On August 7th we drove  to Sylvan Lake Park in Hopewell Junction where our camping life began 50 some odd years ago. Debby and I used to join friends   who on the weekends drove from NY City some 60 miles to Sylvan lake beach park every Saturday and Sunday. When our children were born it became impossible to get out of the house and go almost anywhere. At the same time some people convinced the park owner to allow people to set up tents on the hill behind the lake and I convinced Debby to try it with a tent we borrowed from my brother. Much to her dismay she liked it
the first tenting areaDebby, Richard and Michael in August 1971 at Sylvan Lake

We bought our own tent and have been camping ever since. First in the tent then a pop up camper and now a fifth wheel.
Sylvan Lake Beach Park 
The same family still owns the property which is now only a  campground and not a beach park. Access to the beach and lake is now reserved for campers. the building at the end of the road is the old concession stand and public bathrooms. To the left is a small hill leading to a flat area thta used to be a parking lot and is now used for full hook up camping. While neither of us remembered that the  parking lot was here

old parking lot now camping area

but  other areas did look familiar to us.

unchanged Old beach front except for missing peopleDebby at Sylvan Lake 1972
That's the same tree and the beach now a boat launch

Boat Launch

Back then there was a children's area in the lake
Richard at Sylvan lake 1970 or 72Michael at Sylvan lsake 1972

Michael flying at Sylvan Lake

New Beach SignBeach
The New Beach
Expanded camping area where we camped
Where we eventually camped after our first camping experience to get away from noisy neighbors like my brother and his friends

There are several rail trials in the area so we walked on the trails, visited and went to dinner and breakfast with friends while we were  there.

Hudson Riveralong the water's edge

Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park, Beacon, N.Y.

Along the Waters edgeRail Trail
Klara Sauer Trail

JunctionRail Trail

Dennings Point Trail and William RE Steinhaus Duchess Rail Trail

Dutchess County Rail Rtrail hopewll Junction StationHopewell Junction station

William RE Steinhaus Duchess Rail Trail Hopewell Junction Station

Empire State TrailDuches County Rail trail

Now all part of the Empire State Trail



On August 11th we returned to Croton on Hudson where we remained until September 28th.