DAYS 22-23 Cortlandt Yacht Club to Kingston, NY & Lighthouses

Cortlandt Yacht Club (Montrose NY) to Kingston NY: 10.0 mph; 51 miles; 5:07 hours

Traveling the Hudson River is peaceful and quiet. I wouldn’t compare it to the Cheasapeake because the ecosystems are completely opposite: saltwater vs freshwater. There is so much history here ... I’ll need to come back - bypassing New Jersey completely.

Kingston, NY

We docked at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and met some wonderful people. July 13th was Jim’s 55th birthday and the museum was closed! While we were exploring the area, I asked a group of people if anyone thought the museum would open for Jim - being that it's his birthday and the reason for this stop. A man named Jack Weeks said, "I have a key." Little did we know that Jack, a UVA-grad-retired-doctor, was the president of the museum. I was so grateful - this was Jim’s day - hell, it's Jim's YES YEAR.

Once inside the museum, you could see the thoughtfulness everywhere: every age group had something to see and do. I am sure someone with museum design knowledge was part of this museum’s development. Another man, Bob Burhans, popped in and gave us a detailed mini-tour of the Hudson River’s history. This man is a wealth of knowledge and many of the exhibits have his touch on them, one way or another. 

The museum has a boat building school at the wharf. We saw a group of young students completing a pram and then giving it a launch with so much enthusiasm. Simply amazing and well worth the trip.

Oh! What the Looper books do not mention is this: Kingston is closed down Monday-Thursday ... so good luck finding ice cream! We lucked out with Ole Savannah Southern Table & Bar - ice cream enough for a king! King James that is; after all, it was his birthday.

Hudson River Maritime Museum

From the Hudson River

Bannerman Arsenal, 1900

Bannerman Arsenal: A Scotsman’s fortress called Bannerman Castle built not as a home but as an arsenal for his immense collection of weapons ... reminds me of someone I know ...

visit hudsonriver.com then HISTORY > HISTORICAL SITES to see a video and learn more about this island

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, 1871

Esopus Lighthouse: Affectionately called the "Maid of the Meadow" and the last of the wooden built lighthouses.

Rondout Lighthouse, 1913

Rondout Lighthouse: The Legend of the "Widow’s Watch" comes from this lighthouse. The legend is that the lighthouse is haunted by a widowed young bride whose husband died in a boating accident on their wedding night. It is said that after the fall equinox she roams through the lighthouse searching for her husband at his time of death ... and she will continue until she finds him again ...

Hudson Athen Lighthouse, 1874

Hudson Athens Lighthouse: In 1872 Congress of the United States approves $35,000 to build the lighthouse and it took one year to complete the project.

Saugerties Lighthouse, 1869

Saugerties Lighthouse: This is now a VERY small B&B run by the Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy; cost $525 per night, 2 rooms up to 4 people.

Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, 1883

Yep, you heard me, The Sleepy Hollow: This lighthouse is a spark plug lighthouse, designed to include living space within the cylinder, and cost $21,000 to build. The lighthouse was put out of business with the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Cool snap of the Tappan Zee Bridge