Coeymans, NY to Croton on the Hudson, NY

Coeymans was an interesting little town. Caroline and I went for a run while we were there to check it out, and I think we were both really suprised. The first three blocks were pretty much dead, like there once was a cute little town, but most of the people left. We went about a mile out of town and came to Ravena, which was very much a typical little northern town, lots of pretty homes, trees changing colors, interesting shops. Discoveries like these make my runs on these trips worth it! Friday morning was absolutely beautiful, and it found me
driving while on the phone (checking in at home), and Caroline enjoying her morning coffee.
It was a perfect morning!There were several of these little lighthouses marking our way along the Hudson, each of them unique in its own way.Midday, we headed into Kingston for fuel and lunch. It was a great little town, definitely one I'd like to visit again, with lots of unique shops and restaurants. After yummy cheeseburgers, we headed back out onto the river and on our way.

One of my favorite things to do on these trips is to sit on the bow, take in the sights, and take pictures. The bow definitely offers the best shot for photos. However, it is not one of the most legal places to ride.

Shortly after passing under this bridge,

we were stopped by this man. He kindly informed us that bow-riding was an arrestable offense, and that technically, he could take our captain and these two young mothers to jail. Dad was exceptionally humble, and he had all of his papers very well organized, so the kind police officer let us off with a warning. Of course not without commenting that he was a pirate, there to take the women with him. Nice. Really, he was very nice, as he could have given any or all of us sizable tickets (or carted us off to jail). After a few laughs and some local history, we said our goodbyes.

And Caroline and I moved to the stern for our photo ops!

We came to a point in the river called the End of the World, and it was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. I can't explain how unique and incredibly beautiful this area was. The river seemed to narrow, and there were rolling hills and mountains on either side of us. I tried to get a picture that could give you a sense of the beauty of it, but I think it is impossible... I think it is something that has to be seen in person.

As we approached the End of the World, we came to an island with a decaying castle on it. It was a castle that was brought over from Europe and reconstructed brick by brick on this small island in the Hudson. There was a fire that essentially destroyed it, so all that remains are the outlines of several structures. I can only imagine what it looked like when it was being taken care of and what it felt like to live there and be surrounded by the incredible beauty of the area.

West Point was very impressive... it looks like a huge fortress in the middle of nowhere.

Finally we arrived at Croton on the Hudson, a commuter town not far from NYC. Definitely the first sign that we were getting closer to civilization.Just as we got settled, a storm moved in. It was amazing to watch it move across the sky.We were pleasantly suprised by an incredible sunset afterwards.

Even more so by this rainbow that actually went all the way across the sky.

We were driven to town for dinner by the dockmaster, Steve, who was absolutely hysterical and incredibly hospitable. He talked a mile a minute, and he was definitely another indication that we were close to the city! Yummy dinner, good walk back to the boat, and a rough night of sleep... the front that moved through created some good waves that made us feel like we were out in the middle of the ocean! Despite the waves, I enjoyed my time in Croton.