Hike #467; Seaside Heights to Lakehurst

 Hike #467 1/31/10

1/31/10 Seaside Heights to Lakehurst with Jillane Becker, Kyle Zalinsky, Rich and Eric Pace, "Amish Paul" Hassler, Ron Phelps, Bernie Lieberman, Wayne Meiner, Shelly Janes, Carol Creamer, Amanda Rosenblatt, "DJ Ray" Cordts, and Jeannie Amon.

Group shot at 7-11 in Toms River

The original journal to this one was lost, let me know if one of ya's has it!

For this next hike my plan was to head west from Seaside Heights to Lakehurst mostly following an old rail bed. We met at the McDonalds in Lakehurst and shuttled cars to Toms River area on the west side of the Thomas Mathis Bridge over the bay. Kyle and I had planned on running across it at the beginning of the summer but never got to it, so this time we would. The rest of the group parked on the west side but Kyle and I went to the east side while the rest of the group got together. We walked from the parking lot we used on the previous hike to the bridge, and we didn't see any signs on that side that said no pedestrians, so across we went on the narrow walkway. We ran for a bit but realized soon that no one was going to bother us so we just took in the sights and acted like idiots for a bit.

Kyle on the Thomas Mathis Bridge

As we walked across the bridge we could see Rich was heading across from the other side to meet us along the way. In retrospect I should've brought the entire group over. Oh well.

On Thomas Mathis Bridge looking toward Toms River NJ

When we got to the other side we found that a cop had stopped and questioned the group as to what we were doing...again. Happens a lot.

We followed Rt 37 west to Fischer Ave and turned south to the waterfront and then went right on Bayshore Drive, then left on McKinley which took us to a little circle. We went south on Riverside and walked along the waterfront for a bit which was really nice. Carol brought her dog Bruce on this one for the first time I think, just a little puppy, and it was cold and he tired easily so we carried him in the backpack for a bit. Kyle carried him for the longest time I think.

Kyle carrying Bruce near Gilford Park NJ

I think we ended up walking Garfield St, McKinley, Parkside, Chadwick, and Elizebeth Ave to the west from there. We headed south at Central Ave back out to the waterfront passing by some nice old victorian houses. Once we got out to the water as I recall we went out onto a long wide dock and took a nice break.

On a dock in Island Heights NJ

It was beautiful, but so cold that the water around the outside of the docks was freezing despite the fact that it was salt water. We walked from here along the waterfront westbound through Island Heights. We had to turn back inland from the nice section that even had a little boardwalk on River Ave to West End Street north, then left on Whittier Ave. We soon came to a swath of woods on the left hand side, our next turn off.

An abandoned road as it seemed went left through this public piece of woods, and so we followed that for a while down through a dip. There were rope swings along the way, but they didn't lead into any water or anywhere that ever seemed would get wet at all. Still, we had fun swinging around, and there was even a tire swing!

Tire swing in Island Heights NJ

We continued on this path which took us out to Haines Road...we then walked Washington Ave west for quite a while. I think we turned left at Dock Street to get back by the watefront. We then followed Water Street right along the watefront into Toms River. We passed a sunken boat along the way just before reaching a little mowed park area where the river itself narrowed to a more normal size and not a bay.

Along Water Street approaching Toms River NJ

We crossed a main street and then came to a 7-11 where we had some snacks or a lunch or something, took a long break. After the break we headed down I think Herflicker Blvd to the abandoned railroad right of way that went west of of town. Rich, Kyle, and I found exactly where it went and led the way across a small street then under Garden State Parkway via a culvert. We walked ahead and soon reached a missing bridge site over the Toms River. It was far and deep, no wading possible. I knew ahead of time we'd either have to walk around or take this crazy pipeline to the south of the rail bed. The pipe looked much smaller in person than it was on the areal images!

Most of the group definitely didn't want to chance crossing. It was slippery and would've been extremely bad if we fell in. Most of the group Rich led around to the north while Kyle, Ron, DJ Ray, and I opted to try to cross the crazy pipe line.

On the pipeline over Toms River, Toms River NJ

Shortly after we were all across, we were surprized to see Amanda come not far behind us! I didn't have glasses or anything so I couldn't see well, and the way she was moving I was afraid it was Bernie at first. Amanda looked unsteady but she made it.

Crossing the crazy pipe line across Toms River NJ

We continued walking on the other side until we came to an apartment access path to the north. Edgewood Drive was right there and I went out to greet the rest of the group coming back. We goofed off with fake toy Jesus things and took a break before moving on.

The sandy surface of the rail bed was pretty easy walking, and actually quite firm interspersed with areas of snow. There were some nice woods to our left with buildings to our right much of the time.

We crossed over two or so roads along the rail bed, which remained for the most part wide and easy. Along the way we found a shopping cart I tried to push Jillane it, but there was no pushing it in snow or sand. Kyle found a little sled and some of us put our packs on it for him to pull. I think he tried putting Bruce on it but of course he wouldn't stay on there for long at all.

It think when we reached Mule road we took a break. I remember we were trying to throw rotten Clementines at Kyle. While everyone was breaking I decided to run to a Rite Aid or something to the left for some snacks. I think I got a candy bar or something.

Mule Road former railroad crossing west of Toms River NJ

We continued on and soon a rail spur, still pretty much abandoned, appeared from the right. There were now tracks on the right of way the rest of the way out. It was easy walking, but somehow, when Eric decided to try to take a shortcut to the road (actually a long cut, there was absolutely no way shorter than the tracks back to Lakehurst), he stepped in hip deep water. DJ Ray lent him a pair of pants and then he was led on as quickly as possible to get to where he could change and have his pants dried (I think DJ Ray brought him to Jeannie's afterwards).

Jillane, Kyle, Ron, and I fell behind the rest of the group and we saw some ruins of some sort just off of the tracks. It turned out to be some sort of abandoned asphalt plant, and we couldn't pass this up. It was sort of close to a road, but it was dusk so we were less likely to be seen.

Approaching abandoned asphalt plant, Lakehurst NJ

We climbed right on up to the top of it. Kyle and I of course had to get up on the highest point we could reach. The ladders, though rusted appeared to be sturdy.

On top of the Asphalt Plant, Lakehurst NJ

We wandered through the place until we felt like we'd seen all of it before moving on.

Abandoned Asphalt Plant, Lakehurst NJ

Ron and Kyle went further ahead and Jillane and I fell further behind. A pathway led us back to the railroad tracks and we followed it clearly toward Lakehurst. Just before getting there we crossed a little bridge. There was a parallel path to the north side of the tracks that was really nice for walking. I love how at the end of so many of these hikes we walk with our arms wrapped around one another. When we reached the junction with the former CNJ line in Lakehurst (this is the same line I'd walked in the pine barrens near Atsion years back) we followed Railroad Ave, Pine Street, and Center Street to get back to the McDonalds. It was such a tease; we could see the golden arches plain as day from the junction site but a line of trees and I think some water, then houses blocked us from just getting through to get to it.

After heading back to the cars at Seaside Heights some of us went out to the beach. It was the first time Jillane and I were at the beach together. Great way to end a great day.