What Trump Hath Wrought (Second Day, Last Leg)

I am sure there's a sign somewhere on this trail saying "don't feed the ducks."

It didn't take us too long to find out where that ragged-looking band of kayakers had come from, as we soon walked past the second kayaking station along the Hudson trail...like the first one way up in Washington Heights, run by the city's Parks Department.

Once again, we resisted the urge to actually "take to the sea in ships," but NG did inquire about rates and dates for next year. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of these sleek little ships.

I also know we haven't seen the last of big dogs in the city.

There were many dogs (and their walkers) along our trek this day. I'm sorry, but I just can't understand having large dogs in the small apartments I know most of the people we passed must live in. I'll admit to being a small dog lover...had beagles and terriers when I was a kid...but I just don't think it fair to coop English Sheep Dogs, Greyhounds, Collies, German Shepherd's in anything short of the room Malcolm Forbes had on The Highlander (reference from my last posting, if anyone is paying attention). You could easily have fit one or two city apartments into the living space that was on that yacht. An Irish Setter or two wouldn't have felt cramped or out-of-place there.

So, we're still walking right along the Hudson, in the heart of the Upper West Side...and the people are really "stylin'" now. Probably 'cause we're strolling near one of the river walks most modern sections...and one of the most controversial. We're around 72nd Street, where "The Donald" and a cabal of Asian businessmen bought what once was a huge railroad yard and turned it into Trump Plaza. The howls of protest from the doyens and denizens of the buildings along Riverside Drive and West End Avenue that were losing their decades-old views of the mighty Hudson and New Jersey beyond were loud...but not nearly as loud as the sound of crisp, new $1,000 bills falling into the coffers of the city or the MTA or whomever owned the sprawling yards.

Now, shiny steel piers jutted out into the Hudson from here and -- can it be? A waterside cafe I've never heard of and never seen as it's more or less tucked under the West Side Highway.

A waterside cafe I've never heard of and never seen (as it's more or less tucked under the West Side Highway). Cafe at Pier 1...fascinating.

Sad to say, noshing was out of the question as we'd only finished lunch about 30 minutes before and deserts on the small menu didn't really appeal (don't get me started again about the dearth of great homemade ice cream parlors and gelaterias in our fair city). Instead, time to take a long walk down a long pier...

There was signage about "movie nights" on the pier and concerts...yes, we're definitely on the Upper West Side. However, strolling out onto the Hudson without having to resort to "walking on water" (a specialty of Upstate Annie, but she didn't want to draw attention to herself just then) was quite a treat.

At the end, we found a few fisher-people, couples canoodling, like-minded strollers resting...

...and this distinguished Latino gentleman.

He was immediately and unanimously chosen as the person to snap us at the end of the Second Section of our journey. He took a mighty fine photo.

As has become our custom, we didn't get his name, but he provided a very pleasant ending to a decidedly delightful second day of walking along the Hudson River.

Exit stage left...68th Street...to rest up for our river stroll down the next 50 or so blocks.