This past weekend, Sarah and I headed down the scenic way of route 80, 13, and lots of other random route numbers that took us South and East to the Catskill mountains. The destination was chosen for the bicycle stage race – the Tour of the Catskills.

Our main camp was made at a quiet little hotel in Windham, the race Friday (a 2.3m uphill TT) was in Tannersville just a bit South of there. Then Saturday the 51.3m road race called Stage 1: The Catskill Epic started out in Windham. Then Sunday the final stage was another road race ~58m called Stage 2: The Mountaintop Classic ‘Featuring the Assault on Devil’s Kitchen’ which was a beast of a hill around 3miles long and boasting grades of mid-20%’s…

Between races taking in the view and exploring the peculiar off season ski towns and the meandering side roads that dribbled off into the wilderness there came a sign. Sarah and I are fans of pottery and off in one of the mountains was this sight I share with you here:

Notice the awesome little potteries hanging out on top of the sign no doubt secured in some clever manner.

So, off and completed the race, hurried to scope out results and then went back to scoop up the Sarah to scope out the potential place of the potter.

As we made the turn off of the road of the initial sign it seemed very promising in a super off the beaten path way.

Pottery, in the woods!

Here are a couple snapshots I took with my telephone, pardon the grainyness, there was some excellent stuff in there. Particularly of interest were the mugs, very nice bowls (which we ended up purchasing 2 good ones), as well as a lemonade/orange juice making device, interesting things called garlic dishes – which I thought would be nice for safely harboring cookies, berry bowls were the water could drain, and a need flower/bamboo watering contraption.

The proprietress had put in her time for 17 years in Manhattan living the busy life, and curiously got into pottery instantly enamored and driven to create. She’s been working the wheel thrown pottery out of the little studio called ‘Herbs and Pots‘ since 2006 creating functional and interesting pieces.

This place was an excellent unexpected find. The Catskills are filled with artists, hanging out in the mountains, taking naps under trees with good old local legend Rip Van Winkle. It just goes to show you never know what may be down that meandering road.