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.