[Leica] Fireworks today!

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

If you want to celebrate Independence Day early, the Palisades Park
Commission 4th of July fireworks exhibition will be held TONIGHT, June 24,
on the great lawn of the Bear Mountain Park. The Palisades Park fireworks,
while not as big as the Macy's fireworks, are the only ones you can see
really close up. Perhaps only 100 yards from the firing point. Close enough
to feel the bang in your gut. The show usually starts just after dark. It's
a great photo opportunity.

The Bear Mountain State Park is on the west shore of the Hudson River, just
south of the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Hudson Highlands are incomparably
beautiful. The river cuts through the Appalachian range and the mountains
border portions of both shores. Many have called it the most picturesque
stretch of navigable waterway in the USA, rivaling the Norwegian fjords.

The Highlands themselves are the base rocks of the largest mountain range
ever to exist on the Earth. Half a billion years ago they reached up over
40,000 feet, exceeding the height of Mt. Everest by a comfortable margin.
Erosion and weathering reduced them to their present size. If you get to the
park early, there is a good road that heads up to a viewing point on 1200
ft. tall Perkins Peak. The view overlooks the field where the fireworks will
be ignited. Since most fireworks rarely reach over 600 feet, they will
explode below eye level and you can see how they would appear to a pilot of
a low flying airplane. Sort of like a big illuminated daisy.

The Bear Mountain Park is less than an hour's drive from New York City. You
can cross the George Washington Bridge and drive up the Palisades Parkway on
the west shore of the river following the signs to the Bear Mountain Bridge.
This is a beautiful, low traffic drive. Or you can drive up any of the major
highways on the east shore of the river, turning west to cross the Tappan
Zee bridge and pick up the Palisades Parkway. Finally, you could simply head
up Rt. 9 through Peekskill and cross the Bear Mountain Bridge. Rt. 9 is an
extension of Broadway in NYC. Or just pick up a map. The park is easy to
find.

Come see the fireworks. Watch some of our tax dollars going up in smoke.

Larry Z