Hike #116; Round Valley to High Bridge

 Hike #116

Hike 116

Tea Biscuit and I with our grandfather, Eldon Allen, who dropped us off for this hike.

11/23/3

 

For the next new hike, I wanted to finish the Round Valley section we had started the

previous Summer, but had to cut short because I underestimated mileage. Tea Biscuit and

I were joined by Joe Millionaire who was on the first hike here. We left Tea Biscuit’s car

in High Bridge. My grandfather dropped us off at the Round Valley Recreation Area’s

boat launch.

Beginning, Round Valley Recreation Area

Waterfront trail, Round Valley Recreation Area

Cushetunk Trail, Round Valley

The three of us made our way across a dike which separates the swimming area from the

main body of the resevoir (This dike keeps water level in the swimming area at a constant

level, and probably keeps pollutants out of the regular resevoir as well). After making our

way around a fence we followed a shore-line trail for a while. There was surprisingly still

some nice colored foliage on the trees in this area. After a bit of time on the shore we

made our way inland onto the Pine Tree Trail and probably part of the “Family Biking and

Hiking Trail” out to another boat launch or dock area. From here, we reached the west

end of the Cushetunk Trail. We walked the trail looping around the resevoir, first down

and along the shore, then uphill and through woods, along a power line, and then along

the north dam. We continued to where we had left Round Valley on the previous hike, and

continued on along the Cushetunk Trail. We made our way closer to the shoreline as the

trail became an old woods road following interesting stone rows.

cushetunk trail, Round Valley

Eventually, we came to a side trail which led us uphill into Hunterdon County’s

Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve. We then descended to the main parking lot for the

county preserve, which sits next to the former Central Railroad of NJ, now NJ Transit.

Our next route was to take the CNJ tracks to High Bridge.

Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve

Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve

We began on the tracks at a straightaway, climbing signal towers along the way. There

was also the ruins of a house to the north. It was an abnormally warm day as we headed

westward. When we reached the town of Lebanon, we decided to make our way down

from the tracks to find food. On the way, we were surprised (and delighted as I recall) to

see a woman working in her yard with a tank top.

Goofing off on the playground in Lebanon NJ

Playground in Lebanon

Lebanon Station

Lebanon Station

Approaching High Bridge on the former CNJ tracks

On the site of the former "High Bridge" in High Bridge

High Bridge station

High Bridge station

We reached the main street, and decided to walk a bit in both directions looking for food.

We found nothing. We decided to hang around outside a church in town to get refills of

water, but I don’t remember if we got any food. I do remember Tea Biscuit going inside,

however!

Next, we wandered through a field and a playground and climbed around on the

equipment on the way to find food. We found nothing and made our way back to the

tracks at Lebanon Station. There were a few beautiful old passenger cars parked here on a

siding.

We continued on, soon passing through the town of Annandale, but still did’nt see any

food. Leaving Annandale, we passed a kid that warned us that there was a mean old guy

yelling at people to get off the tracks just ahead. This made us a bit nervous, but we did’nt

see him.

Just before reaching High Bridge, we crossed a large fill where the “High Bridge” once

stood. The town was named for a large wooden trestle that once carried the CNJ over the

valley of the South Branch of the Rariton River, built in 1853. The bridge was deemed

unsafe soon and it was filled in, replaced by a stone culvert and a large fill that exists

today. We could see Tea Biscuit’s car below in the High Bridge Municipal Park.

We soon passed the High Bridge Station, and then checked out an old coal trestle as well

as the old CNJ High Bridge Branch’s beginning.

Old coal trestle

We decided to have dinner at Planet High Bridge, a bar in town. Tea Biscuit almost got

served, but apparently a cop walked in and the bartender would’nt serve him as a result.

We had a good time and left the bar after dark.

Old trestle in High Bridge

Old building seen from CNJ tracks