Canals: "New York's Maritime Highway"

Good Morning Gina,


Wow, WOW, what a spectacular morning it is!


this morning

last night

As you can see, evening-to-daybreak along the Upper Hudson is pretty sweet in Springtime.


As you know we live on River Section Two -- more later -- the only portion of the Hudson River boats cannot "through navigate" due to the Thompson Island and Fort Miller dams (though it is hard to call 4-5 foot tall structures "dams").  So travelling boats must use the Champlain Canal, which circumvents our section of the river on the eastern, Washington County, side.


Whether driving or biking along West River Road above the Thompson Island dam, I almost always do a double-take when I see a large pleasure boat cruising along.  Seems incongruous and, despite all we hear about the silting-in of the upper Champlain Canal, some craft still do get through.  It's amazing to read the home ports of some of the boats: along with New York and Connecticut we see Illinois, South Carolina, Florida.  No Cayman Islands yet!


For local communities the river and canals add richness.  We revel in the activity, fun, and history.  As I have learned in my two years along the river, one takes nothing for granted.  Even when absorbed and distracted, the water and environs demand your attention.

"Canal Fest, 2016"

A few miles downriver is the village of Waterford, where the river begins to get seriously wide.  (Topic for another day: "how wide does a river have to be to become awe-inspiring?")


Throngs cluster around the canal and river, Waterfordians, river lovers, and Good Time Charlies alike.  Who cares?  It's a clean-fun party.  (Well... careful with the PCBs and VOCs that is!)


Closer to home -- sharing land around Lock 5 on the Champlain -- is Mohawk Maiden Cruises.  REALLY: Mohawk?  Must be someone trademarked "Hudson?" (A sure bet.)  Anyway, this compellingly cute operation offers a variety of tours and I encourage everyone to check it out.  You may enjoy a short video of a "Caldwell Belle" cruise!


m/v Caldwell Belle at Northumberland Dam

It is a sweet morning along the river.  We are very fortunate.  Nature does demand our attention, especially in such a grand environment. Besides enthralling, distracting, and entertaining us, Nature also deserves our attention.


In the case of the Hudson, all that inspires and provides us joy and pleasure requires effort to get it healthy and keep it that way.  The EPA has lots of partners ready and willing to do this.  Your lead example and commitment will pay many multiples of dividends: hey, let's get going!  :)