What Not To Do In A Cemetery
After yesterday's post about the perils of the "magic hour", you'd think I'd learned my lesson. Today's lesson is: Do not enter a cemetery at 4:09 when the gates are locked at 4:30.
We're big on Halloween in Westchester County and no town does it bigger than Sleepy Hollow, famous for Washington Irving who wrote The legend of Sleepy Hollow. You can visit his grave by day or if you dare, take a spooky lantern-lit cemetery tour at night The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Photo quote de jour
My plan was to drive up the serpentine road to the top of the hilly cemetery, catch some magic hour light for a few shots and go home. I'd been there once before and I had a map of the extensive grounds. Two minutes later, I found a lovely view, enjoyed a peaceful stroll and promptly got lost. The map made no sense with its narrow winding roads, some more suitable for a headless horseman than a car. At 4:15, I found the car and headed down the hill. Adventurous me figured on driving to the exit, parking and then wandering for a few minutes. At 4:20, sensible me panicked when I found myself on top of yet another hill, going in circles.
Magic hour was fast becoming nightmare hour. At 4:22, in the fading light, I questioned my sanity and whether 4:22 was the correct time. Shadows can play tricks and I while alone, I didn't feel alone. At 4:25 I saw them near a large mausoleum. They looked real enough. A couple got into in a car and sped away. They were my only hope. Narrow gravel roads flanked by hundred-year-old headstones aren't made for speed. I honked, opened my window and waved like a lunatic. They stopped.
"I'm lost. Do you know the way out?" Duh. Isn't this how many horror movies start?
The man said, "I think so."
My panic tinged voice croaked,"You think so?"
"Follow-me."
He could have been the devil himself, but I followed. We reached the main gate at 4:26. I parked, got out, thanked him and picked up a better map. What the hell, I had two more minutes and snapped a few more pics while contemplating taking the night tour, but thought better of it.
We're big on Halloween in Westchester County and no town does it bigger than Sleepy Hollow, famous for Washington Irving who wrote The legend of Sleepy Hollow. You can visit his grave by day or if you dare, take a spooky lantern-lit cemetery tour at night The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Photo quote de jour
My plan was to drive up the serpentine road to the top of the hilly cemetery, catch some magic hour light for a few shots and go home. I'd been there once before and I had a map of the extensive grounds. Two minutes later, I found a lovely view, enjoyed a peaceful stroll and promptly got lost. The map made no sense with its narrow winding roads, some more suitable for a headless horseman than a car. At 4:15, I found the car and headed down the hill. Adventurous me figured on driving to the exit, parking and then wandering for a few minutes. At 4:20, sensible me panicked when I found myself on top of yet another hill, going in circles.
Magic hour was fast becoming nightmare hour. At 4:22, in the fading light, I questioned my sanity and whether 4:22 was the correct time. Shadows can play tricks and I while alone, I didn't feel alone. At 4:25 I saw them near a large mausoleum. They looked real enough. A couple got into in a car and sped away. They were my only hope. Narrow gravel roads flanked by hundred-year-old headstones aren't made for speed. I honked, opened my window and waved like a lunatic. They stopped.
"I'm lost. Do you know the way out?" Duh. Isn't this how many horror movies start?
The man said, "I think so."
My panic tinged voice croaked,"You think so?"
"Follow-me."
He could have been the devil himself, but I followed. We reached the main gate at 4:26. I parked, got out, thanked him and picked up a better map. What the hell, I had two more minutes and snapped a few more pics while contemplating taking the night tour, but thought better of it.
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 10/29/2011 12:00 AM 
Categories: Westchester County, Travel, Photography, Art
Tags: what not to do in a cemetery washington Irving-quote Sleepy Hollow sleepy hollow cemetery NY halloween-sleepy hollow spooky cemetery art
Categories: Westchester County, Travel, Photography, Art
Tags: what not to do in a cemetery washington Irving-quote Sleepy Hollow sleepy hollow cemetery NY halloween-sleepy hollow spooky cemetery art
I know this was not funny while it happened to you, but your write up made me laugh more than once. Thank goodness it all worked out - and the photos are incredible!
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Ingrid, it's funny to me now as well.
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Glad this had a happy outcome. Perfect for Halloween.
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Happy Halloween!
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What a hoot!
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Thankfully with no owls LOL.
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