Kingston Municipal Docks, Kingston, New York

Lighthouse at entrance to Rondout Creek

The lighthouse at the Esopsus shoals

Mouth of a railway tunnel along the water; at one point we could see what looked like lights on the water, turned out to be a train coming out of a tunnel around the mountain. (Felt like singing "She'll be coming round the mountain several times today).

Left Half Moon Bay this morning, feel like we finally figured out a little bit about the tides, we got a huge push up the river on the incoming tide, which lasted almost until we got here.Yesterday we struggled to get to 6 miles per hour, today we sailed along at 9-10 miles an hour until just after lunch, then went down to just over 8 miles per hour. Huge difference. Very cloudy today, few showers but only one brief shower while we were travelling. The scenery was beautiful, hills and trees, clouds hanging low over many of the hills. Went past Dunderberg Mountain, the 1,000 ft tall legendary dwelling of the Dutch goblin held responsible for summer storms. Hoped he wasn't angry with us as we passed. After Dunderberg Mountain, the next 10 miles on the Hudson cut through the Appalachian mountain chain and  are supposed to be one of the most beautiful stretches of river scenery in the US, and we would agree that it is very beautiful. Hills and mountains, trains travelling along the water on both sides, houses of all kinds on the hills overlooking the water, some ordinary, many looking like castles.
At Bear Mountain, the Americans stretched a huge chain across the water to stop the British during the Revolutionary War;  unfortunately the British seized the chain and sent it to Gibralter to guard their own harbour then went on up the river to burn Kingston (the town we are in tonight). Went on past West Point, then the town of Cornwall on Hudson. After than, passed Newburgh and Beacon, and on to Poughkeepsie, the home of Vassar College and the temporary capital of New York in 1777. Went on past the Esopus Lighthouse, one of  many built along the river. The next lighthouse 3 miles up the river marks the entrance to Rondout Creek and the city of Kingston.
Once we docked at Kingston, called US customs and border patrol. The kind gentleman told me that we are in the same district as long as we are in Upper New York State, so looks like we don't need to call in any more.
We have decided that we will take the Erie Canal home rather than the Richelieu River and Chambly Canal. With the recent flooding, the Chambly is not yet open and may not be for some time.

West Point

Met some other loopers here tonight, Postest Fieri and Karen Anne; Postest Fieri is from Thunder Bay in Canada. Had cocktails with them, fun to meet with them and hear about some of their adventures.

The clouds hung heavy over the hills

Not sure if we will travel tomorrow or stay here for a day, much depends on the weather.