What a great day! Left Half Moon Bay Marina around 9:00 am headed up the picturesque and serene Hudson River….had no idea it is so deep (averaged 60-80 feet!) Such an exciting moment when we passed Verplanck, NY, (the northern most point on the Hudson we had ever been to to date) and entered into waters we’ve not been before! We are now in “Parts Unknown!”
We were looking forward to passing West Point from the water, having walked the campus the day before. Very picturesque, but with all due respect, kind of gray. Okay…. So it’s almost 16 THOUSAND acres versus the US Naval Academy at about 340 acres, but we’re talking architectural character here, being Annapolitans. Enough said. GO NAVY!
Enjoyed passing Marist College (sent a picture to my friend Hugh Taylor!) and Bannerman Castle (former arms dealer and Scottish castle replica) on our way to Hyde Park Marina, where we’d only be a few miles from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) presidential library and residence. Very cool tour of the library and residence; learned many things we didn’t know.
Did you know: FDR was elected to an unprecedented 4 terms as president (but died a short time into the 4th term). He oversaw the “New Deal” navigating the US out of the Great Depression and the start of Social Security, FDIC, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), minimum wage, Civilian Conservation Corps (jobs program) and the March of Dimes to battle infantile paralysis (polio) which he was stricken with at age 39; Wife Eleanor was his 5th cousin once removed, also last name Roosevelt; Teddy Roosevelt (Preisdent 1901 – 1909) was FDR’s fifth cousin and Eleanor’s uncle ….small world; FDR was president when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor asked Congress to declare war on Japan, entering the US into WWII; He oversaw the development of the atomic bomb, but it was his successor (Harry S Truman) who ordered its use; His was the FIRST EVER presidential library and the only presidential library to be used by a sitting president (him) as an office; FDR had at least one, possibly three, mistresses….. YIKES…. and Eleanor also had few other men in her life…. Double YIKES – all unsubstantiated rumors! FDR is considered to be one of the greatest US Presidents of all time, second only to Abraham Lincoln.
Learned the above and so much more at the FDR library. Also learned there are VERY LONG freight trains (miles long) on the west side of the Hudson, while it’s the commuter train (Amtrak) that runs on the east side. Enjoyed a great fireworks show in honor of SOMEONE’s 60th birthday who lives across the Hudson. Happy Birthday to You and thanks for making our night on the Hudson memorable!
Heidi Vierstra
Carol- we’re enjoying your travelogue from afar. Sounds like you are off to a great start with many more adventures to come. Maybe we can join you when you traverse the Midwest or south.