Hike #239 9/24/6
Group shot on the bridge abutment in Delaware
This was another memorable day, and fun to look back on. The videos taken by the crew on this one already seem so dated only four years later. I look and feel so much different, but then so many things are the same...I'm still putting together weekly group hikes. I guess that's what's important as far as these journals go. And I still have incredible friends.
Hike 239; 9/24/6
Steve, aka Moses Butterworth interviewing me
This hike would certainly be a landmark occasion, as we were followed by a film crew for inclusion in a documentary film on New Jersey called "Driving New Jersey". I had been in contact with the director, Steve Rogers, for some time now, and we had planned ahead of time to do the Warren Railroad hike, the first hike I had done in March of 1997.
At the beginning Delaware NJ along the former Warren Railroad.
Old road to Darlington's Bridge, Delaware NJ
Ascending to the former Warren Railroad above Rt 46 near the trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
View from Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Me taking pictures
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
Group shot in Delaware
The film crew in Delaware NJ
DD Film crew in Delaware
DD Film crew in Delaware
Along Rt 46 near Delaware
Former Warren Railroad near Ramseyburg
Former Warren Railroad near Ramseyburg
Former Warren Railroad near Ramseyburg with the film crew
Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Farm roads in Beaver Brook WMA
Beaver Brook WMA
Beaver Brook WMA
In Beaver Brook WMA
Beaver Brook WMA
The Director himself, in Beaver Brook Wildlife Management Area
Near Sarepta Nj
Near Sarepta NJ
Near Sarepta NJ
Near Sarepta NJ
Near Sarepta NJ
The Driving Jersey Film crew near Sarepta NJ. I was very happy to share this picture with the crew and see them use it on their website and other places. Found out not many pictures were taken of them during their travels all over NJ.
Eerie hands in Bridgeville
LOL! At the Bridgeville station
Bridgeville Station
Old creamery site in Bridgeville
Bridgeville area sand quarry
Bridgeville area sand quarry
Near the sand quarry
A kitten in Buttsville
Hot Dog Johnny's Lunch
Pequest River
Buttsville NJ
Buttsville NJ
Former rail line, now Lower Denmark Road, Oxford
In Oxford NJ tracing the old Warren Railroad right of way
Wood and hinges that once held the door on the Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Tea Biscuit making a torch at Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel
I decided not to advertise that this particular hike would be used as part of a movie, as I felt that if I did so then the character of the hike would change, and I wanted it to appear true to life in the film. In the long run, I was very happy that no one hammed it up at all more than usual with the cameras present. There were three camera operators and one sound technicion. I decided to have everyone meet at the Port Colden Mall as usual, and because I did not hear from them the night before, I thought Steve and his crew would not be coming, but to my surprise they showed up. Steve was a very nice guy who made everyone feel totally comfortable about the project, and his crew, Cindy ?, Ryan Bott, and PJ Goodwin were all equally as charismatic and easygoing. They were great company for this hike. Other than the film crew, we were also joined by my girlfriend Cathy, Tea Biscuit, Fred Hafale, Bill "Guillermo" Fabel, "Major Tom" Conroy, Laurie Ellicott, Pete Fox, Joe Tag, Dave Finton (who deserves the credit for putting me in touch with Steve to begin with!), Bill Jacobsen, and Jason Itell, and newcomers Lori Paulowski, Lindsay Hayde, and Joe Schmidt. While we waited at the PC Mall, I was being filmed for an interview with Steve, Guillermo pulled up in his car and yelled "JIHAD!" out his window loudly, which was very funny. He brought Tea Biscuit with him. We left the film crew's car in Sarepta area on Ledge Road and we shuttled north to Delaware. We decided to cut it a bit short and not walk from Portland since the "Driving Jersey" film should be all within NJ. We did decided to backtrack from where we were parked, near where the station used to be, to the trestle over the Delaware. We walked out onto it and I gave everyone the history of the area. Dave walked across and up the tracks the furthest. We hung out on the bridge a bit, then turned back to where we were parked and continued south. We passed through the Sanico disposal place, and the little pavilian we used to sit in had been removed after years of it being there! We continued up onto the bridge abutment at the end of the