Snaffle

New Jersey's geo-site is the Palisades Sill, and, according to Albert Dickas' book, 101 American Geo-sites  you've gotta see, the best place to see the Palisades Sill is along Henry Hudson Drive, just north of the interstate approach to the George Washington Bridge. Within the geoscience community, this exposure is known as one of the most famous out-crops in America because of the clarity of its geologic features and its relationship to the breakup of Pangaea. Here at the Palisades Sill is a geologic panorama born of the fragmentation of a once mighty supercontinent, Pangaea, and the birthing of the now expansive Atlantic Ocean. 

A picture in the book showed a close-up of the Palisades Sill located several hundred feet north of the George Washington Bridge. However, we decided not to replicate the picture in the book because we didn't know what traffic and parking would be like so close to such a busy bridge. Instead we went on the website of the Palisades Interstate Park and decided to find the Henry  Hudson Drive that parallels both the Palisades Parkway on one side and the Hudson River on the other. 

We had noticed that there was a picnic area in the Park at exit #1 northbound on the Parkway so that was our starting point to find a good picture of the Palisades. We got off I-95 at the exit for the Palisades Parkway and proceeded to the Park. It was foggy and drizzly and no one was on the Henry Hudson Drive.  We continued for about 10 miles and came upon the Park Headquarters. There we got directions to some viewing sights. 

Park Headquarters in this beautiful stone building.  In addition to Administrative Offices, the Parkway Police and Police Court (?) were located in this building.

Joe, on the police force, helping us find some good viewing sites.

The sites he suggested were back the way we came and he suggested that we turn right off the Parkway instead of turning left, the way we had come. 

Part-way back we found this nice Palisades cliff face.

Here the Palisades are are just peaking above the trees.

There are several small picnic areas and parks along the Henry Hudson Drive.  That's a barge coming up the Hudson River.

Along Henry Hudson Drive there were several water falls.  This is the falls above the Drive...

... and the same falls below the Drive.

Towards the south end of the Drive there was a good view of the George Washington Bridge.

Panorama shot of the GWB.

One mile from the end of the Drive there was a Park and picnic area where we sat in the car and ate our lunch watching all the trucks and cars crossing the GWB.

Just south of that park the Palisades came into clear view so we showed Mr. Spock.

Those two little figures are Frederick and Mr. Spock.

The Henry Hudson Drive continued under the George Washington Bridge.  We have shown lots of pictures above various bridges, here's a view of under the GWB.

Right under the GWB.

After of geo-site adventure we drove about 15 miles to Lyndhurst, N. J., to visit my niece, Jackie. It just happened that my sister Rose was visiting from Rochester Hills, MI, for a few days.  Jackie had gotten tickets to the Jimmy Fallon Show on Wednesday night, and Rose had come out to go to the show with Jackie. Jackie, with help from Rose, cooked a great family favorite dinner and we were able to visit and engage in our favorite family ritual - playing Snaffle.

My sister Rose.

Jackie in her kitchen.

Enjoying a game of Snaffle.  We let Rose and Jackie win.