We are in Half Moon Bay Marina with several other boats we've seen along our Great Loop route. We first met Chris and Durene, aboard Sugarfoot, in Chesapeake City and have travelled on a similar schedule since. This morning the four of us loaded into a rental car and set out for a bit of exploration. First stop was the ShopRite where we picked up a few groceries -- milk, bread, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, etc. We returned to our boats and put everything away then departed for a little sight-seeing.
The next stop was the Croton Dam, part of Croton Gorge Park. What an impressive place! Water was rushing over the falls and gushing through the spillways, filling the air with a heavy, cold mist. There was even a rainbow at the base of the falls. The dam is an impressive wall of stacked stone and is bordered by a nice park with bright green grass. There are trails going off in multiple directions and I spotted one that led down to the river. No one else chose to join me, preferring to stay on the bridge and watch.
The huge volume of water quickly transformed to a slow-moving river. I walked along the bank for a few minutes then headed back up to join the others at the car then got in one last look.
Our next stop was the United States Military Academy at West Point. The recently opened visitors center is beautiful and has a great walk-through exhibit full of interactive displays. We made our way through the displays and loaded onto a bus that took us on a tour through the grounds. Stops included a Cadet Chapel with its colorful stained glass windows, Trophy Point, the Battle Monument, and the Plain which is the parade grounds (below left). Barry saw more "Beat Navy" signs than he cared for, but other than that our one-hour tour was a great overview. Our final stop was the scenic bluff overlooking the Hudson River.
We grabbed a late lunch and made plans for the rest of the afternoon. We set out for Bear Mountain State Park, in an area on the west side of the Hudson River known as Palisades. There is nearly a 1,300 foot rise in elevation from river level at the base of the park up Perkins Memorial Drive to the summit. Once at the top, we grabbed our jackets and ventured out on the rocks to enjoy this unique view of four states (NY, NJ, CT, PA) and the Manhattan skyline. We all climbed the 40-foot Tower, stopping to read the historical displays on each level.
Heading back down the mountain, we crossed the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River and refocused our attention to a few final-thought errands before returning the rental car. Stop One was to a small old-school independent hardware store where we picked up a new drill bit (to hopefully finish our wiring project). Stop Two was to the beverage store, as we never want to risk dehydration.
We had a great day with Chris and Durene and have enjoyed their company. We will be traveling in the same direction for a few more days and hope to catch up again before they reach their destination of Albany.
No comments:
Post a Comment