Homes of Presidents in Upstate New York.

Both FDR and Martin Van Buren lived in upstate New York, and both were Governors of New York before becoming President of the United States.  FDR's home in Hyde Park and Van Buren's home in Kinderhook are part of the National Park Service and open to the public.  Alexis, Cameron and I went to the FDR museum, library and home and it was packed with people, although in the middle of nowhere.  I went to the Van Buren home while Alexis is at home, and was there with three other people, and it is outside of nowhere.  Both were interesting though, and worth the visit.  I also toured Albany and it is an interesting city, with Gothic buildings, and a friendly atmosphere.  As the capital city, it has a history of politics, and for some reason Union General statues adorn the parks.  I am not in South Carolina anymore!  

I fly home tomorrow to join Alexis, and help with moving her parents to the Homestead, as a room has become available.  Thanks to all of you who have expressed concern for her father, Bobby, and we are taking it a day at a time. 

FDR's car.  The WWII room was quite interesting with original memos to Churchill, Eisenhower and others.  

Van Buren home.  The eighth president was the son of a tavern keeper, self taught lawyer, and adept state politician.  The home was quite grand for its time, and where he retired to after losing the race for a second term.  At the time it fronted on the road from NYC to Albany and he stayed involved in politics.  With the interstate, there is not much traffic here now.  

New York State Capitol in Albany.  

Albany's "Egg".  It is a performing arts hall.  

Albany city hall.  

Hudson River

Cameron and Alexis flew home yesterday, and I am on the boat at the Shady Harbor Marina in New Baltimore, NY.  New Baltimore is a small village, and about 20 minutes by car to the Albany airport.  I have a list of boat chores to do until Alexis returns.  There is not much in New Baltimore, so I am thankful there are a few fellow Loopers here to keep me company.  The trip up the Hudson has been spectacular!  The river runs through the Catskill Mountains, and there are small villages along the way that go out of their way to please boaters.  The boating season here is only about three months, so they make the best of it.  When Alexis returns, we are a few miles from the entrance to the Erie Canal, and we will begin our journey to Canada.

At anchor-Hook Mountain.  

Cameron is on her way to becoming a skilled skipper!  

Sing Sing prison.  I guess the politicians get the rooms with a view?  

Entering the Catskills.  In the background is the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, site of the Irving short story.  

Trains run on both sides of the Hudson bearing commuters to and from NYC.  

West Point Military Academy, and home to Benedict Arnold, for a while.  

An Abbey atop a hill on the Hudson.  

One of the many Hudson lighthouses.  

There are a few nice homes on the banks, but the area is largely rural.  

Also, there is commercial traffic to Albany.  Note how the barge has a key-way that the tug fit into.  Is this  a Hudson thing?  

Kingston, NY.

We stayed two nights at the Kingston Maritime Museum's dock.  A nice stop.  

This Kingston church is for sale.  The recession hit these small towns hard.  The locals really appreciate our business, and went out of their way to make our stay pleasurable.  

Roundout Creek.

We took a car trip to the FDR library and museum in Hyde Park, NY.  Really interesting.  

Cameron and I took a dinghy trip up Roundout Creek until we came to these rapids.  

Cameron was adept at meeting fellow Loopers.  This is MV In My Element.

MV Daybreak.

Cameron in the Big Apple.

Cameron  joined us and had a marvelous time in the Big Apple.  We dined at Sardi’s Restaurant and saw the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.  Hurricane Arthur gave us a light show in the Atlantic on July 4^th, and it cleared just in time for a spectacular fireworks show at the Statue of Liberty.  Hearing all the people cheering and the boat horns after the show is something I will not forget.  

  We have now left the city and are anchored next to Hook Mountain on the Hudson River.  Sing Sing prison is across the river from us.  We are now officially on the inland part of the Loop, and will not see the Atlantic again on this trip.  We have to get use to river cruising, locks and bridges again.  The anchorage next to Hook Mountain is beautiful!

 We saw three plays while in the city, had many dinners, and took in the sites.  It was time to move on, as NYC is not cheap!!

Phantom.

They both fell asleep on the ride back.

Arthur gave us a great sunset that reflected off Freedom Tower.  

The New Jersey 9-11 memorial.  Two walls that line up toward where the Twin Towers were.  The names of the New Jersey residents killed are engraved on the walls.  

Fortunately a cold front moved through and pushed Arthur offshore.  

It was chilly for the Fourth! 

View from our bridge.  

Empire State Building, as we make our way up the Hudson.  

George Washington Bridge in our wake.  

Hook Mountain.

Somber moments and lots of fun.

We have been enjoying New York City the last few days.  There is a water taxi at our marina that runs to lower Manhattan right across the Hudson River from us.  $5 a person.  Not bad!  We have been to one play, Wicked, to the 9-11 Memorial and the newly opened museum, Times Square, Tribeca, and biked into Jersey City on our side of the Hudson.  Today is Alexis’ birthday, and we are off to another play and dinner tonight.  Granddaughter Cameron joins us on Thursday for a week.  With her we plan to watch the July 4^th fireworks from our boat (great view of the Statue of Liberty fireworks), see Phantom on Broadway, keep a wary eye on Hurricane Arthur and then head up the Hudson to Albany, NY.  Cameron and Alexis will fly home from there.  When Alexis returns we take the Erie Canal to Canada.  

9-11 memorial.  At the base of each of the old towers are these pools.  The sides have the engraved names of the victims.  

Inside the museum.  It is quite well done and moving. Loads of people, and not a dry eye.  The terrorists only made us stronger.  

The marina across from us on the Manhattan side.  Much bigger boats, but subject to wakes from the river, which can be large.  

Empire State building.

The new World Trade Center.  It is right next to the memorial.  

Our marina.  Much calmer and cheaper!

Aboard the water taxi.