Tivoli Bays in Winter

I maybe the typical local, unfamiliar with the local hot spots. The Beekman Arms, the oldest Inn in America, I have been inside exactly once. The Rhinebeck Aerodrome, which attracts people from all over, I've sadly never experienced. But, this past week, despite all the hiking I've done over the years, I took a stroll in the Tivoli Bays for the first time.

This unique area is the largest of the Wetlands that make up part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve. There are three access points, from the north on Kidd Lane in Tivoli, from the east on Route 9G (just north of Bard College) and from the south on Cruger Island Rd on Bard College's Campus.

The walk from Kidd Lane uses a dirt road used for boat launches. Once at the boat launch, the walk is along the marshes with outstanding views of the bay and the Catskills on the other side of the river.

Today I parked at the Cruger Island parking lot. There were reminders of the rape that took place here in 1997. There were signs posted with the description of the rapist.

The walk down produced another unwelcome sight. The trail out to Cruger Island is closed from January to September. Since I could hardly afford a run in with the law, I had forgo the walk to Cruger. One of the myths about Cruger Island is that Henry Hudson stopped there to trade with local Indians.

Walking to the Cruger Island boat launch (it's not on Cruger) I decided to walk out onto the bay. Well, this would prove to be a stupid idea (although it started as a wonderful idea) as while on one of the marsh Islands I started to sink in, soaking my feet. This was enough for me to turn around. The weather has been just warm enough, plus I would tend to think the 4-6 feet tides must have an impact on the solidity of the ice. I'll have to save the bay for the spring and in a kayak.