Back in the Cockpit Again

Goodbye Ossining and Westerly Marina

We are back going again.  I had a great time on my month "off" in KY and SC.  But I feel like that  Gene Autry song.

If you read my previous blog post you know I have crew with me now.  So Gary, Otto, and myself are aboard Lesson Plan.  Today we  said goodbye to made our way up the Hudson "River". The Hudson River, south of Federal Lock 1 (near Albany) is technically not a river at all. It is a fiord which is subject to  tidal changes of up to five feet.

We cruised past some interesting places along the way today.  Just after we left Ossining we passed the Indian Point Nuclear (or is that Nucler) Power Plant. Next to it was a large Gypsum plant.  It looked like it could make enough wallboard for most of the US.

West Point Military Academy

The next incredible site was the US Military Academy at West Point.  Thomas Jefferson directed that plans be made to build a US Military Academy at West Point.  The majority of the campus's original buildings are constructed from gray and black granite.

Just past West Point the Hudson valley has some very steep banks.

One of the advantages for the railroads of having a river (I mean fiord) that runs from Albany to NYC is that they can lay track along the bank on either side.  Freight trains on the west side and passenger trains on the east side of the valley.  It is a popular route for the trains.  When I was considering leaving the boat closer to Albany for the month I was off, they told me that Amtrak left about every 15 minutes, I have no doubt that is true, we saw a lot of passenger trains.  and the freight trains were almost as frequent.


But if Amtrak is not your cup of tea, there is always a float plane.   We saw one about half-way to Catskills.  Pretty cool to have one land right next to the boat.  Side note: when on the water planes have the right of way over NO other vessel.  They must stay well clear of all marine traffic.  I am thankful for that rule.

We also saw a ferry that ran from Haverstraw, NY up the Hudson (we are not sure to where).  I was surprised to see one this far up the Hudson.
The many ways people use the Hudson for travel is just fascinating to me.

Well the tidal currents of the fiord were with us today and we made it all the way to Catskills

We will prepare the mast to be laid in its cradle tomorrow and then if all goes well we will head up the Hudson toward Albany on Thursday.  We look forward to exploring NY's capital city.

More links to pics on the map page

Gary and Lesson Plan after a successful trip up the Hudson
(Otto likes to stay in the background)

Just past West Point the Hudson valley has some very steep banks

Today was a pretty smooth day, so the lessons learned were more about the Hudson Valley.
1. The tidal current can really affect your speed on a fiord.  The tide changes every 6 hours, we were lucky to have the tide pushing us when we started for about four hours and then it switched for and we had the tide with us again for the last two or three hour of the trip.
2. It's great to share the duties of the trip with a friend.
3. Trains like to travel along the banks of a river/fiord.


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