Hike #158; Delaware and Raritan Canal; Trenton to Fireman's Eddy

 Hike #158

On the D&R Canal in Trenton

12/12/4

 

 For my next trip, I was itching to do another new section. I planned on leading the next section of the Delaware and Rariton Canal, along with the Bel Del Railroad from the Trenton area north to Lambertville. I assumed we would be safest walking through the center of Trenton in the morning hours of the day during the winter, and intentionally planned the hike accordingly.

My car at Fireman's Eddy

Along the Delaware and Raritan Canal near Carnegie Road, Trenton

 The meeting place was the endpoint, Fireman’s Eddy, where we had finished the hike to Lambertville previously. I drove down to the river first to have a look at the recent flood damage, and had to navigate around large branches washed ashore. I managed to get the Camaro around it anyway.  As participants began to show up, I was delighted to find that one of my many goals over the years had come to be. Every week I send out a regular newsletter regarding the upcoming hike, and many times it will include meeting time and place. I hardly ever had anyone show up unannounced for a hike, but today both Tom Olsen from the previous hike as well as Ellen Pasquali showed up without even telling me! I was quite happy. Also joining were past participants Gerry Martiniak and Margo Pellegrino, who was by this time about 8 months pregnant! She was wearing a backwards weight belt to hold her bit belly in place. She’s quite extraordinary! Also joining were newcomers John ?, and Leonard Adam. Margo new the route to the beginning point, so she helped with the shuttle to Carnegie Road, just off of Rt 1 in Trenton. Where we began walking, the canal was much larger than the feeder canal sections I had previously walked; the feeder canal is only fifty feet wide, while the main canal from Trenton to New Brunswick is seventy-five feet. We began walking, and I could feel right away that Len Adam was the kind of guy who would fit in great on my hikes, as he was laughing and kept such a great high energy level. The canal was easy to walk and rather nice for some time, but soon Rt 1 was built over top of it with crossing I-Beams. The path continued for a bit, until Mulberry Street where it abruptly ended. There were a couple seriously dangerous road crossing along the way, which surprised me. We headed up Mulberry Street to I believe New York Street and walked parallel to the canal’s location. There were a couple stores along the way we went in for refreshments. This was a bit unnerving as we were in the middle of a ghetto area.

Former railroad bed, now state park in Trenton

D&R Canal in Trenton

Margo, fearless as always began ripping into one of the clerks because of the lack of soap in their restroom, asking how employees were to wash their hands let alone customers. They did finally retrieve soap as I recall! We continued on the streets, soon turning right out to what was probably Brunswick Ave/Rt 206, then made our way down a dead end street where we found a Delaware and Rariton Canal State Park sign on an abandoned railroad right of way. I do not know if this was the Bel Del right of way, or another railroad, but the right of way took us to the next section of the canal at the site of a rail junction. I assume if we were not on the Bel Del already, we probably were now. The rail right of way and canal diverged once again just ahead. We walked northbound along a beautiful section of the canal, all preserved through the city. Some of the towpath trail was paved.  We had to switch back and forth from each side of the canal, as it was unclear which way was the correct route, and I had to scout ahead a few times to set us on the right path. As we headed north, soon the Bel Del Railroad right of way rejoined from the east. We continued north on a high fill for the canal, and decided to climb down at an aqueduct to a mini mart. I got some junk food in what was still a somewhat rough neighborhood, and when I was approached by a large, dangerous looking black man I could never have been prepared for the conversation I was about to have..... The man told he would not drink the milk because they put Pork in it. I was taken back by this, and slightly amused enough to egg him on to tell me more. He complained about them “Puttin’ that pork in the milk” a bit more, but then surprisingly went on to add in a very calm and educated sounding voice how enzymes from pork meat had been uitilized in dairy products to lengthen the shelf life! He explained how long the cartons of milk should really last, and the effects of the enzyme before I finally headed on my way! As I recall, Gerry and Tom headed up far ahead during my break, and it took some time to catch up with them.

Old railroad spur bridge along the D&R Canal

Bowmans Hill tower from the D&R Canal

D&R Canal just south of Fireman's Eddy

We continued north through Scudders Falls, Washington’s Crossing, and Titusville. I read interpretive signs along the way returning to Firemans’ Eddy. This was the furthest continueous section south I had completed to date, and I was very happy to have completed this one!

 

PICS! I used my old Canon Sure Shot Owl on this one because I was afraid to bring my Minolta through the Ghettos of Trenton.