#sol2014 Walkway Over the Hudson Edition

We sat and watched,

Longer than we had planned,

Looking up through the maze of steel,

Watching cotton puffs that filled the sky,

Drift ever so slowly past

The old rail bridge spanning the Hudson.  

 We focused on the glass box,

It groaned under the stress of bikes and people,

Then it crept up and down those cables,

Ever so slowly.

Smiling people loading and unloading.

"Wanna try it?" he asked.

We entered slowly, cautiously,

Doors locked, the ascent began,

Past strong legs 

Planted in the Hudson,

Long ago transporting trains,

Connecting people.

 We went 21 stories in 90 seconds.

Right into those puffy clouds.

Emerging victorious

As if we had 

Conquered 

The biggest roller coaster on the Boardwalk

 Some worried when they talked of 

Restoring the old rail bridge.

"The costs, the risks, the dangers," 

They predicted.

 "The views, the history, the exercise,"

Is what we have.

Perfect for walkers, bikers, hikers, 

Accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, 

Entertainment for the young and old,

Available to the rich and the poor,

A magical, surreal Slice of Life

In the Hudson Valley

Walkway Over the Hudson State Park

 http://hikethehudsonvalley.com/walkway-over-the-hudsonhttps://www.facebook.com/walkwayoverthehudson

• The first train crossed Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge in 1888. 
• At the time, it was the longest bridge in North America.
• It was the first bridge across the Hudson River between Albany and New York.
• It carried freight trains and people, including students and shoppers from New Paltz to Poughkeepsie's famed Lucky Platt’s!
• During World War II the bridge was painted black to make it less visible in the event of an attack. 
• The fire that destroyed the tracks was probably started by a spark from a train’s brakes on May 8, 1974.  

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