Up the Hudson-Round 2

John and Sue Ray from Napa, California, joined us on Saturday night, June 9th, at Liberty Landing.  We strolled the walkway to the old train depot that now acts as the ferry boat terminal to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  Even though this was round two, the view was still spectacular.  On the Jersey side  near the train depot is a ser of two stainless steel monuments engraved with the names of the Jersey residents killed in the twin towers on 9-11.  It is a moving experience both day and night.  The photo, taken by Sue, shows Manhattan in the background and a mangled piece of the tower in the foreground.

Twin towers memorial on Jersey side.

Picture mentioned above.

The next morning after breakfast with Haley, we headed out for the harbor tour.  Tom quite feeling like an experienced tour guide by now, enjoyed giving the highlights over the PA system to the crew on the foredeck.  Although we tried several hand signals, we found no effective way of turning him off!

John and Sue with Lady Liberty

We remembered to get our picture taken
with the Lady also.

This time when we passed the Intrepid, Enterprise was aboard.

We arrived at Half Moon Bay (we are now almost considered residents of the town), rented a car on Monday and drove to West Point for a tour.   Very impressive both from the land and water views.

The only building we were allowed to enter on the campus was the chapel.

West Point as seen from Hudson River

Civil War Memorial

Beautiful stained glass in chapel

Inside the chapel

Assembling for training

View of the Hudson Valley from West Point

One of the main buildings on campus

After the tour we drove down to Bear Mountain State Park.  It is also on the west side of the Hudson with magnificent views.  We walked the trail around the rescued animal zoo and drove to the top of Bear Mountain which is about 1300 feet above sea level.

Sue:  Where are we?
Linda:  Darned if I know!

View of Bear Mountain Bridge
from the top of the mountain.

Part of the Appalachian Trail goes
through the park.

The little boy next to me explained
that these bears were wrestling!

Leaving Croton-on-Hudson for the final time, we headed north on the Hudson to Kingston City Marina.  On the way we went past West Point and Bear Mountain--very beautiful scenery.

John and Sue on bow in Hudson River   Gorge

On Wednesday we once again rented a car.  This time we toured the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park.  While the mansion was garish, the gardens were lovely. 

The tour guide informed us that this
was the smallest of all the Vanderbilt mansions.

Ceiling mural in the golden ladies' sitting room.

Apparently Mrs. Vanderbilt requested that
her bedroom be fashioned after the queen's
bedroom at Versailles.  Hence, the birthing
fence around the bed!

The gilded ladies' sitting room.

Following this grandeur, we fashionably ate at the French restaurant in the Culinary Arts of America also located in Hyde Park.  Daughter Sarah loves to take pictures of beautifully presented food.  So, Sarah, these pictures are for you!

Creme Brule (notice timer for coffee press

Strawberry torte

Chocolate coffee mousse

The satisfied crew at Excoffier Restaurant

The grounds of the CIA were as beautiful as the food.

CIA as seen from the river.

Grounds of CIA

Same grounds farther back.

Returning to Kingston, we visited the museum which featured a PT boat at the docks.

John and Sue by PT boat

Thursday we left Kingston and went on up to Albany Yacht Club.  On the way the Catskill Mountains suddenly showed up to the east. John and Sue left Thursday afternoon, catching an Amtrak train to NYC.  We enjoyed sharing part of our adventure with them, and again the time just went by in a flash!

Check out the "old man in the Catskills"