place, then down and across a road to get to the next piece of the right of way. We continued on to Smiddy's where we made a stop for chocolate milk. We then continued on along the right of way past my family's old homes. I continued to give the history lectures as we walked. We followed the right of way to Knowlton Road and Guillermo, Jason, PJ, Steve, Tea Biscuit, and I don't know who else continued on the right of way ahead while the rest of the group walked along Rt 46 below. The right of way in this area was clearer than it had been in the past, fortunitely. We soon reached the Shrub of Might which I knew would be interesting. I told everyone how I held the current record of 17 seconds to run to the top, and Ryan "Peeps" Short held the second place record at 19 seconds. I then decided to demonstrate how it was done, and amazingly I beat my own personal record! I ran all the way to the two trees where we usually have to get to in only 15 seconds! PJ decided to try, and I was amazed that he met my old record of 17 seconds! Peeps would have to settle for third now! We continued from here down to Ramseyburg and up to the next piece of the rail grade. The right of way was very clear from here to the Manunka Chunk Tunnel, which made this go fast. We had a good time talking to the film crew, and Tea Biscuit just came out of being hung over and was giving some great interviews. I had a wireless mic on me at all times and did'nt need the microphone boom on me. We continued to the north end of the Manunka Chunk Tunnel where we split the group. Only Cindy from the film crew as well as Tea Biscuit, Bill J, Pete, and I can't remember who else decided to go through. Steve, Ryan, and PJ went over the top with the others. We regrouped at the other side up on the farm road above Catherine's Run. Somehow they ended up going the long way around but at least came out in the correct area. We continued through the fields on the way to Upper Sarepta Road, and walked along Ledge Road because the railbed was getting far too overgrown. We did a bit more interview stuff at the little parking area before we left with a great feeling that we got an accurate account of what these hikes are like. Cathy and Joe Schmidt both cut out here as well. The rest of us continued on southbound toward Bridgeville. Pretty much everything was the same as it had been in the past through this stretch. Dave found these weird molds for making gloves along the side of the right of way and picked one up, trying to shake everyone's hand with it. Fred thinks they were used in the industry in the old station, and that these broken ones were just discarded here. The sand pit was of course different, with many more weeds growing along the right of way going into the approach to the main part of the pit. Still, we were able to cross with no problems. We continued on the right of way till we reached Hot Dog Johnny's where we descended for lunch. We each got our food and took a break at the grassy area on the banks of the Pequest. I walked out and stood in the middle of the river to cool my feet off. Coincidentally, the film crew was passing by while I was in the river, and decided to stop! I got a call on my cell phone, and it turned out it was them. I just missed the call, and while I was trying to figure out who it was, the four of them walked up on the shore, telling me they'd seen me in the middle of the river from the highway! We talked for a bit more before we headed off on our way. We climibed up to the railbed and continued walking parallel to Rt 46, onto the bit of road in Buttsville. While we passed the buildings next to the woods that used to be the mud pond (yes, it was now woods!), a little kitten walked out along the road. We picked it up an dpet it a bit before we continued on. We crossed Rt 46 and headed through Pequest Wildlife Management Area southbound to Oxford. We made a stop at one of the stores, I think, but I don't remember which, and then split up again, while Tea Biscuit, Joe, Laurie, Jason, and I'm not sure who else went through the Oxford Tunnel. Tea Biscuit made a terrific torch which helped quite a bit going through. We rejoined at the south portal and continued toward Washington. We made it back to the Port Colden Mall before sundown and Cathy shuttled drivers back to Delaware.
To see what the crew put together from this day, as well as their other great projects which have included dancers, pine barrens, seaside heights, and more, visit www.drivingjersey.com
Photography by Mike Helbing and Fred Hafale (FH) unless otherwise noted
Old Washington railroad yard at dusk.
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