When we left New York in our 2015 Great Loop adventure, we entered the rivers of America, and I sighed in relief thinking all would be calm from here on out. Wrong, but let’s go on. The Hudson River is is over 300 miles long and at its widest point is over three miles wide. It is named for Dutch explorer Henry Hudson who viewed it in 1609.
I have to admit, its scenery is easy on the eyes, probably why it inspired the Hudson School of Art, a type of painting featuring landscapes. Many of the “robber barons” of the late 19th century and a few other notables, built mansions up on its cliffs and I would have loved to visit the ones that are now museums, but no time and oddly, no docks. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point had a dock, but we didn’t know the protocol required so we continued on.
Our first stop was Croton-on-the-Hudson where we had to replace one of the large boat batteries, requiring us to stay an extra day. The marina was operated by the homeowners’ association of a nearby condominium complex. We were told people who lived there commuted into New York City daily by train.
We left the friendly marina with a lighter wallet (boat batteries are humongous), and fought wind and chop (yup, even in rivers) all the way to Kingston. There we turned into Rondout Creek and traveled inland to an anchorage dodging kayaks and dinghies. The next day we continued to Haughtailing Island, but couldn’t find a spot to anchor that was protected from the wind, plus it was shallow. So after trying several spots, we went out into the main river channel again. By then the wind was fierce as a storm was due.
We hailed a marina we saw on the chart and they had one slip available. We took it. We came roaring in, pushed by wind, and almost ploughed into the dock. With help from friendly people nearby, we made it into the slip just as it started to rain.
Sometimes you need to reward yourself after a trying day. We dressed up (a bit anyway) and went to a restaurant near the marina. Super choice, great food. The Culinary Institute of America at Kingston was not that far away so the chef might have been trained there.
Rain stopped by morning and we cruised in calm waters all the way to our first Hudson River Lock at Troy. Then we turned into Waterford to begin our adventure on the Erie Canal.
More next week.
Think Johnny Cash:
I feel you getting ready, goin’ down the slope
Time to put your glove on to hang upon the rope!
Goin’ up the Erie, Eire Canal don’t you know………..
Starts in Albany, all the way to Buffalo.
Good one.