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"Awake, thou wintry earth. Fling off thy sadness! Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth your ancient gladness!" ~ Thomas Blackburn

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The Plattekill (No Trespassing Edition)

The summer has been quite hot and ripe for a nice swim at one of the Hudson Valley's great swimming holes.  The Plattekill doesn'...

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Kingston Point & The Wurts Street Bridge

Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge from kingston point

Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower

Rondout Lighthouse

Today is day three of our Arctic freeze to reach the Hudson Valley.  After the past 2 days, today actually felt warm despite being below 20.  While my car was in the shop, I walked down to the river to check out the ice flows at Kingston Point.  One of my favorite sounds in nature, is the sound of cracking ice.  Though tempting to walk out on the ice, I knew I wouldn't make it very far.  And my feet were cold enough.  It's been very hard to keep them warm the past few days.
Wurts Street Bridge

On the walk back up to the shop, I passed the Wurts Street Bridge.  This has to be one of my favorite bridges.  I just cannot recall any suspension bridges that do not cross a major river.  This one crosses the Rondout creek in downtown Kingston.  I also happen to appreciate suspension bridges to the truss and cantilever bridges and to some of the modern suspension bridges.  The Wurts Street Bridge dates to 1921 and makes a great walk with sidewalks on both sides.
Rondout Creek and the Rail Bridge upstream



Wurts St Bridge and downtown Kingston
 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Ferncliff Forest (Arctic Air Version)

The Hudson and the Catskills

The Hudson River (north)

Slide and the Central Catskills

Valeur Mansion and downtown Kingston

I made my way to Ferncliff Forest since I felt I was not tough enough to take on anything more strenuous in his kind of weather.  Yesterday we had a high of about ten with a real stiff wind.  This morning it's single digits with little to no wind.  Still, I did not stick around for long on the fire tower.
The pond, frozen solid

Not much snow left

Much to my surprise there were workers out bulldozing an area of the forest.  They had a nice fire going.  I felt like asking if I could hang out there.  I'm not sure what's going on here, but my guess is they are clearing an area for picnic tables and possibly another lean-to or gazebo.
Bulldozing away

Wonderful sight on a day like today

The view north from the bridge