Hudson River Cruise

Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th, Kingston -- We arrived at Kingston Friday evening after dark and remained docked next to the Hudson River Maritime Museum in the Rondout Creek for 2 days.  The weather started out as sunny but clouded over, with showers late in the afternoon on day 1, and was completely clouded but dry on day 2.

In the morning on day 1, Betsy and I walked up to Kingston, passing through a cemetery, by the high school, and several city streets before joining the Kingston Point Rail Trail.  The rail trail descended a few hundred feet to the boat dock. The walk was primarily for exercise (to earn the next feast), since we did not see much of interest. 

A critter we saw on the grounds of the high school.

We walked the entire looping trail.

Our original plan for the day  was to take an excursion to Hyde Park, visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR's home (known as Hyde Park, but the town is really the place name) followed by a visit to the historic, tourist-town of Rhinebeck.  But due to the US government shutdown, a second plan was crafted by the ship's management.  Instead of on-the-ground tours of the two Park Service Historic Sites, we were given a bus ride to Rhinebeck, with an hour-long stroll around town, followed by a drive-by of three mansions -- Mills, Vanderbilt, and Roosevelt mansions.

Betsy and Catherine on the bus.

First stop -- the stroll around Rhinebeck.  This is the Beekman Arms, a famous landmark and very historic inn.  Our bus tour guide (who spoke non-stop, told us many stories, tried to crack jokes, share cliches, etc.) said that many famous people visit Rhinebeck.  For example, Chelsea Clinton was married in Rhinebeck and had her reception here.  BTW, this is the oldest continuously operated hotel in the US.

A former church (shingle-style), which now holds two restaurants.

Example of the architecture in Rhinebeek.

First and only close up of a Hudson River mansion - the Mills Mansion.  It is a 64-room home and preceded the other ones and is now part of a NY State Park.

A nice colored tree.....

We next drove by the Vanderbilt and Roosevelt's mansions on the main highway with a 3-second view of the Vanderbilt's house (no photo) and Roosvelt's estate (the house is not viewable from the highway). 

We came back across the Hudson River and the bus driver stopped on the bridge, allowing photos of the  American Liberty.

Sunday was pretty much a free day with opportunities to attend an Italian Festival occurring all around  the quay-side Maritime Museum.  Betsy and I decided to go for a walk of a different part of the Kingston, specifically east to the outlet of Rondout Creek and then north through Sojourner Truth State Park on the Empire State Trail.  (Sojourner Truth, former slave and abolutionist was from this area.)  The trail is a 750-mile bike/pedestrian rail south to north from NYC to Canada via Lake Champlain and east to west from Albany to Buffalo.  We walked about 3. 4 miles north on the trail, meeting 2 local couples part way who we walked with back to where they parked their car, (they were about our age and shared many of our interests) and then returning to the ship via quiet roads to Kingston.  It turned out to be 7 miles and only 250 feet of elevation.  

The historic Cornell Steamboat Company, founded in 1827, known for transporting all manner of goods.  The building is now a restaurant.

The Rondout Lighthouse - the Hudson is on the left, the outlet of Rondout Creek is the foreground.

Former buildings for the Hutton Brickyard Company -- brick making was big all along this part of the Hudson River and supplied NYC construction.  The Hutton Brick grounds are now a hotel, which was hosting a vender exposition called Field + Supply, a "modern makers market."

Remnants of old bricks used to anchor modern posts.  Note the upside down brick in the middle right -- it is a Hutton brick.

A complete wasp/bee's nest just off the path in a  wetland.

Betsy and I returned to the waterfront, passing through the lively Italian Festival.

Sentiments we send out to our friend, Audrey, in Portland.

We bought 2 cannolis for lunch, returning to the ship to eat them, but people have clearly been inspired in other ways . . . (this cannoli is on wheels, like a parade float).

After our snack, we visited the Hudson River Maritime Museum.  This is a relief map of the Hudson River made of plywood, with the layers of the plywood showing up as contour lines.  The Kingston area was an important shipping port, with supplies going both ways along the river  - coal (transported by a canal reaching into Pennsylvania), bricks, fish, agricultural products, and even bulk ice. 

One end of the festival grounds

Hudson River Maritime Museum, with a dense display of all things nautical from canoes to modern shipping, with a few other things thrown in, namely ice harvesting, brick making, and cement manufacturing. 

Obvious....

While I prepared this blog post, Betsy attended a lecture on Benedict Arnold, and learned that he has the potential for being the subject of an American tragic opera.  He was passed over for promotion 6 or more times, robbed of funds promised to him,  even though he was a gifted horsemen and military strategist, and had George Washington as a mentor/sponsor.  He won battles that others got credit for, and blamed for things he was not responsible for.  He got fed up, needed to support a new (spoiled) wife, and turned traitor for the money.