My Reach: A Hudson River Memoir

237 Pages·2011·1.171 MB·English

by  Susan Fox Rogers

MY REACH

MY REACH
a hudson river memoir
SUSAN FOX ROGERS
cornell university press
ithaca and london
This publication was made possible, in part, through the generous support
of a Faculty Research Grant from Bard College.
Copyright © 2011 by Cornell University
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or
parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in
writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University
Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850.
First published 2011 by Cornell University Press
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rogers, Susan Fox.
My reach: a Hudson River memoir/Susan Fox Rogers.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8014-5007-5 (cloth: alk. paper)
1. Hudson River (N.Y. and N.J.)—Description and
travel. 2. Rogers, Susan Fox—Travel—Hudson River
(N.Y. and N.J.) I. Title.
F127.H8R64 2011
974.7’3—dc22 2011012919
Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible
suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of
its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and
acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed
of nonwood fi bers. For further information, visit our website at www.
cornellpress.cornell.edu.
Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is dedicated with love to the
memory of my parents,
Jacqueline and Thomas Rogers

contents
A Note to the Reader ix
1. What Lingers 1
2. My Reach 7
3. Swimming the Hudson 19
4. Courage 29
5. Home 51
6. A Life in a Boat 65
7. The Lost Dunes of Childhood 73
8. The Speed of Wind and Water 79
9. I’m Glad You Are Here 91
10. The Long Loneliness 97
11. Solace 105
viii ◊ Contents
12. Learning the River 115
13. If You Are Lucky 127
14. Fishing 139
15. Circling the City 145
16. Nubian Goats 157
17. Sturgeon Moon 163
18. Sitting by the River 169
19. Golden Club 179
20. Grave Sites 187
21. Summer Solstice 197
22. Love for a River 209
Books Consulted 217
Acknowledgments 221
a note to the reader
This book chronicles my time on the Hudson River from the fall
of 2004 to the summer of 2007. I paddled with many people and
met others on the river; some names have been changed in this narra-
tive. Many aspects of the river have altered since my writing—graffi ti
has been painted over; crumbling houses have been renovated or torn
down; secret spots where I camped are now posted with No Trespass-
ing signs; and ragged landings have been redone with picnic tables.
I have left details as I saw and experienced them. I feel that these
changes are part of the beauty of the river.
Environmental issues touched on in this story—in particular the
cleanup of PCBs and the regulation of Indian Point—continue to evolve.
General Electric began dredging in the spring of 2009 and then stopped
its efforts in the summer of 2010 as high levels of PCBs were detected
downstream. The conversation about what will happen next is active.
There is much I have left out—the range of the Hudson is such
that I could offer only a slice of history and natural history. I have
worked to be as accurate as possible. Any mistakes are my own.
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