The Hudson River Valley...
June 8 - 12, 2023
Leaving going north allowed us to see both Manhattan and New Jersey cities from the water perspective. We knew once we got to the George Washington Bridge, the scenery would change and it did.
The GW Bridge is a double decker bridge and boy did it have a lot of traffic- the top part is called George and the bottom Martha. The best thing about the bridge is what is underneath it on the New York side- "the little red lighthouse"! And the light still works showing a red-orange flashing light!
One thing we have noticed on the river and driving around the small towns is there is a lot of rock and stone formations especially granite. After passing the GW Bridge, we got to see the "Palisades". This name was given to the stone structure by the Italian explorer Verrazzano. That name would be on the next bridge we would travel under up the Hudson River. Prior to our stop, we did go by Sing Sing Prison.
CROTON ON HUDSON...
Danny and I stayed at a marina in this town due to the proximity to NYC, renting a car, and the short walk to town. One of things we did in town was to go to the New Croton Dam. The high quality of New York's finest water comes from this damn by way of the Catskill Mountains. In the middle of downtown is a raised structure named the "dummy light" where the old well was for the town. The bartender and owner of the Tapsmith told us if we came back late at night when there was no traffic, we could hear the water going down aqueducts to New York City. Interestingly, a brewery in the area has a special edition beer called Dummy Light Lager. Danny usually likes lager but he did not like this one! 
TARRYTOWN & BEACON...
Our first day traveling with the car would take us to a few towns. The first stop was the Union Church of Pocantico Hills. This church was non denominational and attended by the Rockefellers. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller who is credited with starting art museums in NYC and has a well known folk art museum in Williamsburg had a close relationship with Henri Matisse. Upon her death, the family wanted Matisse to do the rose window in the church in her memory. Matisse was doing his art by scissors due to advancing age. He refused the work at first as he was not traveling; however, after much pressure from the family he completed the work in France on November 1st, 1954. He would die 2 days later. Matisse's daughter made arrangements to send the glass work to the church to be dedicated.
The large window at the back of the church by Marc Chagall was dedicated after John Rockefeller Jr.'s passing. It is beautiful as well. Pictures were in the church showing Chagall doing not only this window but also the other 8 windows on the sides of the church. While the congregation was worried about having a museum and not a church, they ultimately relented. My favorite window beside Rockefeller's was Cherubim due to the colors especially the purple based on Genesis 3:24.
The next stop was Bannerman's Castle on Pollepel Island. Francis Bannerman started a business from buying surplus war items from anyone and everyone in NYC. He essentially started the 1st A&N surplus store. New York City was very concerned about Bannerman having gun powder and ammunition in the city. He purchased this island and built a warehouse at the end of the island close to the water for loading and unloading these materials while also having a house used by the family on occasions at the top of the island. Apparently, he was a bit of a tightwad in that he built structures by recycling items. He used floors that had been soaked in creosote so when a fire started between the gun powder and the creosote this is what was left over unfortunately.
There were a number of artists working throughout the island on their paintings while we were there.
While taking a boat ride over to the island, the guide gave us history of the area. Beacon got its name as the Beacon Mountains nearby people would make fires to signal the militia that the British were coming by water or through the mountains. This area would be the home base for the US Army. After the British loss in Saratoga they retreated back to New York City. What I found interesting is after Cornwallis' surrender in Yorktown in October, 1781, it took the British 1 1/2 years to leave mostly the northern areas of the United States. During this time George Washington stayed much of this time in the area(Newburgh across the river) to monitor the British activity. The town looked like it was a happening place. We had a great dinner at Melzingah Tap House. I had fried brussel sprouts with shaved apples, onions, blue cheese and bacon. It may not sound good but it WAS!!!!
HYDE PARK...
Our last day with the car we travelled the furthest from the marina, about an hour to Hyde Park. We started at the FDR House and then its museum and library and ended our day at the CIA French restaurant, Bocuse.
It certainly wasn't planned around this but we visited on June 6th- the 79th Anniversary of D-day! We toured the FDR Home which is where he was born, grew up and remained his home until his death. They were making improvements on the outside of the home and the inside was beautiful. The most fascinating things Danny and I saw were 2 things. One was the elevator lift put into the house. After FDR's polio, he was very concerned with fire. He disconnected the electricity to the elevator and had ropes put in the elevator shaft. He would take his wheelchair to the shaft in the morning and work his way down the ropes with his upper body and be met with his wheelchair by an assistant. He would reverse this at the end of the day and pull his self up the shaft. Just amazing and to see his positive attitude and smiling in most pictures. The other was having these glass bottles by the door downstairs and upstairs by the stairs filled with a chemical so when you threw it and broke, the chemical would stop the fire. It was truly unique.
We saw working living area in the home. Before any appointments, Roosevelt would be positioned behind the desk and the ramp and wheelchair removed from view.
