Hudson Rides, Fall 2000

October 31 and November 1, 2000

During the Fall Break, Jane and I decided to drive up along the Hudson Valley to visit our son in Schenectady and see the fall colors (which it turned out were probably about a week past their peak, but still pretty spectacular). I took my bike along and managed to ride a couple of loops from the book, 25 Bicycle Tours in the Hudson Valley, Howard Stone, Backcountry Publications, Woodstock, Vermont, 1989.

On Tuesday, October 31, I did ride 24, which starts at Central Valley, west of the Hudson, goes to West Point and Storm King Mountain, and returns to Central Valley. This loop is about 33 miles long and is described as very hilly. However I was in the granny gear for only one long hill and one short hill.

On November 1, I did ride 18, which starts in Hyde Park on the east side of the Hudson, goes east to Salt Point and comes back to Hyde Park with stops at the Vanderbilt mansion and the Franklin D. Roosevelt family home. This ride was about 32 miles (I missed a turn and added about 2 miles to the advertised distance of 30 miles!). It is described as rolling, but I was in the granny gear a lot! It was very windy and cold so this might have had something to do with it. In any case it seemed a much harder ride than the previous day's ride.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger picture.

Stillwell Lake, looking east from route 293, about halfway from Central Valley to West Point. The West Point Visitor's Center.

From an overlook at West Point, the view across the Hudson (to the east). From the same place, the view south.

A little farther north at West Point, the view south. From the same spot, the view to the east across the river. There are some pretty large buildings along the river. I'm not sure whether they're mansions, hotels, or what.

From the same spot, the view to the north, with some Military Academy buildings. The Cadet Chapel at West Point. View to the southwest.

The "Million Dollar View." At the West Point memorial to the Revolutionary War (War of the Rebellion) casualties looking north. Another shot of the $1,000,000 view.

The memorial to the Revolutionary War casualties. Cannons from the Civil War. If I remember correctly, this is a sampling of cannons used by the South and captured by the North.

View from Storm King Highway (route 218), on Storm King Mountain, east across the Hudson to Breakneck Ridge. In the center of the picture, just at the waterline, one can barely make out the tops of tunnel entrances. There's a tunnel for the highway and a tunnel for the passenger railroad. On the west side, directly below (and not in the picture) is a freight railroad. From the same spot, the view north with part of Storm King Mountain and Storm King Highway on the left.

The first shot from the ride on November 1. I believe this is from the top of a hill on route 40 several miles into the ride. The view is roughly to the northwest. I believe this is a mile or so farther on along route 39. Again the view is to the northwest. The terrain for this loop was pretty much as these photos indicate. Lots of hills. You'd come out on top and be able to see the tops of the nearby hills.

The Vanderbilt mansion (actually a modest summer home!) looking to the northwest. This shows the front (main entrance) to the mansion. The Hudson is behind. The front (east side) of the Vanderbilt mansion.

The Hudson from the Vanderbilt mansion. View to the south. And the view to the north.

The back (west, Hudson) side of the Vanderbilt mansion. Another view of the Hudson looking north from the Vanderbilt mansion.

The south side of Franklin D. Roosevelt's family home in Hyde Park. This house is a bit more than a mile south of the Vanderbilt mansion. The front (east) side of the Roosevelt home.

	Stillwell Lake, looking east from route 293, about halfway from Central Valley to West Point.		The West Point Visitor's Center.
	From an overlook at West Point, the view across the Hudson (to the east).		From the same place, the view south.
	A little farther north at West Point, the view south.		From the same spot, the view to the east across the river. There are some pretty large buildings along the river. I'm not sure whether they're mansions, hotels, or what.
	From the same spot, the view to the north, with some Military Academy buildings.		The Cadet Chapel at West Point. View to the southwest.
	The "Million Dollar View." At the West Point memorial to the Revolutionary War (War of the Rebellion) casualties looking north.		Another shot of the $1,000,000 view.
	The memorial to the Revolutionary War casualties.		Cannons from the Civil War. If I remember correctly, this is a sampling of cannons used by the South and captured by the North.
	View from Storm King Highway (route 218), on Storm King Mountain, east across the Hudson to Breakneck Ridge. In the center of the picture, just at the waterline, one can barely make out the tops of tunnel entrances. There's a tunnel for the highway and a tunnel for the passenger railroad. On the west side, directly below (and not in the picture) is a freight railroad.		From the same spot, the view north with part of Storm King Mountain and Storm King Highway on the left.
	The first shot from the ride on November 1. I believe this is from the top of a hill on route 40 several miles into the ride. The view is roughly to the northwest.		I believe this is a mile or so farther on along route 39. Again the view is to the northwest. The terrain for this loop was pretty much as these photos indicate. Lots of hills. You'd come out on top and be able to see the tops of the nearby hills.
	The Vanderbilt mansion (actually a modest summer home!) looking to the northwest. This shows the front (main entrance) to the mansion. The Hudson is behind.		The front (east side) of the Vanderbilt mansion.
	The Hudson from the Vanderbilt mansion. View to the south.		And the view to the north.
	The back (west, Hudson) side of the Vanderbilt mansion.		Another view of the Hudson looking north from the Vanderbilt mansion.
	The south side of Franklin D. Roosevelt's family home in Hyde Park. This house is a bit more than a mile south of the Vanderbilt mansion.		The front (east) side of the Roosevelt home.