Hike #293
Group at the Hartshorne Woods dock
7/15/7
My next hike would bring us back to Monmouth County to explore more of the area around the Atlantic Highlands and Sandy Hook. We met at the A&P Supermarket at 10 am in Atlantic Highlands/Navesink. David Noble kindly drove Major Tom and I there. On the way, I realized I'd forgotten my digital camera and was totally upset.
View from Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell
9-11 Memorial on Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell view
Hartshorne Woods Park
Hartshorne Woods Park
Dock in Hartshorne Woods Park
At the dock in Hartshorne Woods
Swimming in the Navesink River
A dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Dock on the Navesink
Hartshorne Woods view
View across toward Navesink from Hartshorne Woods
View in Hartshorne Woods
View from Hartshorne Woods
Old battery
Shrewsbury River
Shrewsbury River
Beach at Sandy Hook
Beach at Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
lol
Wyatt in a dress
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Swimming at Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook....the old lift bridge that was torn down
Off the Hook Restaurant
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ; Major Tom
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
At off the hook
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
At Off the Hook
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
At Off the Hook Restaurant
At the Off the Hook Restaurant
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
Off the Hook
Dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands NJ
The Tall One's hair, at Off The Hook
A toast to a great hike and great new friendships, a perfect way to finish a great hike.
When we reached the A&P, no one else had arrived yet, so we went inside and I bought a disposeable one. Soon, we were joined by John Spiridon, followed by "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Jude Shabrach, Dave "Captain Soup" Campbell, Christine "The Tall One" Roach, Jim "Uncle Soup" Campbell, and when Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews showed up everyone cheered! We also had four newcomers, Robert Carlson, Ray Cordts and his friends Christina Manley and Chris Herbig. Captain Soup brought out some beers when we were still getting organized in the parking lot, and the commoraderie led me to believe this would be a great group. Ray was roommates with Brian Rapp who'd hiked with me in the past, and he fit in immediately. We began walking from the A&P along Rt 36 looking for a new trail system heading into the woods. I could'nt find where I believed the first section to be, but we soon found a second one. The preserve was called Lenape Woods, and was very nice. We made our way over the guard rail and into what looked like an old washed out woods road. It led us up to a trail sign and intersection where we turned right. Amish Paul had decided not to do the road walk and drive his car to catch up with us at trail sections, and sure enough he turned up on the trail ahead of us! The trail led us through a little meadow and into woods heading up hill. This led us out to the intersection of Ocean Blvd and East Highland Avenue. Once there, we turned right following Highlands Ave out to a restaurant parking area where we turned left out to Ocean Blvd and some nice views over Sandy Hook. We continued on a short distance on the road to Mt. Mitchell Scenic Overlook over Sandy Hook and New York City. We took a break here and then headed down hill on the road and across Rt 36 on Navesink Ave. Navesink Ave took us to the entrance to the Hartshorne Woods Preserve, a large park situated near the Navesink River and Shrewsbury River outlets to the bay. We began walking along a trail leading into the woods, and accidently went off it bushwhacking to one of the main trails. We continued on trails as Uncle Soup led the way. Amish Paul turned up behind us yet again having found another parking area. We continued around a loop and accidently went the wrong way, and had to turn back. I had a good conversation with Ray about music and did'nt think of which way we might have been going, so I missed the turn as well. We continued back and Amish Paul directed us to where he parked, which helped us get our bearings. We turned on a road and followed it to the next trail section heading down hill and near the Navesink River, though it was just about out of sight for a ways. The trail made indirect up and down routes through the area, but soon reached a spot where we could reach the water and a nice view over the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers to Rumson. There was a terrific dock that could not be reached unless one were to either walk or ride a boat in. There was a woman sitting on a wave running that was so tanned she did'nt look caucasion. Somehow we got the idea to jump off the dock into the river. A bunch of us did it for a while, and it was a great feeling. A lot of us even tried jump flipping off into the river.
