Indian Ridge Campground<\/a>, a pleasant campground with lots of RV and a few tent sites.\u00a0 I had reserved two tent sites, as I hadn\u2019t known how many people I would have camping on Monday night.\u00a0 We had a total of five people for the evening; three more rowers would join us on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\nThe tent sites were relatively hard, dusty ground.\u00a0 We pitched our tents, made a simple dinner, and did a little preparation for the next day.\u00a0 It started to rain, and we retired just a little after 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Tuesday, 27 August 2013 – Turkey Point, near Glasco<\/h3>\n
It rained very hard over night.\u00a0 The forecast had been for intermittent showers, but the rain was fairly continuous and quite hard.\u00a0 The dusty ground splashed mud and dirt all over the tents.\u00a0 The hard ground pooled water, and one of the rowers retired to a dry vehicle for the night.<\/p>\n
We cooked a breakfast of eggs and bacon, struck our wet and dirty camp, then departed the campground around 8 a.m.\u00a0 A five mile drive brought us to the starting location, the boat launch in Athens, New York.<\/p>\n
We launched both boats, the Bobbie G<\/i> and the DeSager<\/i>.\u00a0 We loaded all of the gear in the boats.\u00a0 We started with eight rowers: Kevin, Reb, Bill, Peggy, Pete, Ann, Dave Mi., and myself.\u00a0 Peggy\u2019s husband, Jack, took a picture of the group as we were ready to set out.<\/p>\n
While we were getting ready, we managed to break a thole pin in the DeSager<\/i>.\u00a0 This was a little surprising as in over ten years this is only the third thole pin that has failed.\u00a0 We use the forward-most thole pins as back-ups for the others, as we never use the rowing station before the mast.\u00a0 However, the heavy rains of the previous night had swollen the wood, and I found it too difficult to extract the broken thole pin or any of the spares.\u00a0 For the moment, the DeSager<\/i> can\u2019t row from one station on one side.<\/p>\n
Time and tide do not wait.\u00a0 We managed to get underway around 9:30, just as the tidal current started to ebb.\u00a0 One of properties of the tide that people find surprising is that the beginning of the ebb current does not correspond with high tide, nor the beginning of the flood with low tide.\u00a0 Rather, the ebb lags high tide (at least here on the Hudson River) by about an hour, and the flood lags low tide a similar amount.<\/p>\n
We rowed out of Murderer\u2019s Creek (the small creek that the Athens Boat Launch is on) and into the Hudson River.\u00a0 Just a short distance downstream we passed Peckham Wharf where the Half Moon<\/i> was tied up.\u00a0 Kevin called to her with his speaking trumpet, but there was no response \u2013 either there was no one aboard or they were all below decks.<\/p>\n
We started off rowing.\u00a0 The day had started dim and overcast.\u00a0 The cloud cover is quite nice, as it is easy to get overheated while pulling on the oars.\u00a0 We rowed passed the town of Athens, including the lovely town park.<\/p>\n
I had put up the masts and rigged the halyards and pennants through the deadeyes, but not unfurled the sails nor rigged out the brace and sheet lines.\u00a0 After we were a mile south of Athens, a light northerly breeze began to blow intermittently.\u00a0 Reb and I agreed it was time to set sail, so we unfurled the sail, ran the braces and sheets to their respective cleats, and hoisted away.\u00a0 A light breeze and a ebbing tide are a wonderful thing.<\/p>\n
After we had the sail up, we had morning rum call.\u00a0 New rowers are often surprised by a morning rum call \u2013 they feel it is too early for rum.\u00a0 We aren\u2019t issuing enough for people to get drunk, but it does help loosen the muscles and makes people cheerful.\u00a0 Also, we usually accompany rum call with cookies.<\/p>\n
Reb operated the whisker boom to help shape the sail.\u00a0 The DeSager<\/i> dropped back a bit.\u00a0 It has a smaller sail than the Bobbie G<\/i>, and, we fancy, Reb has more experience on the whisker boom than any other crew member.\u00a0 The whisker boom, properly held, helps control the sail and steer the boat.<\/p>\n
The winds continued light and a little fluky, but quite usable.\u00a0 We sailed underneath the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.<\/p>\n
Throughout the day we passed many barges and tugboats.\u00a0 Some barges are obviously petroleum barges, some full and some empty.\u00a0 These seem to usually have a single barge per tugboat.\u00a0 Others barges contain gravel or other building materials.\u00a0 These are often rafted together with as many as eight barges to a single tug.<\/p>\n
