RNR wrote:

My question is this: is it unreasonable (or unsafe) to consider flying
over the New York Bravo? That would make my trip much more direct.

Quite reasonable -- I've done it a few times. Another solution is to fly up the
Hudson at 900' to just past the northern tip of Manhattan island, climb to
1,400', turn right, and fly along the northern shore of Long Island sound.
That's the way I went up the last time I flew up there.

Personally, I would approach Newark airspace at something like 2500' or more and
contact Newark ATC as soon as practical. Try to get clearance through the
class-B (can't hurt). If that's denied, I would drop down and shoot the Hudson
corridor.

You can also stay under the B and skirt the southern shore of Long Island for a
very direct route, but you'll have a fair amount of water to cross if you go
that way.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.