Red Bank has one of the biggest fireworks displays in NJ and it draws nearly 200,000 people to this one-mile square town. Traffic and parking are hellish, but the last few years we’ve been lucky enough to be invited to a party on the river to enjoy the show. The masses of people are centered in two parks on the river, boats come from everywhere for a close-up view, and the people who live in nearby towns (like us) hope to know someone or come up with a creative solution to seeing the fireworks while avoiding the crowds. We’ve seen them from just about every vantage point along the river, but this house has a terrific view and an even nicer party, plus at least 200 or so others to mingle with.
I brought along my camera hoping to get a few pics of the show, but discovered how difficult it would be without a tripod. I have one, but wasn’t about to lug it along. Anyway, the sunset pics turned out okay for my first attempt.
We spent today trying to stay cool and decided to try som
e crabbing from one of the bridges over the river. Neither my husband or I really like to eat crab, but my mother-in-law loves it, so we go for her. It was fun and there was a nice breeze by the water most of the afternoon. For every nice-sized crab we caught, we must have thrown back at least 20 little ones. We also caught a Spider Crab, which neither of us had ever seen before – according to what I found online, they’re pretty common “walking-crabs” who are cousins of the Alaskan King Crab. Ugly things, but very docile compared to the blue claws! We were caught in a terrific thunderstorm which made me glad I didn’t bring along my camera.
There were a lot of birds 
distracting me from the crab traps – laughing gulls, egrets, terns, cormorants, and even a few black-crowned night herons along the banks of the river. Surprised to have not seen any Osprey, but for some reason there aren’t any nesting platforms along this stretch of river. As we were leaving with the tide going out, chimney swifts were chattering overhead and thunderclouds were threatening again. A nice way to spend the 4th!
Sounds lovely and looks even lovelier! This will be my first summer in five years to not get up to the East Coast, and you’re making me miss it!
This sounds like a day for the memory bank.
It’s encouraging that you can still (or, again) catch something from a river in New Jersey that is safe to eat.
I haven’t been to NJ in years (I was born there and stayed until I was 18). These photos capture quite a beautiful part of it. The sunset was lovely.
I hear you about the traffic- I spent twice as much time waiting in the traffic jam to exit a tiny town as I did watching the fireworks people were there to see!
That looks like a lovely setting for fireworks.
Bunnygirl: I’ve never been *west* much beyond Kentucky, so don’t what you all are missing, exactly. I love the ocean, couldn’t imagine not living near it, is that it?
Mojoman: NJ has a bad rap – plenty of beautiful places here.
Robin Andrea: If I remember right – you grew up in North Jersey somewhere? Did you get to “the shore” much?
Deb: Thanks for stopping by! I do love to see the fireworks on the water, wish so many others didn’t too.
I enjoyed fireworks on the water too (on Canada Day!). It’s such a pleasant perspective, seeing the reflection of the exploding lights on the water. Again, beautiful photos in your post 🙂