[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.