[Bill Menke's Journal for September 12, 2007] Yesterday's heavy rain has been
followed by a clear sky and vey clean, crisp air. I park at the Alpine Boat
Basin and walk south on the Shore Trail, which is at river level. The sky
is blue and the cliffs of the Hudson Palisades are very vivid. I can see
the George Washinton Bridge to the south and the buildings of the Yonkers
waterfront to the east, including a curious big blue cube that juts out into
the Hudson River. I walk past the picnic tables of the Boat Basin and then
through the woods at the base of the cliffs. The plant life is luxurious
this year, even though the late summer has been rather dry. Honeysuckle
abounds. as does other vines (unfortunately including poison ivy). I pass
a rather large variety of old stonework, built by the CCC back in the 1930's,
I guess, but still holding up pretty well. The river is rather calm, but
on occasion, the wake of a passing boat throws up spray as it hits the
stones along the shore. I pass the Huyler's Landing Trail, which allows
one to connect to both Henry Hudson Drive, a paved road at the top of the
sedimentary skirt of the Palisades, and the Long Path at the top of the
much steeper basaltic part. I plan to walk the drive on the way back.
After a few minutes I reach Greenbrook Falls, my destination. The falls
have some water. They may well have been dry prior to yesterday's rain.
I spend a few minutes admiring the cascades and the still pools at the
base of the falls, which reflect the trees above. I then head back, taking
the Landing Trail up to Henry Hudson Drive. There are many beautiful
vines and flowers growing along the edge of the road. Several bicyclists
pass me. I return to the Alpine Boat Basin, first walking by the many
boats, and then by the Kearney House, an old building said to date from
the 1760's. A very large boulder stands near the house - a near miss
that fell from the cliff on April 18, 1986. Several more recent park
buildings, all with beautiful CCC-era stonework, are near the Kearney
House. I examine the cliffs as I walk back to the car. Several yellow
striped indicate more recent rockfalls, but I guess that none of the
debris reached the area of the Boat Basin. Two hours,, overall.