There are quite a number of cement plants along the river.\u00a0 There are tall silo-like storage containers right on the river, often with a conveyor system to shunt the various ingredients between the river front and the main factory.<\/p>\n
There are several lighthouses along the Hudson.\u00a0 The first marks the southern end of Middle Ground Flats, the island and shoals between Athens and the town of Hudson.\u00a0 It is a pleasant square building.<\/p>\n
Several years ago we had camped at the park on the north side of Catskill Creek, Dutchman\u2019s Landing Park.\u00a0 This is a large, open park with a nice boat launch.\u00a0 We continued on, rowing some and sailing more.<\/p>\n
Because of the wind and tide, we made decent time.\u00a0 We covered the distance between Catskill and Saugerties relatively quickly.\u00a0 Saugerties has the second lighthouse along the Hudson, marking the point where Esopus Creek empties into the river.<\/p>\n
As we approached Saugerties, we could see odd forms near the base of the lighthouse.\u00a0 At low tide, the base of the lighthouse is exposed.\u00a0 A family was playing on the rocks, and their distant forms were what we had seen.<\/p>\n
A mile and a half south of Saugerties we rowed in to the town park in Glasco.\u00a0 This park has two boat ramps.\u00a0 We had stopped for a natural break at the northern one years ago, and, as it is intended for hand-launch vehicles only, it has no dock.\u00a0 The river bottom shoals out close to shore, so any wake tends to get magnified here.<\/p>\n
The second ramp has a nice dock along side it.\u00a0 We stopped to let off Ann, who could only join us for the day.\u00a0 Heather had driven to Glasco to pick her up and take her back to her vehicle.\u00a0 The rest of us took a natural break and talked with some of the people who were enjoying the park.\u00a0 We also swapped out thole pins so that we could row in all stations again.<\/p>\n
Another two miles brought us to our camp site for the evening.\u00a0 Turkey Point is now part of a state forest.\u00a0 It had been an industrial dock at one time, and still has a battered concrete apron with an old gantry on it.\u00a0 There is an area to pull the boats up on the south side of the point.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t particularly practicable at low tide, so we secured the boats a few dozen feet further along the bank.<\/p>\n
We unloaded our gear.\u00a0 Although Turkey Point is designated as part of the Hudson River Water Trail, and is rated for camping, it is not a great spot.\u00a0 The only level area of any size is a brown-pack parking lot at the end of a long dirt road.\u00a0 This is, somewhat ludicrously, marked with handicap signs in spots.\u00a0 The road heads off up hill.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never walked the whole thing, so don\u2019t know where it connects to paved roads.<\/p>\n
I had hoped there would be an obvious trail to Ulster Landing and the privies there, but there is not.<\/p>\n
We pitched our tents on the brown pack.\u00a0 Kevin organized and made dinner out on the concrete apron with a fine view of the Hudson.\u00a0 We had a lovely meal, and we all are hungrily.<\/p>\n
Total distance today, around 20.5 miles.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, 28 August 2013 – Esopus Island<\/h3>\n
Today we have our lightest crew, as Ann departed last night and we wouldn\u2019t get anyone else to join us until tomorrow.\u00a0 Today was also our short day, so I wasn\u2019t concerned about the crew being able to make our distance..<\/p>\n
We ate breakfast.\u00a0 With the tide in, we were able to bring the boats closer to the campsite.\u00a0 We struck camp, cleaning off the brown-pack from our gear as best we could, and loaded up the boats.<\/p>\n
There was some light wind in the morning, but most of today was rowing.\u00a0 The forecast had called for northerlies, but they didn\u2019t materialize, and by the end of the day we had some southerlies.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much shade today, either, so over the course of the day we started to feel fairly cooked.<\/p>\n
We had a brief stop after two miles at Ulster Landing Park.\u00a0 Being the middle of the week, the only people visible were some park workers.<\/p>\n
There were a few barges today, but not as many as yesterday.<\/p>\n
