Popular Post Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted August 18, 2014 Popular Post Share #1 Posted August 18, 2014 Today I had to choose between glazing and painting windows or going for a ride. As I'd dutifully repaired windows yesterday, I opted for a ride today. My destination was the Wynantskill ('kill' from the Dutch 'riverbed' or 'channel'), a creek formerly industrialized with dams, millraces, and factories but now falling back to its natural state as all the old constructions succumb to time. My first pleasant surprise was an an old railroad bridge that I thought had been abandoned. When I reached it, it was now paved for use as part of a bike/hike trail. To reach the Wynantskill I had to cross the Hudson. Fortunately a recent project created a bike/pedestrian walkway across a busy bridge. Just as fortunately, none of the many shards of glass punched a hole in my tires. Looking north towards Troy, NY. My first stop on the Wynantskill. Above the falls in the background you can see a dam that remains long after the factories it served disappeared. By the way, the Wynantskill once powered the world's most powerful water wheel, operated by the Burden Iron Works. The Wynanskill runs in a gorge with steep or vertical banks. Before I left I considered bringing some rope to help lower myself to the creek bed, but decided that would only get me in really big trouble. So I had to wander about a bit to find a place where I could descend to the creek bed to get pictures. This one I could only find a ledge about 20 feet above the creek. Signs of old industrial complexes abounded. The wall in the picture was about 30 feet high. The pipe to the right of the wall that carried the water to the factories was about 3 feet in diameter. It was constructed of brick, then bound with iron bands to keep the water pressure from bursting the bricks apart. The next set of falls was about 6 feet high. Not spectacular, but I thought it pretty enough all the same. The dam that creates Burden Pond. Water from this pond would flow the the brick pipe to power the factories. Above the pond were more falls and remnants of industry. I knew there was another set of falls above this one, but the bank was essentially vertical so I couldn't climb down to it. I found a path about 8" wide about a foot above the creek that skirted the left side of the falls above and got this shot. The area near the creek was laced with motorcycle/ATV trails that paralleled the creek for the most part. I followed these, walking my bike as I had not the skills to manage the terrain. It sure took longer, but I wasn't in any hurry. This next one posed a problem. The creek took an 'S' turn, hiding this waterfall behind a rock ledge. I could get a shot looking down, but that loses all perspective of the waterfall's height. So I took of my shoes and socks and waded out into the middle of the creek to get this shot. The stones in the creek bed treated my feet most cruelly, as the water has swept all the sand and mud away. I was almost knee deep here. And at the upper part of the 'S' was yet another waterfall. To get the picture of this one I could keep my feet dry. If you look carefully in the picture above you'll see a large iron pipe crossing the creek. This fed another set of factories, above the ones previously mentioned. Naturally being an engineer I decided on a closer look. Note how the force of the water has shifted both abutments and twisted the steel. I don't think there's anything that man can build that Nature can't take apart and graffiti artists can't tag. Now the afternoon was getting on and needed to start for home. Of course the creek bed was lower than the surrounding terrain so I had to climb back out. I took this about 2/3 of the way up the trail as I rode it non-stop without putting my foot down at any point with one hand on the bars while I took the picture. My last stop was across the river from the Federal Locks at Troy. Below the lock the Hudson responds to the tides just as the Atlantic does - curious, as I think most people don't think of the Hudson as rising and falling with the tides. At a couple points along the way back I noticed my computer wasn't working. I'd turned around at mile 32, and didn't retrace the path along the lower Wynantskill falls below Burden Pond. So I think the ride was at least 60 miles, maybe a bit more, all told. I had wanted to stop at the falls at the Oakwood Cemetery, but I'd dawdled so long at the Wynantskill that I'd no time left. So that becomes a destination for another day. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted August 18, 2014 Share #2 Posted August 18, 2014 Your pictures and ride reports are beautiful. Have you ever thought about publishing them? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #3 Posted August 18, 2014 Was this a parody thread? If so. I give it a 5. If not then double my score.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted August 18, 2014 Share #4 Posted August 18, 2014 Great post... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted August 18, 2014 Share #5 Posted August 18, 2014 Excellent ride report! Beautiful photos! And yes I agree, nature can take apart all the contrivances of mankind. Nature reclaims that which is hers. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted August 18, 2014 Share #6 Posted August 18, 2014 From the Menands Bridge (Route 378), right? On the Google I can see the S-curve of the trail on the west side, connecting to this. Very cool. Even though I grew up not far from there, and spent a lot of time in Troy, I'm not sure I ever saw any of these places, except for Burden Pond. (Our property bordered on the Poesten Kill) Loved seeing your photos - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #7 Posted August 18, 2014 Dang, TK! You gotta let me tag along for a ride with you some day. Great pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parr8hed Posted August 18, 2014 Share #8 Posted August 18, 2014 Worst rant I've ever read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted August 18, 2014 Your pictures and ride reports are beautiful. Have you ever thought about publishing them? I've had several people suggest I publish a book about cycling and waterfalls. But when you see the waterfall books already out there (particularly the ones by