Schodack Island State Park

We arrive at Schodack Island State Park 

A nice large site next to the bathhouse which is nice because it is electric only.

Problems again with the landing gear.  We are told that the problem is a bad batter so Gary goes to town and gets it checked - it is bad so he gets another plus a 2nd battery so we can use our solar panel.  Still not   working after installing the batteries - we  finally check the fuses in the motor box.  They look good but simply taking them out and putting them back in seems to do the trick.

 Caleb's friend Brandon joins us during the day.  They try their hand at fishing but no luck here.

 It is a fairly new park in the NYS Park system - only 3 years old and is quite nice.  They have live music on Friday nights.

 and a nice playground

 Boys will be boys

There is a guided bike tour one day to the Ice House chimney.  It covers the women's right movement and how bicycles helped women at the time

 The guide is dressed in period Bike clothing

 The park has nice trails through the woods

The Ice House Chimney.  Ice was collected from the frozen  Hudson River.  The ice industry operated  from the 1870s to the 1920s when modern refrigeration and artificial ice became popular.  There were as many as 13 ice houses on Schodack Island. 

 Tucson gets his morning walks along the Hudson River

 Where you can see large ships passing through

 There are several blue bird boxes and they take care of the insects

  One day is is close to 90  so we head to nearby Grafton Lake State Park

 The boys enjoy the chilly water

 Gary and I park it in the shade and watch.  I notice some barn swallows flying back and forth to the snack bar.  I check it out and find this next of fledglings.

 

 Mom was in and out in less than a second and it took several attempts to get here feeding the babies.

On the way home we stop at the Riverfest in Troy, NY but it turns out they changed it this year - not on the River and ending at 3 p.m. so we get there just in time to see everyone breaking down

 There is a Dinosaur Bar B Que in town so we head there for dinner.

 The boys share a gigunda platter of ribs

 I had the salad with Brisket

Caleb is a huge train fan and had his heart set on seeing a restored 1924 steam engine Viscose No. 6

The boys pick the open car right behind the coal fired engine.  We decide it might be better on the one further back

 I think they are having a good time

 On the way out of the way home we check out the Pedestrian Bridge between Poughkeepsie and Highland NY.  The bridge deck stands 212 feet above the riverand is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

 The flag marks the 1/2 way point.

 We catch a nice sunset on the way home.