Franklin Roosevelt was an only child. During his time at Harvard, his mother maintained an apartment near the school and lived with Eleanor and him at Hyde Park. The picture of Roosevelt was at age 5 before his first haircut.
On the grounds, there was a sculpture made from a piece of the Berlin Wall by Winston Churchill's granddaughter showing the colorful West Germany side and the bleak East German side.
The Presidential Library and Museum were very well done. We spent more than a couple hours there. It was the very first Presidential Library and also the only one opened while the President was still in office. Some of the interesting things in the Library and Museum were
- When Roosevelt took office, President's had been inaugurated in March but Congress and the states passed laws to make this happen going forward to January 20th.
- Roosevelt got passed a Federal Law for beer and wine with alcohol contents at or less than 3.2% considered to be "non-intoxicating levels" to be sold by signing the Beer-Wine Revenue Act
- After Roosevelt's death, the Republican pushed to limit terms to 2 terms which was ratified in 1951.
- Roosevelt signing for Japanese Americans to be interred into camps, met with resistance by his wife, by the first year, 1/3 of them were released.
- Roosevelt's car with modifications
CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA...
Now our trip to the Culinary Institute of America. What a beautiful place. We walked around the grounds of the school which were well manicured. Of course, I had to go to the gift shop to see what was available for purchase. My excuse was I was supporting the school!
We had reservations for lunch at the French restaurant, Bocuse and it was outstanding! Danny and I both enjoyed talking to the students about where they were from, their classes, their hopes and dreams and plans for the future. Now for our meals...
Three courses-
First course- Danny- Lyonnaise Bacon & Onion Tart with wilted spinach
Jenny- Peppered Linguini with poached egg, parmesan, & garlic chips 
Second course- Danny- Rock Cornish Hen with potatoes, confit bayaldi, haricots vert
Jenny- Pork Tenderloin with white asparagus, glazed baby carrots & carrot sauce
Third course- Danny & Jenny- Dome Au Chocolat- chocolate ganache, roasted peanut, & passion fruit
Again, the meal was outstanding. After our meal we went to tour places in the building. We saw the hall where classes are taught and you can see students working on pastry projects. The hall is dedicated to one of their students, Anthony Bourdain. It was sad and I am glad I saw this after my meal...just so sad!
KINGSTON...
This city was originally the capital of New York. Kingston was burnt to the ground by the British during the revolution. There was a great maritime museum at the waterfront along with a boatbuilding facility.
Danny and I had a chance to walk "uptown" to the area with beautiful old homes and buildings. On our way back, we saw a sign for a brewery and went down to check it out. They had New York wine which was good and Danny enjoyed the beer as well as our lunch.
While we were there, Danny walked with David and Goose, the dog and came upon a beautiful church. While looking at the outside, the priest of St Mary St Peter Catholic Church came out and engaged Danny and David. He said the towns had seen hard times with only one Catholic school open and many churches consolidating and people leaving the area. Danny asked what sustained the city. The priest said many people ride the train into NYC to work.
The downtown was cute with unique stores and good food. The loopers met at Savannah's down at the waterfront for Happy Hour! 2 nights in a row!
HUDSON RIVER...
This area was founded on Henry Hudson's third exploration in an attempt to find a northern track to Asia. In not finding this route, he did explore the area of the river known by the Native Americans as Muhheakantuck or the river that runs both ways going as far as Albany. The river that runs both ways pertains to fresh water coming from the mountains and salt water coming from the ocean.As this area developed, a number of businesses become important to these small towns. We enjoyed seeing the Bear Mountains and saw people walking on the Appalachian Trail. Other things important to this area included-
- Lumber- trees harvested for wood and furniture
- Ice harvesting in winter with cutting sections of the river and storing on the river to transport down to NYC. I found one former ice house in bad shape
- Hudson (which we liked with good stores, restaurants, and breweries)
- New Baltimore(didn't see much except for a pig roast which we enjoyed though we did see a Catholic priest blessing boats. He asked Danny while I was doing laundry and Danny told him no because he was pumping gas...God help me!)
Other cities we stopped at were:
WATERFORD...
Waterford was the next town which most everything was closed due to it being Monday and the museum/visitor center had a water main break. This is where you make the decision of continuing going up the Hudson River or turn to do the Erie Canal. You can see a number of boats and there were even more waiting on the wall!
The Cluett, Peabody, and Co had a bleacher to finish unfinished cloth to be sent down river to their Troy facility that made men's shirts and collars. You can see the 1st lock on the Erie Canal.
Fort Edward which was a small and somewhat depressed area is the point where you decide whether to continue up the Hudson River or go north to the Champlain Canal to Lake Champlain. On our evening in Fort Edwards, we got to see hot air balloons not to mention a great sunset!
TOTAL MILES TRAVELLED 3359.40 miles
TOTAL DAYS 214
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