Hiking with Goats in the Catskills Was the Highlight of My Vacation
I'm not a "nature person" or very outdoorsy but it's impossible not to smile when clambering through the woods with goats
Happy August! I’m diving back into new projects and a big feature article deadline (details on those when I can share them) after a long weekend in the Catskills. We had our annual visit with my boyfriend Drew’s college friends and their families.
We choose a different location every time, aiming for a rental house that’s relatively equidistant from their New England homes and our South Jersey one. This time, we were in the Catskills, Liberty, New York, to be precise.
Drew booked the house and one day asked me, “Do you want to go on a goat walk while we’re there?” Of course! I wouldn’t say I consider myself. a “nature person” or even particularly outdoorsy (one of my favorite t shirts says “Indoorsy,” in fact), but walking is my preferred form of exercise and how could I say no to goats?
Turns out, it was more of a goat hike organized by Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary, in Napanoch (Ulster County), which I learned also has an Airbnb where you can partake in a goat happy hour. The hike was two hours long through about two miles. First, we walked from the sign-in area across the street to where the group of goats we’d be hiking with are kept. The rescue has three sets of goats, and each goes on one of these walks daily.
I think there were six or seven goats with us, and we were given a rundown of all their names and personalities. They can eat almost all the greenery except for two plants that are poisonous to them. They nibbled along the way, and a few times, we stopped and pulled down branches so they could devour the leaves, which is a fun site. They eat very quickly.
We took a water break and the guide/rescue owner Meagan took out collapsible bowls and let us hold them to feed the goats water. They drank so much of it that she poured some of her water, including ice, into a bowl, but most of the goats weren’t too impressed with the ice.
It was a beautiful day, sunny, but not scorching hot, and the trees provided enough cover that I felt fine in my t shirt and yoga pants.
The hike wasn’t too steep, but taking a walking stick the rescue provided helped. One time I stumbled over a log, but righted myself in time.
After the hike, we got to hang out with the goats and learn a little more about them. They were very mellow and looked totally comfortable. They have I think three dozen goats who’ve been rescued from various farms, and it’s clear that the owner puts a lot of time and energy into caring for them, both collectively and individually.
If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend checking them out. You have to be at least 16 years old to go on the goat walk.
I was beaming the whole rest of the day, because for those two hours, I wasn’t stressed or anxious or worried like I am much of the time. I was just focused on enjoying my peaceful surroundings, making my way through the woods, and not getting in the way of the goats.
This weekend I’m doing the opposite of a nature walk when I visit a friend. I don’t have HBO so we usually go out to eat a few times, watch lots of shows and movies, and catch up. If you have recommendations, let me know.
What else I’m up to:
I finally joined Threads @rachelkramerbussel and am loving it; it reminds me of what Twitter used to be
If you like live theater and are near the Princeton, NJ area, come check out Drew’s play Outside the Frame August 29, 30, and 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door or via Indiegogo campaign - all proceeds go toward paying actors and putting on the production.
has a call for personal essays up that pays $50 and is open until all 2024 essay slots are fullOpen Secrets ran two wonderful essays for Disability Pride Month that I hope you’ll check out:
“There’s Something Wrong with My Body, But Doctors Can’t Tell Me What It Is” by
“You May Not Notice My Disability” by
With so much at stake this election season, if you’re eligible to vote in the U.S., please make sure you’re registered by visiting iwillvote.com or checking with your local county board of elections.
I joined the inaugural Authors for Harris Zoom call on Tuesday, and it fired me up! An auction is in the works to raise money for Kamala Harris’s campaign. If you want to get involved, fill out this Google form. I’m not an organizer, just helping the group. If you want to donate to Kamala HQ directly, visit kamalaharris.com
I got to hear Congressman Andy Kim speak recently and he was so inspiring, and truly cares about New Jersey and our country. I’d already been impressed by his cleaning up the Capital after January 6, and what really got me was hearing him talk about his aging father and having to manage his healthcare. He gets what being a caregiver means and how much of a struggle it can be to pay for and access quality healthcare. He’s running for Senate and you can learn more at andykim.com
My September small group Zoom essay class is starting to fill up. The class will be held Saturdays September 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 1-3 pm ET and is aimed at writers of all skill levels wanting to craft a personal essay to submit to their dream publication. Registration is $250 which includes lifetime access to my curated list of personal essays, 2 rounds of essay edits from me, ability to submit to Open Secrets at any time regardless of whether there’s a public call for essays running, guidance on selecting essay topics and researching markets as well as building an author brand and getting media attention for your essays. The class is limited to 15 people and will be recorded for those who can’t make the live sessions.