KINGSTON – The Cycle the Hudson Valley Tour on the Empire State Trail made a stop in Kingston Monday for a two-day break during a weeklong cyclist journey that explores the region.
The tour, with about 250 cyclists, left Troy Sunday and ended the day in Hudson. Monday the journey headed south to Kingston for an extended stop at the Hutton Brickyards, said Will Cote, project director for Parks & Trails New York.
“It’s a way to promote the Empire Trail system, which is the nation’s longest multi-use trail system,” he said. “It’s also to draw some awareness to pieces of the trail that to need to be further invested in and expanded to more communities and more people.”
At the Hutton Brickyards, the cyclists set up camp along the Hudson River, where they ate, heard guest speakers and were treated to a concert before exploring the region on Tuesday.
“We’re just here at our base camp for the night to enjoy a free concert,” said Cote.
The tour heads to Poughkeepsie Wednesday before landing in Camel Thursday. Following a departure Friday, the day will end in the Dobbs Ferry. Pier Two of the Brooklyn Bridge is the final destination Saturday after the departure from Dobbs Ferry.
Ray Luckenbach, of Fairfax, Va., visited the area about 30 years ago. After charging his phone at a community charging station, Luckenbach talked about why he’s riding on this weeklong tour.
“I just wanted to see the new trails they have established in the meantime,” he said. “I am looking forward getting down to the City and seeing the 9/11 memorial that I haven’t seen yet. That’s one of big attractions for me.”
