Rip Van Winkle Bridge

The Rip Van Winkle Bridge connects the communities of Catskill and Hudson.  After the Mid Hudson Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge, it is the third oldest bridge that crosses the Hudson south of Albany.  Not surprisingly, it carries the least amount of traffic.

Built during the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt originally vetoed plans to build while governor of New York.  Through his suggestion, the New York State Bridge Authority was created to issue bonds and provide repayment through the collection of tolls.

Though a cantilever bridge, it's one of the better looking bridges (suspension bridges are the most beautiful) over the Hudson.  This probably also has to do with its location.  Olana rises above the bridge on its eastern end.  If heading west, some great views of the Catskills can be seen from the bridge.  The rip Van Winkle crosses over one of the larger islands in the Hudson.

 

Cat's Tail Training Runs (Part One)

After surviving The Escarpment Trail, I decided to keep at this thing called trail running.  Next up is the Cat's Tail Marathon.  I'm looking forward to this in the sense that a couple of the trails I have not been on.  I especially cannot wait to check out the new section of the Long Path that goes down Wittenburgh to Phoenecia.    

Stretching the legs

Friday, August 7: Olana Modified Loop

Since Escarpment, I took it easy.  For real, rugged training runs, I have to travel.  Not wanting to take a full two weeks, the rolling hills of Olana were calling.

On the yearly racing calendar, the Olana Loop 10k (more like 5.5 miles) is one of the best.  Compared to your average road race, this is mountainous.  Compared to a Catskill trail run, it's pancake flat.

Today's modified version took me up the two major climbs once each in 55 minutes.

Thursday, August 13: Olana Modified Loop

Today I would get in 75 minutes.  Both major hills twice.  Felt strong the entire time.

Saturday, August 15: Windham High Peak

I'm pretty consistent getting up WHP in 53 minutes.  About 45 minutes to get down due to my back bothering me.  Still, I was quite pleased since this was a terrible week at work for my back.

Tuesday, August 18: Olana Modified Loop

Started early and ran the large hill that drops to 9G 3 times and the one that drops down to 23 2 times.  It all took about 80 minutes.  Felt strong the entire time.

Wednesday, August 26: Windham High Peak

Too lazy and exhausted to get up to do a long one, I opted for an old stand by.  It took only 51 minutes to reach the summit.  On the way down it took 55 minutes, but this was mostly due to a long stop.  Myself and two other hikers watched pine cones falling from a tree.  We could not identify what was responsible.  My guess is there was a porcupine high up in the tree.

Moonset

Moon setting over Ashokan High Point

I had so much going on today, I almost forgot I wanted to check out the moon set.  The moon is in its beginning of its waxing phase with just 4% luminosity.  What's so interesting about this phase is that it sets less than an hour after the sun.

Slide, Cornell and Wittenburgh

With today's humidity, there were plenty of clouds.  As I walked up to Burger Hill, I thought, "this is a waste of time."  As the mosquitoes found me, I thought this even more so.  I waited and waited, not sure where the moon would drop out of the clouds, if it did at all.  I eventually spotted a white sliver.  I immediately thought it was the moon, then I second guessed and thought it to be a plane streaking.  Fortunately, my original instincts were correct.  It was a beautiful site, thought there was less moon than I imagined.

Another photo that warrants the question, "Why don't you have a tripod?"

The last of the moon

Platte Clove (VPo Man Returns to the HV Edition)

He's back! But not for long.

The Hudson Valley has been blessed with some great weather recently.  Since it's still August we were do for another heat wave.  Sunday's call for hot and humid made Platte Clove a great stopping point after moving some furniture.

The VPo Man arrived just after our last heat wave.  Like myself, he finds the Hudson Valley to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Everything is so green and the air is clean.  These are not givens in much of the world.

Many took advantage of the weather to enjoy the cool water

After making a couple wrong turns, I found my way to the clove.  It appeared we were not the only ones to think it'd be great to hit the swimming holes on a sticky day like today.  Every swim hole, except the one I like to call the kiddy hole had people.  My favorite spot had about a dozen people.  I spotted some litter and I noticed much of this group was smoking.  I could take an educated guess where their butts wound up.  Unfortunately, too many of the wrong people know about this spot.

Apparently a great spot to smoke

Still we had a great walk/scramble to the numerous beautiful waterfalls.  The water was cold, but not overwhelmingly so.  Another great day to be out in the Hudson Valley.  

Sunset, Moonrise

I love how it almost looks like the sun

Mighty Slide and the Burroughs range

Yesterday morning I watched the sun rise as the moon set.  Tonight it would be the opposite, the sun setting as the moon rose.  It's a day after the full moon so the timing was less than ideal, but still not bad.  After the week we had, the weather was quite pleasant and cooperated.  No haze to block out the moon's rise.

So nice and cool at sunset

Time for a tripod!