APRIL 18, 2015 WALLKILL VALLEY RAIL TRAIL AT ROSENDALE

        It was a perfect day for walking {YEA!} with blue sky, sun and the temp got to the high 70s.
        CJ and I arrived at about 8:45 and Jean & Bob a couple of minutes later.  The four of us sat and waited.  At about 9:10 we began to think there would be only four of us and then all of a sudden people began arriving and we ended up with an excellent attendance of 16.
        Deposits of dolostone which is used in making "natural" cement were discovered in Rosendale and it became a cement-making center.  The cement was used in such projects as the D & H Canal, the Brooklyn Bridge and the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The mines are closed but one factory still remains [according to Wikipedia].
        All but two of us had not been to this location previously and I had been looking forward to crossing the trestle and it was worth it.  I prefer walking on wooded paths and the sections of the Wallkill rail trails I've been on [in New Paltz, Gardiner and now Rosendale] have not been paved which makes me happy.  It was a nice walk.
        We walked 2.5 plus miles and five of our group decided to continue a bit further as the rest of us turned back.  Eight of us visited the Rosendale Cafe, a vegetarian eatery.  We sat outside on the patio enjoying the balmy weather, good company and good food.  The service was good too.

The Binnewater kilns were closed in 1971

a closeup of one of the kilns

We passed this as we started walking.  There's still some snow and it was COLD hee.

The background is actually all stone croppings.

Somehow I forgot to take a picture of the trestle so I "stole" this from the walking map.

Some trail scenes

Don't know the purpose of this but it was interesting.

Checking out the pollywogs

On our way back

Sign before we recrossed the trestle

Looking toward town

and the other direction

After lunch, CJ and I visited High Falls and then went over the mountain to Mohonk on our way home.

Chapel Farm, a favorite of photographer G. Steve Jordan.  Too bad I didn't notice the branch as I was taking the pic.  Budding trees in the back ground.

APRIL 11, 2015 BEAR MOUNTAIN

          There were ten of us for the Bear Mountain walk including Linne who just returned from Florida. We were also delighted to see Lila whom we haven't seen since she moved to Peekskill early in 2013.  In addition, we welcomed Karen as a new member.
          There was sun and blue skies and the temperature was reasonable but there was a terrific cold wind that nearly knocked us over as we walked around the end of Hessian Lake.  Once we were protected by the trees, it was ok.
          Although we considered not going through the zoo, the walk was pretty short so we did our usual tour.
          Last year we enjoyed two good brunches at the Hudson Cafe in Cornwall so six of us went back.  The food was very good [although CJ's French toast with strawberrie[s]  had half of one strawberry cut in half]; but the service was not.  We were not in a hurry and it was a good thing because we were there about two hours.

Hessian Lake-you can just see the little wind-whipped waves.

Looking toward the Bear Mt Bridge

The boats will soon be in the water

We met a photographer along the way and he took our pic. [We're missing John who was exploring]

They look like they're sleeping but they're actually eating something.

One of several coyotes

One side of the redoubt

and the other

Vultures

and a close up

and another vulture

the Bear Mountain Bridge

view from the lookout

APRIL 4, 2015 CULINARY INSTITUTE

      [It's been a bit hectic the past couple of weeks so I'm writing about three walks today.]   

     Although rain was predicted for the morning, it was ok and seven of us arrived at the Quiet Cove parking lot for the walk.  It was chilly with wind, access to the river was blocked and it looked like the paths near the parking area might be kind of soggy; so we opted to go directly to our second walk at the Culinary Institute.  We covered quite a bit of ground on this very interesting campus.  Most students were away on break but we did encounter a few.
     Last week we welcomed new members Jean & Bob.  This week we learned that, sadly, John W's wife passed away in March.  Our sincere condolences to him.
     Six of us enjoyed brunch at the Palace Diner in Poughkeepsie.

We began our tour here

Admissions Office

View of the main building with Caterina de Medici Restaurant in foreground

Caterina de Medici and the gardens

Roth Hall

We liked the chef on top of this building.

This former diner is no longer used.

this was part of the former monastery

This was planted near our river view

looking up-river

a closer view

We walked along the river to the new Student Commons building

the new Student Commons is still under construction.

the view down-river and the Walkway

We don't know if this part of the campus but it's quite nice.

and a closer view-wouldn't want to wash those windows