I left my hotel in the southern part of Rhode Island early in the morning for the short drive across Connecticut, a short drive through New York, and into New Jersey to the High Point State Park where New Jersey's state highpoint resides.

The drive across Connecticut was uneventful, except for being stuck for fifteen minutes in a construction zone. In New York, I stopped around 11 AM at a McDonalds for lunch. I arrived at High Point State Park at noon.

At the toll booth for entry into the state park was a big sign "Monument Closed." Another sign stated a $5 fee for entry. Well, I certainly didn't want to pay $5 if I couldn't visit the highpoint. I asked the girl taking payment what the deal was. She said the monument was being renovated and that it was closed. She stated that visitors aren't allowed near it. Well, I decided that after traveling from across the country, I could probably talk my way into the construction zone for a quick visit and photo. I paid my $5 and entered.

I followed the road up to the monument. At the parking area was I sign stating that the monumuent was closed and not to enter the short road up to it. I decided that since there wasn't a sign stating not to go up to the monument via the rocks above the road, I would do that.

I got up to the monument. Nearby was a worker eating his lunch. He told me that it was no problem to be up there, just as long as I stayed outside the fence. The fence circled the monument about 5-10 feet around it. Between the fence and the monument was scaffolding. So, it all worked out. I was able to get close enough to the monument to qualify as visiting New Jersey's highpoint. Actually the rocks next to the fence appear to be of the same elevation as the base of the monument.

After leaving the High Point State Park after my 10 minute visit, I stopped for gas. That was a shock... A full-service gas station. Well, it wasn't really full service as all they did was put gas in my car. But, they insisted on doing the pumping and seemed to panic when I reached to do it myself.

Now it was on to Connecticut.