Hudson Downbound ’13a

As I scrambled away from the train, Meredith C. Reinauer ruffled the glassy calm of the river at the Rondout  Light.  Here long ago the Delaware and Hudson Canal completed its 108-mile journey from coal country to what was then the fast river transport to sixth boro coal market.

And here waiting for me was my flesh-and-blood sister and brother-in-law and their Maraki, which they sailed around the world in the 1990s.  See their newly-inaugurated blog here.

This was an opportunity, to rediscover the Hudson Valley with them, after all we never see or step into the same Hudson twice.  I’ve seen Esopus Meadows light many times before, but

have never passed the volunteer boat.

When last I saw this “castle,” it was a Redemptorist retreat center, but now it’s something different.

It was gratifying to see the pilotboat John E. Flynn on station at Norrie Point.

The last time I recall seeing this house in Hyde Park I’d not sensed it would rival the other mansions there, like the Vanderbilt and the FDR (currently closed because of the shutdown! !@!@##) homes.

Maraki and Grande Caribe had last crossed paths on the Erie Canal.   More large sightseeing vessels on the Hudson soon.

Maraki had sailed under this first bridge when it was still a disused rail structure.

!@#@!  ?  pirate canoe club?

OK . .  I had to put up another foto of Patricia.

The Hudson Valley is a spectacular place.  More soon.  A version of it . . . in print . . . check out T. C. Boyle’s World’s End.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.