rondout Valley Campground

Day 111-113

Chilly morning!!! But, a nice relief from yesterday’s muggy weather. Noticed only one country music station now, can’t get any NPR and there is only generic rock, pop and classical music on the radio. I turn it off because I need to concentrate for this leg anyway.

Took the interstate for time and safety. It was, at times, harrowing today. Everyone is going well over the speed limit. Lanes seem narrower too. At times I thought we were going to trade paint!!! It got a little better when we were going away from NYC; surface streets would not have been much better because of all the hills.

The best part of this drive was when I got off the interstate onto the scenic Delaware River Gap road. It’s about 40 miles along the Pennsylvania and New Jersey boarder. It’s flat, softly windy and in great condition. And, no commercial vehicles are all allowed so it’s really a peaceful drive on federal land. My favorite drive in the East so far.

I pulled over for a lunch break at one of the rest stops on this road and realized that I had to turn around to exit the parking lot. Ugh. I need to do a three-point turn and have to ask a car to move. Just before I ask, the retired couple says hello and offers to move for me! Turns out they have a trailer too (but it’s not attached today). We talk for a few minutes, and I tell them about my adventure. They are amazed I am doing thru this on my own, but I tell them it’s not as hard as seems. They move, I do my turn and we are back on our way. The remaining hour on NY State 209 was not that bad either.

My camp is in the Hudson River Valley. It’s ok, a little dated with a lot of seasonal campers. This time of year, it's one of the few open. There is a mix of new and older rigs, but I am the only Airstream. My spot is a little muddy, but I parked perfect and level, not needing any levelers. Yeah!

I need groceries and google “butcher near me”. I can’t believe my luck; I feel like I have won the lottery because Applestone Meat Company is a nose-to-tail butcher open 24 hours, near me! Yes, that’s right. They have the coolest vending machines, something you would see in Japan. I went to their Accord location, but they also have in Hudson and Stone Ridge, NY (update, the Accord location is temporarily closed). They have a walk-up window from 11-6 pm where a real person can help you. This is great if you preorder or want to buy from their freezer section. They have 5 vending machines; all super clean and easy to use with credit card. I was able to buy hanger steak, sausage and chicken breast (though I would have been even happier if they had airline breast). They even had fillet and porterhouse steaks! Everything is nicely cyrovac’d and labeled. It was awesome. I loved it so much I went back two other times on this trip. When I got back in the truck, I even called my friend Toponia of Fatted Calf. She heard about the vending machines and was a little skeptical. But I gotta tell you, I can’t stop talking about it. I even sent her pictures. The machines are super clean, and I am told they rotate the fresh into frozen and discount to sell it if needed. I hope this catches on. I really can’t stop talking about it. Most of the frozen is discounted 20% off too; so, I stocked up.

Luckily, this area also had a great produce market and a nice locally owned supermarket. It’s raining again, but I walk Sparky. It’s chilly so I turn on the heat, make a nice dinner and catchup on emails.

Day 2 - Sent out Minnesota chapter; that felt good. Took a field trip to New Paltz on the recommendation of Toponia.

New Paltz is a cute little village about ½ hour from Accord. Walked downtown with Sparky. It’s now getting chilly, and I need to update my wardrobe soon for this cold weather. I also need a NY State map. Sadly, gas stations don’t have them anymore, you need to get them from the interstate Visitors Centers. No, I am not on AAA but for that reason alone I should consider it. The state maps have much more detail, including the scenic/byway roads I like so much.

Stumbled into Lagusta’s Luscious Chocolate Shop hoping to get just one piece to nibble on, and to my delight, the shop is vegan. And, they do ice cream too! (Remember, I don’t do dairy/milk anymore). They had a nice little retail section that even had Miyoko’s vegan butter from Petaluma!!! So, I got one chocolate bar, a toffee and a delicious chocolate covered tahini ice cream bar. That bar was so delicious. You wouldn’t have even known it was vegan, it was that good; covered in chocolate with a thick slab of caramel, sea salt and toasted black sesame seeds. I couldn’t even eat it all, it was so rich. Worth a return trip just for that. While eating the ice cream bar, I met a really nice local couple who noticed how happy I looked eating it. We talked about local food including the vending machine butcher – which they had not been to yet.

Hudson River Valley is so beautiful and riddled with gentle hills, picturesque farms and well-maintained colonial homes. It’s really like Sonoma Valley; lots of small farms offering the best meats and produce available - by far the vest since leaving the Bay Area.

Finally found a place to throw the ball for Sparky at a trail head nearby. Then I tried to drive up to see the Mohonk Mountain House (a Victorian castle resort), but you need to be a guest to get in. Too bad. Heading back to camp, I found another great place to throw the ball for Sparky – a storage facility with a huge grass lawn, far from the street. He got a lot of exercise today!

No TV reception at this campsite, stayed in listening to good radio and editing Minnesota chapter. There has been a lot of rain lately, so it’s really damp. Too damp for me. Good day today, not that there has been any bad day (except yesterday’s freeway driving – harrowing!).