Hike #106; Tranquility to Oxford

 Hike #106

Rich and Skyler on the former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad in Pequest Wildlife Management Area

Hike 106

 

8/27/3

 

Skyler and Rich N both had a day off, and were interested in doing another hike, and so I

thought they would rather enjoy the L&HR right of way from Tranquility to Oxford, and

so we set out to follow the route I first scouted with Ronald back in 1999. We left one car

in Oxford at the Central School and the other at Tranquility Post Office.

LHR rail bed just south of Tranquility

Along former LHR rail bed, Allamuchy Twp.

Former crossing at Long Branch, LHR railroad

Former LHR railroad at the sod farms of Alphano NJ

Old beam bridge on the LHR line in Alphano NJ

Alphano sod farm

Alphano sod farm

LHR railroad right of way at Alphano

LHR railroad bed approaching Great Meadows, Pequest River bridgge

LHR railroad bed north of Great Meadows

LHR railroad bed at Great Meadows, Rt 46 overpass

The first part of the hike had some heavy weeds this time, and it appeared local farmers

had places large metal pipes over the right of way with the sole intention of inhibiting

people from passing through. This of course did not stop us. After crossing the first farm

road, with a railroad crossing sign still in place, the right of way was clear as always, but

the bugs were relentless. Probably the worst bugs I had ever encountered, we decided to

run a bit. Fortunitely, Rich came through for us as he had brought plenty of bug spray. It

worked like a charm, and we may not have been able to bear much more if it were’nt for

his thoughtful preparedness.

The right of way to the south was surprisingly more clear than usual, all the way from

Allamuchy through Long Bridge and Alphano. What had previously been badly overgrown

was now apparently used by ATVs, and so we were able to pass through. We wandered

about on the sod this time, which was too inviting not to lay upon!

We continued southwest, which was surprisingly more overgrown than it had been in the

past. The weeds were sometimes five feet tall or more! This only continued to just north

of Great Meadows where it bagan to open up more. Just before entering the town area we

could see and hear cars at the Island Dragway next to the right of way, which had been

opened up almost to the ralbed.

Skyler playing with the old telegraph wires along the LHR rail bed, Great Meadows

Abandoned LHR deck girder bridge near Great Meadows

Me using the rope swing into the Pequest in Pequest WMA

Log fallen over the Pequest River in Townsbury NJ

Former Pequest Furnace railroad bed at Pequest NJ

In Great Meadows, I don’t remember well, but I think we must have stopped for some

kind of food. I do seem to recall stopping for some beer at a liquor store just off the right

of way on Rt 46 near the Church.. Now that I think of it, I believe they had broken six

packs and such, and were selling beer at discounted prices.

We continued along the right of way, where it was overgrown until we reached Pequest

Wildlife Management Area. After entering this public land, I spotted a rope swing that I

had not previously seen, and had to try it out. As I got on it, I somehow got stuck, flung

back and crashed into the tree it was attatched to, and fell to the water. Fortunitely, I

was’nt hurt too badly. Skyler headed downstream to climb across a tree that had fallen

over the river.

The next section through Pequest was brutal, the ballast rock was killing our feet. The

relief we felt when we ascended to the Pequest Furnace railroad, with it’s lack of ballast is

indescribeable. We opted to follow the southbound connector right of way to the DL&W

line, which I had not yet followed. It was easily walkeable, with only minimal

undergrowth. The site of the rail junction was very visible.

We continued into Oxford, in a bit of pain but alright for the most part. Rich thought the

hike rather sucked as I recall, but Skyler loved it!

Multiuse trail in Oxford Twp.