Hike #20; Sarepta to Washington

 Hike #20

7/21/2k

Tea Biscuit and I crossing the plank bridge over Catherine's Run in what would become Beaver Brook Wildlife Management Area.

For this time, I wanted to try the same hike I had done previously from Ramseyburg, only

this time from Sarepta north through the tunnel to the Bel Del southbound, thinking this

way would be better. Only Tea Biscuit was interested in coming.

Manunka Chunk Tunnel, south side

Former Bel Del railroad bed near Hoffman LaRoche

My grandmother again dropped us off, and we made our way along the farm access road

and across Catherine’s Run on planks.

All went well heading southbound, I can’t remember if it was this time or another time,

but we stopped to talk to an old timer who showed us a picture of the bridge that once

carried the Bel Del over Rt 46.

Along the Delaware behind Hoffman LaRoche

Old road on the north side of Belvidere

As Tea Biscuit and I edged our way along the fence inside the Roche property, we could

hear voices close to us, just over a rise. Staying quiet was near impossible as were were

walking across a bed of dead leaves. Within moments, somone looked over and saw us,

yelling “Hey!”. Though more was said, I do not know what it was, as we took off running

and sliding down the hill to the Delaware, and running along the shore as quick as we

could, sheltering ourselves as best we could in vegetation. We managed to get to the piece

of land with the many roads before anyone could find us; we made our way along the river

and out at the fence Ronald and I used the first visit. By this time, I had lost enough

weight that I could squeeze my body through the tight space between fence posts.

One of our grandfather's property marker pins in Belvidere

Old Bel Del railroad underpass in Belvidere

Tea Biscuit found sunglasses by the Pequest River in Belvidere

When we reached Belvidere, Tea Biscuit found some beat up sunglasses in the river, and

he made his proclimation after stopping for drinks at Skoogy’s, and we were off again.

Construction continued on near Hazen, and the corn had grown significantly higher since

our previous visit, as we had to make our way through the field where the L&HR line had

been farmed over. Tea Biscuit took his normal dip in the Pequest in both Belvidere and

Bridgeville, and we spent a great deal of time picking and eating wild rasberries.

Making our way through corn fields in Bridgeville vicinity

Taking a dip in the Pequest River, Bridgeville NJ

In Buttsville, we opted to walk Buttsville Road to Rt 31 instead of taking the DL&W to

shave off time.

And thus, twenty long hikes had been completed. Hiking these long sections more

regularly now than ever, there was sure to be more interesting stuff to come.

Picking berries along the former LHR railroad bed near Bridgeville

Former Lehigh and Oxford Railroad right of way bridge on Buttsville Road

Former Warren Railroad right of way just south of Oxford Tunnel