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 After we got underway we got our first taste of the commercial traffic which Plys the Hudson River in Lock 1 which brings you down to the water level of the Hudson were it enters New York City. Lock one is huge in comparison to what we had been experienceing until now. there were three other sailboats and a huge tug and barge when we made the drop. Within a few miles the new character of the voyage south took shape as we ran past fuel docak and avoided huge barges and tugs. Albany is the Capital of New York and you pas through its center. Downtown by the Government offices I was impressed with the cities showing in spite of the industrial narure of the waterway. 
A bit further south on the eastern shore is the Albany yacht club where you may choose to raise your masts as it is clear sailing from here to the ocean. We had decioded to run a little further to a good the protected inlet at Catskill where there was a good ancorage and commercial facilities. Catskill is a must see, best stop recomendation for anyone headding south. The harbor is situated on the wesern shore and is enetered by a wide delta that slowley enters a valley where the main facilities are. We chose a broadside end end dock at Riverside Marine to step the masts and become a sailing vessel again. 
This was the first time we had been able to drop the dinghy and set sail for a little playfull fun. After stepping the masts and securing for the evening. dockside knowledge pointed us to an evening out at the excellent contental reastraunt which you will find as you make the turn norh to the inner harbor if you take your dinghy or up the road from Riverview if you walk the trip. IT was so good to have her mast etect and be underway in our true form the morning was magic as we swung south on the Hudson River. This section is an entire trip in its self which we will leave for a later issue. |
