Hike #14; Portland to Washington

 Hike #14: 5/10/2K

Ronald and I on the old Warren Railroad bed south of Manunka Chunk Tunnel.

5/10/2k

 

Beginning, Colombia NJ

With a day off during the week, and Cathy working as Floral manager at Shop Rite, I

decided to see who might want to take a hike. Ron Short was once again available, so for

this spur of the moment thing I had my grandmother drop us off in Colombia. She gave us

five dollas, as she would every time she dropped us off, for some food and drinks.

With a superb walking pace, Ron and I made good time heading south, and having

ascended to the Bush of Might twice now, Ron had mastered it. He even was able to surf

his way back down the shale very fast withough having to touch his hands to the ground!

I recall that sometimes when we stopped for breaks, on all the early hikes actually, Ron

would put a bit of lemon in his hair to give it hilights. I remember him getting me to try it

too, but I don’t remember it working much.

Ron on the tracks in Portland PA

On Delaware Trestle

Ron could always just skate down the shale cliff at the Shrub of Might

In Manunka Chunk Tunnel

Rails still in place in Manunka Chunk Tunnel

In Manunka Chunk Tunnel

Just south of the Manunka Chunk tunnel, the weeds had begun to grow in a canopy over

the stream, which made it tougher to pass through. In addition, returning to the right of

way beyond the sand pit grew increasingly difficult.

South of Manunka Chunk Tunnel

South of Manunka Chunk Tunnel

South of Manunka Chunk tunnel

Bridgeville's sand quarry as it slowly consumed the Warren Railroad bed

When we reached Buttsville, I in my wreckless happy daze, walked into oncoming traffic

on Rt 46, and Ron put his hand out and stopped me from surely being run over.

Warren Railroad bed in Pequest WMA

Warren Railroad bed in the cut north of Oxford Tunnel

I found my old shoes at Oxford Tunnel and put them on a concrete shelf inside where they resided for years

Oxford Tunnel

Oxford Tunnel

Raft in Oxford Tunnel

This time, Ronald decided to pass through the Oxford Tunnel with me. I found my shoes

from the last time, and moved them to a safer spot alongside the tunnel mouth. We had

finished in about six hours, and I had plenty of time to meet Cathy when she got out of

work at 5:30. However, I grew weary of repeating the same hike over and over; it was

time for something new.

Tunnel in the wall within Oxford Tunnel

I wish Ronald were still with us today to share his memories of this hike. Still, I think

back at the times we we spent together, like this hike, with fond memories.