#cycletourism #harlemvalleyrailtrail
New to me, but I’m a huge fan. Here in NY we have several rail trails, and the one I explored yesterday had so many highlights!
“The Harlem Valley Rail Trail connects 150,000 annual users to communities in Columbia and Dutchess County. Of the trail's 46 planned miles, 26 miles have been paved with the remaining sections in various stages of planning and development. Running through the Harlem Valley and Taconic Hills of eastern New York….
….the HVRT was built over a 19th century railroad that existed between New York City and Chatham, New York.”
I rode with a friend for the first 11 miles, between Wassaic and Millerton, a gorgeous ride through mostly farm land.
In Millerton, you find the Irondale Schoolhouse next to the trail. Note the 48 stars on the flag—before Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the union. The building itself dates to the 1850’s.
Wassaic, NY barely shows up on a map, but it used to have several businesses. Here are two historic photgraphs, which hang on the walls of a restroom in the Wassaic Project (more on that in a bit)
On one edge of town in Wassaic there are charcoal kilns, large conical outdoor “ovens” used to slowly burn hardwood and turn it into charcoal, used in the steel industry.
#wassaicNY #charcoalkilns #historicsite #harlemvalleyrailtrail
The most prominent structure in Wassaic today is the old grain elevator (those were always next to train tracks….) Today it’s an arts center. https://www.wassaicproject.org/
Well worth a visit!
a mobile is suspended from the hopper. It moves slowly in the breeze. the only sound is a conversation between Spanish-speaking workers nearby.
#wassaicproject #wassaicNY #harlemvalleyrailtrail #cycletourism
I have lots more photos but the thread is long enough already. Dozens of cyclists passed through this little hamlet just while we were there. A bakery in town is open Fri-Sun, but when we came back at the end of our trip, it had nearly sold out for the day. The current “inn” (on the site of the old one) has a lovely outdoor seating area next to a stream—very peaceful, and perfect for all kinds of event. #cycletourism is important to towns like this.
f*cking b*tch club