Hike #143; Upper Delaware Canal

 Hike #143

Hike 143

The group at the end point, northern terminus of Delaware Canal and eastern terminus of Lehigh Canal

8/15/4

 

For my next hike, I decided to re-do the upper Delaware Canal hike I had done with Tea

Biscuit the previous March with a larger AMC group. We met at the northern end of the

Delaware Canal at the parking lot where the Lehigh and Delaware Canals met in Easton.

Morris Canal also had a connection from directly across the Delaware from here.

Along the Delaware Canal around Upper Black Eddy PA

Delaware Canal at Nockamixon Cliffs

Delaware Canal towpath south of Rieglesville

Delaware Canal Towpath near Rieglesville PA

Delaware Canal near Rieglesville

Delaware Canal, Rieglesville PA

Snapping Turtle below the Delaware Canal

Snapping Turtle below the Delaware Canal

Delaware Canal just south of Easton

Delaware Canal just south of Easton

Joining this time were hike veterans Cathy, as well as John Spiridon. We also had

newcomers Jim ?, Joe ?, Tim Wood, Paola ?, and Dale Brandreth.

Dale was particularly interesting; he was 74 years old, the top mileage hiker in the

Delaware Valley chapter of the AMC, and he hiked in crappy old sneakers much like I do!

I found that I got along with him well, and found it inspiring that I could still do these hikes

when and if I reach that age.

We headed down to Lodi, at the park office where we started walking. We talked to Jim

and Tim a bit about film making, which they are very involved in. One of them had even

done newscasting in Philly. I recall Joe being in a hurry to get back, but he ended up

staying with the group the entire time, so I guess he had fun!

The canal was particularly beautiful this time; the clear day made it very reflective. John

was picking corn on the cobb out of the fields along the canal and eating it raw! He would

go on to earn quite a reputation for his eating habits!

Everyone was getting quite hungry, and the little mini mart in Rieglesville near the site of

Durham Furnace was not enough to hold everyone off, so we walked toward the

Rieglesville Bridge and stopped in the bar and grill there so everyone could have a bite to

eat. We must have taken a good hour there, and I had a beer.

After getting back on the towpath, Dale shot way ahead, keeping a fast pace. We still made

it back to the parking area in Easton in reasonable time considering we stopped for so

long!