Jump to the intro.
Photo recap
Checking in near the walkway to the Corning Preserve.
Everyone got a Hudson Passport, designed by Hudson River Exchange, with discounts at businesses in Hudson. (And a trip button made by Laura Glazer!)
Hopping on a CDTA bus for the trip across the river.
And hopping back off the bus at the Albany-Rensselaer train station to catch the Amtrak to Hudson.
The train ride along the Hudson River.
Arriving in Hudson after about 20 minutes.
Headed up Warren Street in Hudson.
TK Home and Garden on Warren Street graciously hosted us upstairs for a tasting of Chatham Brewing beer.
Beer from Chatham Brewing...
… and snacks from Tierra Farm.
After the tasting people had time to explore Hudson. We stopped for lunch on Red Dot's back patio.
Back out exploring downtown Hudson.
Gawking at some of the mansard roofs in Hudson.
Peeking into some of the spaces along Warren Street.
This house is just up the street from Helsinki Hudson.
Speaking of which… Helsinki Hudson opened early to host us for drinks and snacks at the end of the afternoon.
And there were tastings of CH Evans beer.
After Helsinki Hudson, it was back toward the river to catch the Dutch Apple.
The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce had drinks waiting for us near the dock.
And we had whale-shaped cookies from Talbott & Arding, which is on Warren Street.
Goodbye, Hudson.
The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, with the Catskills in the background.
The Dutch Apple took us on quick loop so we could get a closer look at the lighthouse.
Across the river in Athens.
Campers at the point of Middle Ground Flats.
Dinner opened with cheese from Honest Weight.
Sweet Sue's in Troy catered dinner...
… with strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Watching the sunset as we make our way up the river.
Back to Albany.
Docking at the Corning Preserve.
And waving goodbye to the Dutch Apple.
A whole nine days ago (there was a summer break in there), this year's AOA Rail, River, Hudson trip made its way to Hudson. And, like last year, it was a lot fun!
The sold-out trip took more than a hundred people from downtown Albany to Hudson and back via bus, train, and boat.
Here are a bunch of photos from the day...
Photos
They're above in large format -- click or scroll all the way up.
Thank you!
Many thanks to everyone who came along on the trip this year. It was fun to see people again, and great to meet so many new people.
Special thanks to TK Home and Garden for hosting the Chatham Brewing beer tasting and to Tierra Farm for providing snacks and Talbot and Arding for the cookies.
This event was possible thanks to the following sponsors:
+ Dutch Apple Cruise lines
+ Helsinki Hudson
+ Chatham Brewing
+ The Honest Weight Food Co-op
+ The Lofts at Harmony Mills
+ Capital District Physicians Health Plan
+ CDTA: The Capital District Transportation Authority.
+ Amtrak®
+ C.H. Evans Brewing
+ Hudson River Exchange
+ Hudson Development Corporation
+ Columbia County Tourism
+ Hudson River Greenway
+Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau
+ Downtown Troy Business Improvement District
+ Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
+ Nine Pin Cider Works
+ The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District
+ Sweet Sue's
+ Downtown Troy BID.
Comments
The trip was awesome! Well worth going. Can't wait for next year.
... said Mark on Jul 21, 2015 at 10:11 AM | link
You uncover great stories about Albany and help make new ones. Thank you for all the time and work and thought you put into this event; I feel it in every ounce of my memories from the day.
... said Laura on Jul 21, 2015 at 12:51 PM | link
Wow. Once again, this looks like a stunning event. And once again I had to miss it. I'm really hoping the tradition continues next year, so I have another chance to join in on the fun.
... said Daniel B. on Jul 22, 2015 at 12:32 AM | link
It was a fun day and a nice plan. I would say overall worth the trip; However, there was certainly some missteps along the way and parts that need improvement.
I would give the trip a B- or a C+, mostly because the lack of food during the dinner cruise, and also due to the long wait in the morning, with no announcements or reason for being there.
The 1st two hours of the day were a waste of time. We met at the corning preserve and just stood in the sun smelling diesel fumes from a tractor-trailer parked next to us and running.
-There was no welcome table, no announcements, no
suggestions to check out the foot bride and no bagels or donuts - just something to help pass the time. The buses to get us to Amtrak were no where to be found and also late...
The arrival times at each meeting place could've been adjusted and better planned. Got to the "starting point" at the requested time - which was 45 mins before the actual need and same with the meeting time for the boat ride home. We were cut short at helsinki hudson, (feeling hurried) only to wait for an extended period of time (again in the sun) to board the boat. The beer tasting from CH Evans at Helsinki was a huge let down. There was a few small cups of a golden liquid already poured just sitting on the table in the sun, with no information or signage and the person being pre-occupied with a child running around. 1 kind of beer, don't know the style or anything about it - doesn't qualify as a tasting in my book.
In contrast - the Chatham brewing tasting was fabulous, especially with the addition of the Tierra farms nuts and engaging friendly pourers and 3 kinds to sample.
Also, the beverages provided by the chamber of commerce in the gazeebo at the port, after the walk back was a nice touch too.
I certainly understand that coordinating and keeping track of a group of people this large is a challenge and comes with unplanned needs and I don't mean to be overly-harsh or highlight the negatives, but I feel this feedback could be valuable information to help make the 3rd run of this event an enhanced experience and truly wonderful.
... said Kent on Aug 1, 2015 at 9:08 AM | link