EXCELLENT DAY!!! The weather was sunny and warm but, again, not too hot.
Best of all.....David is back walking with us plus Lucille & Karl joined us for the first walk in quite a while; and we added a new member, Jan. Our group totaled thirteen.
We walked up to the observation area and then followed the yellow trail to the white doing the entire white trail loop. There were hills, some steep, but we [at least most of us] agreed it was a good walk.
When we returned to the kiosk, we learned that this was the estate of Dr. Charles Roberts, a Poughkeepsie dentist. He was also a successful dairy farmer and investor. The estate had two mansions, servants' quarters, greenhouse, windmill, and a dance hall. The first mansion was built in 1868 and a larger one followed in 1880. Frances [Franny] Reese was a major force in the establishment of Scenic Hudson.
Five of us brunched at the Gateway Diner in Highland and rated it a 7.5.
 |
| the trail from the parking area leads to this intersection...overlook to left & white trail to right |
 |
| the bridge |
 |
| the walkway |
 |
| walkway closeup |
 |
| nice day to be cruisin on the river |
 |
| we think the hill in distance is Peach Hill, highest point in Dutchess Co. |
 |
| one of the ruins |
 |
| new barriers have been built around all the ruins |
 |
| another view - perhaps this is 1st mansion |
 |
| stairs to nowhere |
 |
| this was probably the newer, larger mansion |
 |
| ruins of a smaller building |
 |
| we could barely see the river way down below |
 |
| there are many stone walls in most of the areas where we walk |
 |
| the river is below |
 |
| the view through the trees |
