To Fort Lee and Parsippany, New Jersey- Friday, August 21, 2026

      In Scott's continuing quest to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, he didn't want to miss the important anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn this month.  We'll (hopefully) add more description and details later but here's a quick outline of how today went:

• Picked up Brian from his house
• Went to the airport for the rental car
• Stopped at the first travel plaza to try to get the right cords for the phone.
• Wanted to get to Fort Lee NJ before the visitors center closed there.  We didn't make it.  
• Got in the wrong lane and accidentally went over the George Washington Bridge to Manhattan
• Did get to Fort Lee and explored the park there.  It is on the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River, just south of the George Washington Bridge.  The fort itself is a recreation of what was here, but the original fort was started in July 1776, with a sister fort, Fort Washington, across the Hudson River.  The two forts together were meant to keep the British from sailing up the Hudson River to take Manhattan from the north.  Two British ships, The Phoenix and The Rose proved that they could get by the defenses here, though.  Ultimately, after Washington was forced to evacuate New York City, he crossed here in November.   There are some great views of Manhattan from this park, and it seems very well taken care of.  We were very sorry not to have made it in time for the visitor center, with its movie and gift shop.
• Drove a little more than a 1/2 hour to Parsippany, NJ, where our hotel is.  The hotel has got very "New Jersey vibes," if you get our meaning. 
• We had dinner in the Fuddruckers in the parking lot of the hotel.  Scott enjoyed a Buffalo chicken sandwich and would have one again if the occasion arose.  It was tasty, but messy.

     Tomorrow is the day that is most full of activities and we've got to go into Brooklyn early so we're taking it easy tonight.