Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Ravena, NY, Albany, NY
A brisk, clear morning greats us as we depart New York City. We are too tall to get through the bridges of the Harlem River so we back track the East River to the Hudson River. This way we get another chance to enjoy the gorgeous skyline of Manhattan. We move up river to Croton-on-Hudson (44NM) where we spend two days. West Point Academy is only minutes away so we rent a car and take a tour. The history of West Point is deep. During the Revolutionary War the Connecticut militia, under the command of General Samuel Holden Parsons, first occupied West Point in January 1778 making it the longest continually occupied post in the United States. The geography of this site was most important as the Hudson River takes a sharp turn and is choked to a narrow and strategically monitored bend. So narrow in-fact that a ‘Great Chain’ made of huge iron links was strung just under the water line to prevent British ships from sailing up river. After the revolution most of this chain was subsequently melted down to make nails, etc. However, a few links were recovered from the Hudson River. The links were carbon dated and proved to be original. These thirteen links are on display in front of the Hudson River along with their swivel joints that let the Great Chain twist and swing under the water with out breaking. The campus is overwhelming with it’s beautiful grounds, chapels, barracks/dorms, gyms, athletic fields, stadiums, stocked fishing reservoirs (Lusk Reservoir), cemetery and charming old homes. We thank the men and women who are currently in training at this amazing academy and for their upcoming service to our country. We move north up the Hudson for an overnight stop along the river at Ravena (81NM). A short trip the next morning brings us to Albany, NY (10NM). As soon as we slide into the dock at the Albany Yacht Club we take the bimini off the fly bridge and engineer the tipping down of the radar arch. We are so happy when the arch comes down smoothly and we are now able to continue our passage north under low clearance bridges toward the Erie Canal system of locks.
The East River and the tram to Roosevelt Island
The Manhattan Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge
Goodbye NYC
The old and new Tapan Zee bridges
The Cornell (New Croton) Dam/Aqueduct, 81 nautical miles up the Hudson, provides water for NYC. An engineering marvel built in 1892
West Point Military Academy
The strategic location of West Point on the Hudson
The view of the Hudson River from the grounds at West Point
West Point campus. The Chapel above, barracks and parade grounds below
Links of the ‘Great Chain’.
Swivel links of the Great Chain
The memorial to the Civil War. When cadets graduated from the academy they went on to protect the North or the South. Eventually having to fight their fellow class mate. The cannons around the perimeter of this memorial are placed muzzle down to signify a hopeful end to ever having this take place again.
The Chapel
Inside the Chapel
Heading north on the Hudson
West Point Academy from the water
The CIA. Culinary Institute of America
The sweetest little light houses dot the river
Hudson on the Hudson
Albany in sight
Albany is the state capital of New York. This is the State Capitol Building built in 1868
Inside the State Capital
The sand stone stairways and carving in the State Capital are amazing
The State Capital campaign flag museum
Albany City Hall
Art deco buildings in Albany, NY
Saint Peters Church
This building is now the home of the State University of New York (SUNY). Originally built as the headquarters of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad.
Independence has a new look. No bimini and the arch is tipped down to clear upcoming bridges. She now has a clearance of 18 feet, 2 inches.
Our path leads this way. You can see the sail boat has it’s mast ‘stepped-down’ for low clearance.
The upcoming locks…I will address this in the next post…when I figure it out!!!