Not a long trip today but one where the Hudson’s wide and broad shoulders seemed to meaningfully diminish with shoaling and shallow spots appearing with greater frequency as the shores came closer to the boat.  The view of the Catskills and what appear to be vast acreages of seemingly unspoiled marshlands made us feel further from home.

Catskill Mountains seen from the Hudson River

Passing a feature in the river near Saugerties ominously called the Maelstrom on the chart, we saw nothing but kept the boat away from it anyway.  Similarly we stayed away from Saugerties (“sawmill”) but it has an attractive lighthouse.

Saugerties Lighthouse

Arriving in Catskill, we attended to some preliminary preparations for entry into the Erie Canal but also took time to take a walk through the Victorian era downtown.

Catskill, NY

Catskill was home to Hudson River school artist, Thomas Cole (recently the subject of a Metropolitan Museum of NY exhibit). From Dutchman’s Landing, you have a direct view of Olana, the home of Frederic Edwin Church, another master of the Hudson River school.

Thomas Cole, View on the Catskill, Early Autumn, 1837

Frederic Edwin Church, Morning, Looking East over the Hudson Valley from Catskill Mountains, 1848

View of Olana, the home of Frederic Edwin Church