We passed under the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge without any fuss.\u00a0 The last time we rowed down the Hudson, we had this bridge visible for something like 17 miles of a very long day, and it never seemed to get any bigger.\u00a0 With the stop at Turkey Point, we weren\u2019t much concerned by the bridge and going under it would have hardly been worth a mention had it not been for the contrast from the previous trip.<\/p>\n
As one approaches Kingston, there are more cement factory silos.\u00a0 Just north of Kingston there is a town park with a dirty sand beach.\u00a0 We had ended a trip at this location, and were thankful not to be camping here.<\/p>\n
Kingston is a mile or so up Rondout Creek.\u00a0 At the mouth of the creek is a well-kept lighthouse.\u00a0 It feels like one has to row quite far out into the river to get by this lighthouse, but the area between it and the marked shore is very shallow and has a line of palisades to attempt to keep the channel clear.<\/p>\n
The south side of the creek opens on a wide shallow bay, much covered in devil weed.\u00a0 Because of shipping, it seems like it would be a good idea to sidle over to the western bank, but the devil weed is far more trouble than it is worth.<\/p>\n
The Hudson changes direct from just west of south to south-southeast.\u00a0 This leg is only a few miles long, but in the hot sun it seemed much further.\u00a0 The tide was assisting us today, but not as much as I had hoped.<\/p>\n
We had a brief stop near Esopus Meadows.\u00a0 Almost as soon as we had relaunched we could see Esopus Island, which is our camping site for tonight.<\/p>\n
On the eastern shore we passed the high bluffs of Mills-Norrie State Park.\u00a0 There is a pleasant marina at this park, but the campsites are quite a ways from the water.<\/p>\n
We reached the northern end of Esopus Island.\u00a0 I had only reconnoitered the island quite a while ago, so I had not remembered what facilities it had.\u00a0 A picnic table on the clearing at the north end showed that we were at our campsite for the evening.\u00a0 It was only early afternoon.<\/p>\n
There was an excellent small cove surrounded by rocks.\u00a0 The tow boats fit perfectly in this cove side-by-each, almost like a submarine pen for them.\u00a0 We tied up the boats and took a much needed shade and shrub break.<\/p>\n
We slowly unloaded the boats and set up our tents.\u00a0 The island is nicely wooded with a pleasant path running along its spine.\u00a0 There are a few higher clearings, quite a number of small rocky cliffs, and pleasant views all around.<\/p>\n
Kevin again made dinner, this time a tongue stew.\u00a0 Most of the crew enjoyed it, and he provided some ordinary beef for those who didn\u2019t care for it.<\/p>\n
After getting to this island, I checked my phone messages.\u00a0 I had an urgent personal message that turned out to be a family tragedy.\u00a0 I was quite torn on how to disclose my distress, and not certain how to proceed.\u00a0 I talked things over with Kevin; I needed to be back in the modern world to take care of things on Friday.\u00a0 Everyone was having a lovely evening, chatting and singing and enjoying the beautiful night.\u00a0 I decided to tell everyone in the morning.<\/p>\n
With a heavy heart, but pleased that my friends and crew were having a good time, I retired for the night.<\/p>\n
Distance travelled today, about 14 miles.\u00a0 Total distance so far, about 34.5 miles.<\/p>\n
Thursday, 29 August 2013 – Beacon<\/h3>\n
This morning we got up and started making breakfast.\u00a0 I called the crew together and told them that I had a personal emergency, and I would need to leave this evening.\u00a0 The rest of the crew could have continued on.\u00a0 On the plus side, I had planned out a campsite on Denning Point, and the ending site at Croton was a nice campsite.\u00a0 On the minus side, they would have a light crew, the campsite at Denning Point is very rough, and the wind forecast for Friday was strong southerlies.<\/p>\n
The crew graciously decided that we should end tonight.\u00a0 Since were weren\u2019t planning on reaching a reenactment, this didn\u2019t cause any issue.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think anyone was particularly disappointed, but I\u2019m not certain.\u00a0 David Mi. had to depart at the end of today in any case.<\/p>\n
We were still going to pick up another rower today.\u00a0 Cynthia was joining us at Norrie Point, which would necessitate one boat backtracking around a half mile to get her.<\/p>\n
We ate breakfast and packed up the boats.\u00a0 We sent DeSager<\/i> with a crew of three down river, while the Bobbie G<\/i> with a crew of four rowed to Norrie Point.<\/p>\n
