Thursday, June 27: Exploring the Hudson River Valley

Date:                           June 27, 2013

Day on the Cruise:      73

From:                          Half Moon Bay Marina, Croton - on - Hudson, NY                                                  

To:                              Half Moon Bay Marina, Croton - on - Hudson, NY

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                          0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       1817.2 SM

On Board:                  Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Today we took the rental car and drove North about 50 miles up Route 9 on the East side of the Hudson River to Hyde Park and Rhinebeck, NY. We got to Franklin D. Roosevelt's home in Hyde Park at about 10:00 this morning. The setting is gorgeous! Lots of big trees, much greenery, large green grass lawns, and much to our surprise, the grounds and house are anything but ostentatious!

We took a guided tour with a Park Ranger that got us into FDR's house. It was very interesting! We learned a lot of history about FDR and Eleanor. The house sits high on the banks of the Hudson, although you probably can't see it from the River. It is a three story house that was built in the early 1800's as a simple farm house, then renovated extensively with new additions in the early 1900's.

Looking at the House through the trees

Front of FDR's home

Front of FDR's home

Side porch

Looking out over the Hudson River Valley from FDR's home

FDR was born and grew up here. He served as Governor of New York, then served in several roles in Federal Government before being elected to 4 terms as President of the United States. He contracted Polio in the 1920's and was never able to stand by himself or walk by himself again.

My lasting impression of the house will be how dark it is inside. The house is almost exactly as it was when FDR died, as Eleanor had built another house at Val Kill East of the main house, and then deeded the FDR property to the Federal Government just after FDR's death. The house has windows, but the dark paneling and lack of interior lighting makes it hard to distinguish artwork, to see detail, and to imagine how the family lived and interacted in the dark spaces. Nevertheless, I loved touring the home with the original furnishings and seeing rooms where Kings, Queens, and leaders of country's visited.

Sitting room next to dining room

Living room

One wall of the living room

Children's chairs in front of the fireplace

FDR's wheelchair designed by him

Old Grandfather Clock

Eleanor Roosevelt's bedroom

FDR's bedroom

FDR's "Hot Line"

After we toured the house, we toured the first Presidential Library. This is another unostentatious building that houses a museum in the Library building. It was an interesting walk through FDR's life and the life of his wife, Eleanor.

We ate lunch in Hyde Park, then drove about 12 miles North to the Village of Rhinebeck, NY. This is a quaint little village along the river. Just North of the village is the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. This is a state owned historical World War I grass airfield and museum that features World War I airplanes on display in hangars and on the airfield. I could just feel that we were back in England on a grass airstrip from where World War I warbirds operated. It was so cool. I was amazed at the structures of these airplanes that were made from wood and covered with canvas, yet still flew! There were 4 hangars at the museum that housed old airplanes, including a replica of the Wright Flier, the first plane that the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, NC.

Interesting wooden landing gear struts

Wooden frame and joinery

Canvas covered surfaces

Using rope to join landing gear supports

Susan with an old Ford

Replica of Wright Flyer

Replica of Wright Flyer

The grass airfield was amazing. Old hangars with World War I aircraft in them. We saw an old bi-plane start up and take off from the field. The engine sound was terrific!

Grass airfield

Old hangar

Old hangar

Fokker being restored

Old hangar

Starting up an old Bi-plane

Beautiful plane

Old Bi-plane taxi's out to take off

And away she goes!

After Rhinebeck, we drove back to Croton - on - Hudson and turned the rental car back in.   On the boat, we learned that our friends Susan and Brent from "Once Upon a Time" had pulled into an anchorage at Half Moon Bay. They stopped by in their dinghy, and we had drinks on our boat with them. It was very enjoyable!

Tomorrow we head North in the boat to Kingston, NY. We made reservations for Sunday and Monday in Albany, NY. It is supposed to rain hard in upper New York tonight, so the Erie Canal may stay closed tomorrow. We will see.

Thanks for Reading!