Tivoli Bays, in autumn light..

A beautiful sunset paddle in Tivoli Bays.

I will not ruin the mood by saying too much, but what a gift to see such a beautiful sight.

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Great tours in Tivoli Bays..

During a recent trip to Tivoli Bays guests navigate past large rocks.

One of our favorite places to take our guests is Tivoli Bays. We get to explore the winding marsh area before traveling under the railroad bridge into the Hudson River. Just before the bridge the bay opens up and gives an amazing view of the Catskill Mountains. It’s quite breathtaking.

Once out into the river we work our way around the two islands, Cruger and Magdalen. Usually we are treated to the sights of Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons and White Egrets.

Some where along the line we find a nice place to beach our kayaks and enjoy lunch. And maybe get a swim in too.

The Catskill Mountains backdrop the bay.

After a healthy lunch we work our way along the islands and the railroad tracks back toward the marsh. Right now the Cardinal flowers are in full vivid bloom.

It you haven’t got out to enjoy the bay yet, contact us. We would be happy to share the beauty with you.

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Dragonfly..

A dragonfly hangs onto the rigging of my kayak.

Sorry that it has been a while since the last post. We have been cranking this summer and I have to admit, if it is a choice between blogging or paddling, well you get the idea.

It has been a great summer, perfect weather, warm water and lots of sun.  I for one am not ready to say it is over yet. It is true that the days are indeed getting shorter, but I am holding on like the dragonfly above is holding on to my boat. We are hoping to paddle well into October, so don’t give up yet.

See you on the water!

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Showers please..

The Esopus Meadows lighthouse during a light rain shower on the Hudson River.

Showers in the forecast? No worries, as long as thunderstorms are not predicted.

I have to say, there is no more peaceful paddling on the Hudson River then when it is raining. The gentle burbling of the raindrops hitting the water, cooling you off in the summer heat. It also seems to have a calming effect on the wildlife, which allows you to get a little closer for photographs.

Speaking of photos, the light during a rain gives dramatic effects to photographs. The soft light saturates colors and enhances mood. The shot above of the Esopus Meadows lighthouse is a great example of photography in the rain.

So don’t put off that paddle if there is rain predicted, enjoy it.

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Dog star, Sirius?

It’s summer, some say the dog-days of summer.

We have been keeping a close eye on the weather, and with careful planning, have been getting plenty of time out on the water despite the stormy wet weather. On Wednesday we got out and played in the gentle waves produced by the out-going tide and our more friendly wind from the north.

Just after loading up the boats, around 8pm, a rain storm came through producing a beautiful rainbow off to the southeast.

Dog star, Sirius? It’s the star, brightest in the sky this time of year. It is also where the phrase dog-days of summer comes from. Check it out at EarthSky.

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A great way to cool down..

Piles of driftwood line the eastern shore of the Hudson River.

After a hot day in the office, mowing the lawn, or whatever has you heated up, there is no better way to cool off than taking an evening paddle on the Hudson River. There is cool breeze that comes off the water that is refeshing after the hot humid winds from earlier in the day. You can dip your arms in the water, even take a swim if you like. Mmm, it’s so soothing.

There is always so much to see. Last night just as the sun set below the Catskill Mountains, I was sitting in a small cove when I spied an otter playing in the water. At first I thought it was a large eel, but sure enough the curious animal turned out to be an otter. What a treat.

A couple of things to keep in mind when going out in the evening: Be particularly aware of the motor boat traffic; make sure you bring a white stern light in case you get caught out after dark; stay close to shore where powerboats can’t go after the sun goes down, you’re much safer there. Oh, and always, have fun!

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Clearwater Festival..

Support one of the organizations the protects our Hudson River.

Come out on June 19-20 and listen to great music at Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival.

These folks put a lot of time and effort in to educate, protect and care for the Hudson. What a great way to show them a little love.

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Hudson River Sunsets..

The sun sets over the Hudson River during our Friday tour.

Ok, we do have the best sunsets here in the Hudson Valley. It’s the combination of the river, the mountains and fresh air all working together to create picturesque scenes for us to soothe our souls.

We’ll maybe I am laying it on a bit thick. You decide. A picture says 1,000 words, right? Well what do you think of the sunsets from the photo above? Pretty lucky, right? We think so. To be able to live in this area and get to experience the beauty of the Hudson River, its magic. Yes, we are very lucky.

It you are looking to get out and have your soul soothed, contact us, we would be happy to get you out there.

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Kissed by a cool breeze..

Two of our guests experience the magic of Tivoli Bays on Sunday.

There is so much beauty to see when you paddle Tivoli Bays, which is made up of two large coves surrounded by wooded bluffs. It is one of our favorite places to introduce people to the water.  From the tidal marsh you get an amazing view of the Catskill Mountains when looking off to the west. Right now all but the highest peaks are covered in spring green.

A turtle rests on a stump in the sun in Tivoli Bays.

As we navigated through the bays we saw narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), spatterdock (Nuphar advena) and wild rice (Zizania aquatica) interspersed with purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and common reed (Phragmites australis). We also notice larges patches of yellow iris in bloom.

During the tours we spotted great blue herons, a pair of bald eagles, and a green heron.

It is very important to keep the tides in mind when exploring the bays. There is about a four hour window of time around high tide which allows access to the  many wonderful inlets.

As we wound up the tour we drifted up to the north end where the Stony Creek empties into the bay. As we approached the gurgling fresh water, we were greeted by the cool breath of air spilling over the sun-warmed water of the bay. One can only comprehend this magical kiss from the fresh water by experiencing it.

Join us sometime.

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It’s getting warmer..

The water temperature at Rhinecliff is 62.2 degrees. No excuses.

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