Heading South On The Hudson

Albany, NY to Kingston, NY
53 miles
1,479 feet ascent
1,460 feet descent
2,163 calories

This long journey started along a river, the Columbia, going up and down hills carved by it, so it's only fitting to be finishing that way too on the Hudson.  Out west it was amazing to see pine trees seemingly to grow straight out of rocks, and here in the east, all sorts of trees do the same thing.

Hills Along The Hudson

Trees Anchored In Solid Rock

Although the area is still somewhat rural, the towns are becoming more frequent and cars more prevalent.  It's nice to see that it retains the small town atmosphere and that there are also those oddities which prompt a smile.

Roadside Vegetable Stand

Waving "Man" In  Yard

Unique Yard Art

And when I came across a drive-in theatre, I had to do a double take.  This one is still in business as someone was cutting the grass, and the movie titles are all current.

Four Screen Drive-In Theatre

Just like along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River, the landscape is peppered with signs of yesteryear with closed factories and abandoned buildings.  I would love to go poke around one of them for fun, but they are usually fenced off

Old Quarry/Stone/Gravel Facility

Abandoned Magnificent House In Saugerties, NY

(This one looked haunted)

Unfortunately, the road is not right along the Hudson, so I only catch glimpses of it, however, many of the smaller feeder rivers and creeks are just as scenic, like the Esopus Creek in Saugerties.

Bridge Over Esopus Creek

Lagoon On Esopus Creek 

After climbing out of one the small valleys, I was surprised to see mountains shrouded in the low, cloudy skies in the distance.  It was the Catskills, and I'm really glad I'm not riding over them!

The Catskills Mountains

It's nice getting closer to the "land of the big box store" because it means more choices for dinner at the end of the day.

End Of The Day Reward