OCA All the way!

Late addition.   Tomorrow when its warm and wet, Gravel gang is rolling up the OCA to the Croton Dam.  Then returning down the North and South County Trails.   FYI, while warmer in the afternoon this is expected to be a light rain throughout the day sort of ride so if you are afraid of melting, make the proper accommodations.   The expected accumulation is 1.7″  over the course of the day.

THIS IS AN OFFROAD RIDE TO THE DAM.  Expect Mud, rocks, leaves and all the usual dirty fun.  32c and up is recommended.

UPDATE:  There is a roadie contingent taking the county trails to the dam and riding back with the gravel gang

About the OCA Trail

During the 1830s New York City was in dire need of a fresh water supply to combat the steady rise of disease and to fight numerous fires that often engulfed large tracts of businesses and homes. After numerous proposals and an abandoned plan two years into its production, construction of an unprecedented magnitude began in 1837 under the expertise of John Bloomfield Jervis. The proposed plan called for a 41-mile aqueduct and dam to be built in order to run water from the Croton River to New York City. Three to four thousand workers, mostly Irish immigrants earning up to $1.00 per day, completed the masonry marvel in just five years. In 1842 water flowed into above-ground reservoirs located at the present sites of the New York Public Library and the Great Lawn of Central Park. Throngs of people attended the formal celebration held on October 14th and celebrated with “Croton cocktails” – a mix of Croton water and lemonade.

This 19th-century architectural achievement cost New York City approximately 13 million dollars and was believed able to provide New Yorkers with fresh water for centuries to come. The population spiraled upward at a dizzying rate, however, and the Croton Aqueduct, which was capable of carrying 100 million gallons per day, could no longer meet New York City’s needs by the early 1880s. Construction of the New Croton Aqueduct began in 1885 and water began to flow by 1890. Although no longer the sole supplier of fresh water, the Old Croton Aqueduct continued to provide water to New York City until 1965.

In 1968, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased 26.2 miles of the original 41-mile aqueduct from New York City. Presently, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park is a linear park which runs from Van Cortlandt Park at the Bronx County/City of Yonkers border to the Croton Dam in Cortlandt. In 1987 a section was reopened to supply the Town of Ossining and in 1992 the Old Croton Aqueduct was awarded National Historic Landmark Status. The scenic path over the underground aqueduct winds through urban centers and small communities. It passes near numerous historic sites, preserves, a museum highlighting the construction of the Aqueduct, and many homes. The Aqueduct’s grassy ceiling provides abundant recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. While primarily for walking and running, parts of the trail are suitable for horseback riding, biking (except during “mud season”), bird watching, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Don’t miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near this historic park

• Double Arch-a unique bridge-within-a-bridge, located in Ossining across from the Ossining Museum
• Kykuit-the Rockefeller’s estate
• New Croton Dam-an unusual spillway makes for a pretty waterfall at the state of the Croton River
• Ossining Museum-located in Ossining across from the Double Arch contains a small exhibit on the history of the Old Croton Aqueduct
• Keeper’s House-located in Dobbs Ferry, it was once the residence for the caretaker of the Aqueduct, it is the future home of the OCA’s Visitor Center
• Weir Chambers-located along the trail at various locations, they were constructed to enable Overseers and Caretakers to control the flow of water through the Aqueduct for repairs, inspections or to completely drain the line.  Also look for the ventilators that are located along the trail, constructed to ventilate the aqueduct.

https://www.traillink.com/trail/old-croton-aqueduct-trail/

https://aqueduct.org/

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