Thursday, February 3, 2022

Hike #19; Portland to Washington

 Hike #19

Group shot at the beginning of our hike, Colombia NJ

7/10/2k

 

On the tracks in Portland PA

While working at A&P, I met a young guy named Brian McKenna, an odd character

whose complete lack of social skills yet charming personality led me to befriend him. I

gave him the name “Moo Moo”, as one day I ‘moo’ed at him every time he went by me,

and he thought I was ‘boo’ing him, and asked me why. It was somehow funny at the time

so I decided to call him Moo Moo. We would say “How big is Moo Moo?”, to which he

would reply in a pseudo kiddie voice “Sooo Big” holding out his arms as far as he could. I

knew I had to get this guy out on a hike, and what better hike than the one from Portland?

Tea Biscuit also agreed to join us once again. We picked up Moo Moo at his house, which

was the old house on the corner of Newburg Road and Rt 57 in Mansfield, demolished in

2005 in favor of a new Wallgreens Pharmacy.

Delaware trestle

Making our way up the rail bed from Ramseyburg

Climbing to the future cell tower site

Trying our luck at the Shrub of Might

Cave in spot in Manunka Chunk Tunnel

In Manunka Chunk Tunnel

Moo Moo and Tea Biscuit in the collapsed side of the Manunka Chunk Tunnel.

Manunk Chunk Tunnel

Connector hole in Manunka Chunk Tunnel that leads to the other tunnel

South side of Manunka Chunk Tunnel

South side of the Manunka Chunk Tunnel

Taking a dip in Catherine's Run near Manunka Chunk Tunnel

Walking in Catherine's Run along the former Warren Railroad right of way

Former Warren Railroad right of way where Catherine's run spills into it

Moo Moo picks up a deer spine that had rotted away since our previous visit

Crossing Catherine's Run on the plank bridge, now very overgrown

In the fields near the south end of Manunka Chunk Tunnel

My grandmother once again dropped us off, and through the entire hike his energy level

kept us entertained. His actions would sometimes even gross us out, as he carried around

the spine of a deer we had found dead on a previous trip.

Crossing sand quarry area near Bridgeville

Sand quarry near Bridgeville

Moo Moo almost fell badly into the sand pit

Tea Biscuit found a frog

It was an extremely hot day, and Tea Biscuit took a dip in Catherine’s Run.

Crossing the sand pit was getting more difficult every trip; now steep embankments were

piled high, with the ground cut out all the way across. We had to be careful not to slip to a

long fall.

The old house in Oxford Township had apparently been burnt down.

As we made our way into Oxford Twp., we were devastated when we saw the old yellow

farmhouse had been destroyed, apparently be fire. It is reported that the fire department

intentionally burnt it down. As I recall, when I was very young the house was still in use.

Now all that remained was a pile of rubble and the barns.

Nearing the north end of Oxford Tunnel

These are my shoes up on the wall in Oxford Tunnel

The Oxford Tunnel felt colder than ever, probably because of the extreme temperature

difference.

We again had made good time, and had recruited yet another hiker.

 

Here are the pictures taken on that day...

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