Sometimes it seems best to let the weather dictate plans. So it was over the past few days. We rushed west to New York City, then skipped an overnight in the Tarrytown area to come halfway to Albany. That's where we are now, tied up to the Kingston City Marina. Today we head to Albany, still a day ahead of schedule. But the storms went through last evening and Brio got a full shower.
Here she is, gleaming after the heavy rain.
Of course, we have to mention that John Poland of Cummins NE worked his magic again as well. We spoke mid-day yesterday. He said he was thinking over the night before what we had done Wednesday late afternoon. He said we needed to hold the valve ends in for 10 or 15 seconds, not just push and release. We did this. Amazingly, we could hear a "clunk" as the trim tab fell to its lowest limit. Then push and hold the "raise" valve and "clunk" again. Up went the trim tab. Then we tried the controls on the dash and we were able to do the same thing! Down and clunk. Up and clunk. The read-out on the screen confirmed the positions, just as if it were all new. John thought a microscopic piece of dirt got caught in the valves and over time it was released. At least we now know what to do.
We have enjoyed Kingston. It was first settled by the Dutch in 1624 (just after they bought Manhattan from the Indians). The first settlement was a stockade fort on the hilltop. That's now called Uptown. We are Downtown, on the riverfront. We think the best shops are likely Uptown. Our measure was ice cream stores and coffee shops. Nothing Downtown. Sigh.
Here's a street picture of well-maintained brick buildings. These were likely built by the bargemen and ship's captains in the 1800s. Kingston was New York's first capital after the British took over Manhattan. Then the Brits burned it and the capital was moved to Albany.
In the 1700s and 1800s, there was a canal dug to the Delaware River that accessed firewood, coal and bluestone. There were great underground limestone and surface bluestone quarries. The limestone made cement for New York City after the Revolution. The bluestone was a building stone and helped pave many sidewalks due to its not getting slippery when wet. You can see the blue stone here:
The one source of coffee ice cream that we did find was next to the City Marina where Brio was docked. Surprisingly, the advertisement didn't even mention coffee ice cream.
Along the wharf towards the Hudson River is the Maritime Museum. This is a terrific source of local history. Ice boating, fishing for sturgeon and shad and boat building are all activities described. There is a lot presented about the Delaware and Hudson Canal as well.
Note the old trolley tracks laid in the bricks. Below is the entrance to the Museum. In addition to the Museum, you can see that there's a Farmers' Market.
If you look carefully, you can see the stored hulls of rowing sculls and shells.
Next door is a woodworkers' area where pretty rowboats are made.
There's a lot of activity along the riverfront. Here's a cruise line catamaran that had docked overnight. The passengers were getting ready to disembark, get on buses and probably go to Uptown for brewed coffee!
We made some Looper friends as well.
Camelot is heading our way to Albany and the Erie Canal. They are doing the Great Loop. The motorboat that's just heading out is also planning to do the Loop.
More later! We're off for Albany!
Cheers,
Brio
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