The current of the tide was bringing the water out fast, but fortunitely none of us got caught in it. After an extended break here, we continued on the trail around bay area. There was a great view over the Shrewsbury River toward Sea Bright and Navesink. Along the way, John S dropped his wallet somewhere and had to go back looking for it. The rest of us checked out a viewpoint over to Navesink and ruins of old bunkers in the vicinity. We talked to a couple of women sitting there about the hikes before we finally moved on. The trail led us through scenic woods that felt absolutely wonderful, leading out to parking areas for Hartshorne Woods. We walked Portland Road through a residential area below the Twin Lights and out to Rt 36 passing the Off The Hook bar, then across the Shrewsbury River on the Rt 36 bridge. The old bridge pier to the north of the road bridge was well visible, as were a few other piers that were usually under water, but low tied allowed them to be seen. We crossed Harshorne Drive and made our way over a sea wall to the beach walking north. We headed up as far as we could, and a girl soon stopped us telling us the section of the beach was closed because of the nesting birds known as Piping Plovers. We were able to walk the beach a bit further, but we had to cut out to the paved pathway after a bit. We were able to go back to the beach when we reached the visitor's center. Ray and John decided to leave the beach a different way than we did, and we got separated for a bit. My phone was on the fritz at this point, so I was unable to contact them for a bit. When we were finally together again, we took a break and then made our way back out to the beach. Major Tom, Mr. Buckett, and John Spriridon went into the visitor's center to get more water, and when they came out they continued walking the beach north while the rest of us went swimming. We were all in the water for a bit, and did some fun swimming in the high waves. When we noticed the others missing, I had to use Captain Soup's phone to try to get a hold of Mr. Buckett. They had gone almost as far as the nude beach section, so I told them to turn back as it was getting too late. Uncle Soup turned back a little earlier, while the rest of us waited a bit before heading back. Captain Soup and the Tall One also went back. We followed the paved path south to the end of the hook, and even when we got back to the bridge the others were still not within sight. We met Captain Soup, the Tall One, and Amish Paul at the Off the Hook place, and we all got seats. Amish Paul was good enough to drive Jude and Rob back to their cars from here, as well as retrieve everyone else but David's car, as we could catch a ride at the end with Captain Soup. Mr. Buckett, Major Tom, and John showed up soon. We all had a great time laughing and carrying on for a couple hours drinking and eating before heading home.
Group shot at the end
Photos by Christine Roach (CR) Wyatt Hassler (WH), and Mike Helbing.
1.) View of Sandy Hook from Mt Mitchell near the little restaurant on Ocean Blvd.2.) Another view of Sandy Hook3.) The Tall One on Mt Mitchell4.) The group checking out the 9/11 memorial on Mt Mitchell5.) View of Sandy Hook and NYC from Mt Mitchell6.) David and Wyatt in Harshorne Woods7.) The group taking a break near the eastern end of Harsthorne Woods8.) Captain Soup nearing a great dock on the Navesink River in Harsthorne Woods9.) The group at the dock10.) The group taking a swim at the dock where the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers come together. The tide was going out fast.11.) Jumping off the dock...I think this is Wyatt (CR)12.) Wyatt flipping off the dock13.) I think this one's Ray...(CR)14.) That's me...(CR)15.) Wyatt on the dock (CR)16.) Captain Soup jumping (CR)17.) Ray (CR)18.) Major Tom (CR)19.) Wyatt can fly! (CR)20.) This would be Wyatt flopping (CR)21.) View toward Navesink on the Shrewsbury River22.) View across the Shrewsbury from Harsthorne Woods (CR)23.) Obscured view of the joining of Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers24.) Looking across the Shrewsbury River from Harsthorne Woods25.) An old bunker in Hartshorne Woods26.) View of the Shrewsbury River from the bridge on Rt 36 (CR)27.) View down the Shrewsbury River with Navesink River to the right (CR)28.) Looking north on the beach at Sandy Hook's southern end (CR)29.) The group making their way onto the beach30.) Here we are at the bottom of Sandy Hook (CR)31.) Stopping for a break on the beach, I'm flexing (CR)32.) Me flexing on the beach (CR)33.) David took this one...I'm not even going to comment (DN)34.) Wyatt in the Tall One's dress....AAAAAH! (CR)35-36.) Here I am doing a bridge on the beach, followed by Wyatt Karate chopping me (CR)37.) Wyatt, Captain Soup, me, and Ray swimming in the ocean (CR)38-39.) The Shrewsbury River Bridge opening up for a boat to pass beneath
The remainder of the pictures are taken by the Tall One during dinner at "Off The Hook" in Highlands.40.) Captain Soup and David at "Off The Hook"41.) Mr. Buckett and Ray42.) Me with Wyatt43.) Major Tom...looking kind of like Springsteen...44.) That's me45-46.) The entire group47.) The group at dinner48.) Wyatt49.) Me50.) David51.) More of the group52.) David53-54.) Wyatt55.) Mr. Buckett56-58.) The Tall One59.) Chris60.) Christina and David61.) The Tall One62.) Captain Soup63-64.) Did you note that the Tall One cut her hair?65.) The way you end a hike
This hike will now always hold a different meaning for me, since we've just lost our dear friend Christina. She was such a sweet person, honest and true to herself, a quality I always respected in her.
Always hang onto the good times. We'd had so many, and it's sad to think yet another wonderful character will be missing from the pallet of colorful characters that have made these group trips so unique.
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