At the southern end of the point is the Norrie Point Environmental Education Center, a pleasant-looking building.\u00a0 A light rain was falling as we approached the center\u2019s dock.\u00a0 Cynthia and another woman came out of the building, Cynthia carrying some jugs of water that I had asked her to bring.<\/p>\n
The other woman turned out to work at the environmental center.\u00a0 She let us fill up our 5-gallon water jugs that we carry with us on the boat.\u00a0 This, combined with the water that Cynthia brought ensured that we would have enough water for the rest of the trip, regardless of circumstances.\u00a0 We talked with a few other people at the center and explained our unusual clothes and boat.<\/p>\n
We pushed off after a stop of 20 minutes or so.\u00a0 DeSager<\/i> was already at the far end of Esopus Island.\u00a0 With five crew, we gradually gained on them.<\/p>\n
The Hudson is fairly straight here.\u00a0 We worked our way south, the tide and a light wind giving us an assist.\u00a0 The light rain continued.\u00a0 When Bobbie G<\/i> caught up with the DeSager<\/i>, we transferred Reb over to the DeSager<\/i>, evening up the crews.\u00a0 The rain reduced to a fine mist, which was pleasant after yesterday\u2019s sun.<\/p>\n
The Poughkeepsie bridges came into view.\u00a0 The first was originally a railroad bridge and is now a foot bridge \u2013 the \u201cwalkway over the Hudson\u201d.\u00a0 The second is for automotive traffic.\u00a0 Before we reached the bridges, we passed Marist College\u2019s boathouse.\u00a0 This was the site of the 2007 piracy incident, where two men in a rowboat attempted to make off with the DeSager<\/i> around midnight.<\/p>\n
We passed under the bridges, and the weather had moderate to just having heavy clouds.\u00a0 The wind gradually died away.<\/p>\n
The Hudson is not quite as uniform and straight south of Poughkeepsie.\u00a0 It widens out, narrows, widens further, narrows, and so on.\u00a0 The rowing was pleasant.<\/p>\n
The fifteen miles between Poughkeepsie and Beacon went by in the usual manner.\u00a0 Row.\u00a0 Switch rowers and steersman.\u00a0 Row.\u00a0 Rum call and cookie break.\u00a0 Row.\u00a0 Lunch.\u00a0 Row.\u00a0 Switch.\u00a0 Row.\u00a0 A delightful day.\u00a0 The two boats stayed close to each the whole trip.<\/p>\n
As we approached Beacon, we became eager to arrive.\u00a0 Even though we would be ending the trip a day early, I don\u2019t think anyone in the crew particularly minded.\u00a0 We had no reenactment to get to, so the ending was going to be anticlimactic in any case.\u00a0 Plus, after camping at Turkey Point and hearing my description of the rough ground at Denning Point, I don\u2019t think the crew was particularly eager to spend the night there.<\/p>\n
We passed under the Beacon-Newburgh bridge, came out past the small point of land at the Beacon waterfront, and headed in to the boat launch.\u00a0 The dock looked the worse for wear, but it was still sufficient to tie up both boats.\u00a0 Heather was waiting at the launch for us.<\/p>\n
Total distance today, around 23.5 miles.\u00a0 Total distance for the trip, around 58 miles.<\/p>\n
Now came the long process of unloading the boats and dispersing belongings to each person, getting people back to their vehicles, getting the boats on trailers, and taking the boats back to the farm.\u00a0 Jack showed up to get Peggy and help Cynthia get back to her car.\u00a0 Heather took a pile of us to get vehicles left at Athens.\u00a0 We talked with various commuters using the Beacon train station, a fellow at the local yacht club, and a variety of other people.<\/p>\n
Sometime after midnight, Kevin and I returned the boats to the farmyard.\u00a0 This got me home in time to deal with my unpleasant business the next day.\u00a0 Aside from the early end, a decent trip.<\/p>\n
\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Also known as ‘The Big Row, 2013’ Photos were taken by Bill Manthey, Kevin Richard-Morrow, and Ann Thomas.\u00a0 The photographs are copyright by the person who took them. Text is by myself, David Manthey. Monday, 26 August 2013 – Indian Ridge Campground, Athens I start this account with a sincere thank you to all of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":23,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"page-without-comments.php","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-636","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=636"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":801,"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/636\/revisions\/801"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thebigrow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}