Schryver, Dunn, and Brown) those photos are so far above mine it's like night and day. Perhaps a blog, but I have no idea how to set up such a thing. For now I'm content to post my adventures on my favorite web sites, flattering myself with the thought it might create some small increase in traffic to benefit those who operate them. From the Menands Bridge (Route 378), right? On the Google I can see the S-curve of the trail on the west side, connecting to this. Very cool. Even though I grew up not far from there, and spent a lot of time in Troy, I'm not sure I ever saw any of these places, except for Burden Pond. (Our property bordered on the Poesten Kill) Loved seeing your photos - thanks! That's the one! I'd thought about stopping again at Ida Falls on the Poesten Kill but ran out of time. Dang, TK! You gotta let me tag along for a ride with you some day. Great pics! That would be great, provided you had plenty of patience! The whole ride from start to finish was about 8 hours, and at least 3-1/2 hours of that was traipsing around trying to find the falls and then getting the shots. Dragging the bike through the woods. Unless you happen to be a waterfalls crackpot you might find the whole thing rather boring. On the other hand there's a whole lot in NY to see by bike where you don't have to go through all that trouble and you will still get a sense of wonder and fascination! And lest I forget my manners, my thanks to all for the kind compliments! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 18, 2014 Are you kidding?! That sounds like great outing! Exploring is a big part of why I sold my motorcycle and switched to bicycles. I had a nifty Honda Shadow Ace, but I didn't get to see much of the scenery going 65 mph. I can see more while riding 15 mph and can get into more places with a bicycle. Thanks for sharing. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted August 18, 2014 Share #11 Posted August 18, 2014 Smudge, if you get the opportunity do ride with TK sometime. He's a strong cyclist, REALLY loves waterfalls, is a wealth of information and is courteous to a fault. But in all honesty, the single coolest thing about riding with him is his almost childlike enthusiasm and wonder at all he sees! I'm serious, it's endearing and totally infectious. If you ride with him you'll look at things with a sense if adventure and wonderment that will captivate your spirit. TK, my friend, whom you met on that ride, and I still talk about how special it was watching you enjoy some of the things here we've taken for granted. It was totally refreshing and inspiring. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopped Liver Posted August 18, 2014 Share #12 Posted August 18, 2014 Worst rant I've ever read. this! but I did like the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted August 18, 2014 Share #13 Posted August 18, 2014 TK - where is the bridge in the first photo? And what body of water is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted August 18, 2014 Share #14 Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for sharing your adventures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #15 Posted August 18, 2014 Worst rant I've ever read. See, I was confused too. I thought it was some abstract parody of the ice water challenge threads. Glad to know it was a rant! .87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #16 Posted August 18, 2014 Hmmmm...I wonder if I will see any waterfalls when I hit NYState on Sept 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted August 18, 2014 TK - where is the bridge in the first photo? And what body of water is that? You were correct - that's the Rte 378 Menands Bridge across the Hudson... Hmmmm...I wonder if I will see any waterfalls when I hit NYState on Sept 1 Here's some sites that might help you pick some you might want to see: http://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/map/ http://www.nnywaterfalls.com/ http://digthefalls.com/category/new-york-state-waterfalls-locations/ All three have maps with waterfalls marked and the first two also list falls by county. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted August 18, 2014 Share #18 Posted August 18, 2014 You were correct - that's the Rte 378 Menands Bridge across the Hudson... no, in my second post I meant the rusty old abandoned railroad bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
az_cyclist Posted August 18, 2014 Share #19 Posted August 18, 2014 great pics and ride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted August 18, 2014 no, in my second post I meant the rusty old abandoned railroad bridge. It's on the Delaware Avenue Rail Trail between Green Island (which isn't an island) and Van Shaick Island (which actually is an island). The bridge itself is locally known as the The Black Bridge. It didn't look black to me but maybe it got the name because King Arthur defeated the Black Knight there. The Mohawk River passes under the bridge to meet the Hudson. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted August 18, 2014 Share #21 Posted August 18, 2014 I always enjoy your pics and ride stories. We have stupid graffiti too. It is a sad sight, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted August 18, 2014 Share #22 Posted August 18, 2014 Green Island (which isn't an island) But the fact that it used to be an island is incredibly fascinating to me. It looks like that bridge is about a mile from Heatly High - they were one of our big HS hoops rivals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted August 18, 2014 Share #23 Posted August 18, 2014 I believe I will be seeing this little waterfall on the western side of NY.....in the city of...oh yeah Niagara I am sure I will find a few others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Karen_Cooper_Incident Posted August 18, 2014 Share #24 Posted August 18, 2014 Epic thread is epic! Couch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted August 18, 2015 Share #25 Posted August 18, 2015 Epic thread is epic! Couch Yes, it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted August 18, 2015 Share #26 Posted August 18, 2015 I was all excited that Petite was coming back to NY until I realized this was an old thread. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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