Hudson River Treasures

Kayaks paddling in to escort the River Swimmers  -Anne Drennen 2006

The Great Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim

by Anne Drennen

Pete Seeger singin’ “This Land Is Your Land”~ Newburgh Waterfront —-Anne Drennen. 2006

Pete Seeger’s at it again;
he and his his cronies at the Beacon Sloop Club,
not content to just continue in their tireless efforts
to clean up and save our beautiful Hudson River,
have come up with yet another unique way
for Mid~Hudson Valley residents,
as well as visitors, to further utilize and enjoy it ~
River Pool At Beacon.
The prototype, a 20′ wading pool structure, is
designed to float in the River, partially submerged,
allowing the River water to flow through.
It will be located just off the North shore of Riverfront Park
in Beacon. Visit their Web Site ~ riverpool.org for
a complete description and to contribute financially
and/or get involved. To help raise funds for this project,

River Pool banner ~ Newburgh, NY  —Anne Drennen 2006

River Pool presented the
“3rd Annual Great Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim”
on Sunday, July 30, 2006. Sponsored swimmers,
some backed by online pledges, and others
with old~fashioned paper checks in hand,
lined up ready to take the plunge at the
scheduled 11:30 am “Splash Off”.

River swimmers line up on Newburgh side for the “Splash Off” -–Anne Drennen 2006

After a briefing on safety,
including; how to get help from their kayaking escorts,
if needed, some general instructions, and a lesson
on the River’s changing currents, etc., over one hundred fifty
athletes with handwritten numbers on their arms,
and high tech bracelets on their ankles,
donned brightly colored caps and hopped into the Hudson
for the one mile swim across to Beacon.

Swimmers preparing to hit the docks—-Anne Drennen. 2006

I was there strictly as an observer, document-er,
and proud parent, happy to live the experience vicariously
through my thirteen year old son
while enthusiastically cheering him on,
feet planted firmly on the water’s edge.

rocks on shore ~ Hudson River, Newburgh, NY —Anne Drennen 2006

As I stood there safely on the shore,
watching a little kid from Ulster County
and senior citizens standing in line
waiting to swim, naturally, I felt a bit like a wimp.
Perhaps next year, if they hold the
“4th Annual Great Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim”
you might catch a glimpse of a sunglass-goggled,
wetsuit-clad, underwater-digital-camera-totin’, photographer
doggy paddlin’ across the River toward the back….

☼ This is an article I wrote in 2006 for my web site Hudson River Post,
soon to be reborn!