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Published: January 29th 2007
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Confetti
Ahh at last 2007 is here! The confetti was cool. Also some people threw toilet paper out the window and that was fun to watch as it floated between the skyscrapers. Left Carlyle, IL on December 29, 2006 about 5 hours later than planned, but I wasn't concerned. Time is on my side these days. I guess the Times Square Ball drop however, is somewhat of a deadline. Surely though if I happen to make it there a little late they will wait for me before dropping the ball?
Made it to Columbus, Ohio around 9:00 pm and headed for the Alum Creek Campground. Upon arrival however, the Park was closed for the season. I know I had read it was open year round. Not sure what was going on, but I did know I was not staying at the Alum Creek Campground that night. As I went back to the interstate I noticed a Flying J truck stop. I decided to spend the night there.
I got up early the next morning December 30, 2006 to make the final push into Jersey. I arrived in Jersey around 7:00 PM and after searching several locations for cheap lodging I settled on a hotel. Got up early the next morning and headed to the Peapack Train Station. I selected this station on the outskirts of Jersey, because I thought it would
The Revelers
A look down Broadway from my spot, which required a little pushing and shoving to maintain! be less hassel and less congested. There was only one other person there. It definetly was not congested. It was probably a little bit overkill, staying that far out, but things were working just fine. The Peapack Train made it into Pennsylvania Station, or more commonly known as Penn Station, around 11:00 AM. I headed directly to Times Square to see what things looked like at this point. There were a few people gathering and a few folks had spent the night to insure a good spot. I then decided to head to Rockefellar Center. The Christmas tree there was amazing. Biggest tree I have ever seen. Lots of ice skaters and long lines to skate. I took a few pics and decided I better get back to Time Square.
Still the crowds were not too bad so I decided to have a beer around 2 pm. First beer of the trip. At around 3 the crowds were still not to bad so I used the restroom one last time. After doing that, I began to walk back to my spot where I learned the NYPD had blocked off several streets, while I was gone so I had to
Behind Me
A look behind me down Broadway. walk away from the ball drop location for an open street to get down to Broadway. I ended up about 3 blocks away from the Waterford Crystal Ball. The crowds had gotten ridiculous between 3 and 4. To get onto Broadway you had to go through a security check point. The pushing and shoving was a little trying at times and I heard a child cry as she had gottern scared of the crowd. Once you got through the checkpoint you could walk down Broadway until you ran into the crowds. You then stood in that one spot for 8 hours waiting for the "Ball" to drop. After about 6 hours it became a "Damn Ball". Adjacent to me I had a family from Colorado, a family from California, two women from England, two guys from Australia, a couple from Jersey, a man from Asia, a man from New York and then their was a man from Carlyle (me). I was positioned directly under the secondary stage. Lesser known bands played on that stage. At times people threw toilet paper from the sky scrapers above. It was neat watching the paper stream between the buildings. The wind currents really jostled
Peapack Train Station
My transportation to NYC. it around. On each hour the Jumbo Tron like screen would count down to the new year in another crowd. The Times Square crowd would count down and then yell when it reached the hour. We had gotten pretty good at doing the count down and were ready for the real thing!
Hats and souveniors were passed out to the crowd as the hour grew near. All in all the crowd was well behaved throughout the whole night. At 12 the confetti was released and a few people danced in the streets, but most of the crowd was simply spent and ready to get out of there! I headed to Penn Station as did 1,000's of other people. I got on a train around 1:30 and made it back to Peapack around 4 am. On the train the conductor would announce loudly and multiple times the stops. Occasionally he would say Happy New Year! He did this to make sure the revelers would not miss their stop. It was funny and one of those situations, where you just had to be there. I got off the train and headed for my truck, where I spent the night. The rain
Big Bulbs
I would like to see the Christmas tree that these bulbs go on! was just starting which made for great sleeping.
Times Square New Years was a neat experience. I would do it again if someone else wanted to, but I will probably not do it just for myself again.
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Little sista
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Awesome Dave
This is really cool... you better keep up with it through the whole trip.... You had also still be calling... :) have a great next couple days!