8/13/17 Northampton to Bethlehem (Musikfest) with Cupcake (Chris Kroschinski), Darlene Perez, Kathryn Cataldo, Kevin Kowalick, Jennifer Berndt, Justin Gurbisz, James Quinn, Robin Deitz, Diane Reider, Peggy B, Daniel Trump, Michele Valerio, Eric Pace, Jason Itell, Kralc Leahcim (Lerch), Serious Sean Dougherty, Karen Lee, James De Lotto, Ellie Zabeth, Gina Zuvich, Sy P. Deunom, Marissa Panton, Carolyn Gockel Gordon, Jennifer Tull, Jack Lowry, Steve Sanbeg, Steven Smith, Karl Franz (Red Sean) Reardon, Sarah Jones, Agnese Drzymala, Daniel Stone, Christian Alexander, Jim Mathews (Mr. Buckett), Doug DeGroff, Commando Tomas Petruccio, Laura Allen Cunningham, Christopher Robert, Anne ?, Maria ?, ?, ?, and Scott Helbing.
This next hike would be our annual March on Musikfest trip, as well as the eighteenth in the 911 National Memorial Trail series. Most of the entire main hike route is along the historic Lehigh Canal, much like the previous hike to this one.
The starting group
This one is really strange for me because it’s also a hike I had done not only once before, but three times. Twice as day hikes, once as a night hike. It’s not been done so many times as the previous hike (because that one is so convenient), but we did it a lot.
We met in the morning as we had done so many times in the past at the Martin Tower in Bethlehem, and then shuttled to our start. There was a lot of people to do that this time!
Historic image of Siegfried Station
Our starting point was at Northampton, at the CVS and other mini mart there where we got snacks and regrouped a bit more before heading out across the tracks to the former canal.
Siegfried Station
The town of Northampon was historically known as Siegfried in this area. The settlement was named after Revolutionary War hero Col. John Siegfried who owned a tavern. In 1901, three small towns including Siegfried were put together in what was called “The Borough Alliance” and named Northampton.
Lehigh Canal just north of where we reahed it, Siegfried loading from quarry
We headed to the west on 21st Street, and reached where the canal used to cross. It was filled in at the south side of Northampton, but there’s a good watered section to the north.
One wouldn’t even know it was a canal at this point. Just south of the road, the paved canal path continues through the linear park parallel with Canal Road. Lerch ran a bit late, and I arranged for him and Christian, then Cupcake and Darlene to meet just a little to the south of where the rest of us started.
We followed the path south, and I spent some time looking around for remnants, specifically for the former Lock #34, which was a 6.4 foot lift. The lock is reportedly destroyed on the berm side, with only the towpath side intact. From what I can tell, it’s now a parking area that I missed seeing.
Historic image of a canal dredge in Northampton vicinity
The trail, it looks like, remains a bit farther away from the canal at one point, and the canal was closer to the road as per historic aerial images. We all got back together again at a building near a parking spot just before the site of Hokendaqua Creek aqueduct.
Crutch Biscuit
Tea Biscuit was behind, and we stopped just beyond where Lock 34 was for him to catch up.
The night before, we were at a family picnic when he crashed a motorcycle in Port Colden. The foot was terribly swollen, and I took him to the emergency room. We were stuck out there for hours, and the X rays showed that he fortunately did not break it, but it was rather terrible bruising. Still, Tea Biscuit decided to try to do the hike anyway and did the first couple of miles on crutches. Fortunately, he was able to get back because we had cars there (I think he took Lerch’s back since he met up with us where we regrouped).
Historic image of a dredge boat in Northampton vicinity. From Northampton Historical Society
We got a group photo, and waited for everyone to get their stuff together. Both Jack and Serious Sean were there with their guitars, making some very nice harmony.
Music!
Jack had his acoustic carbon fiber, and Serious Sean had the white electric with the mini amp that he usually brings, but he was having some trouble keeping it in tune. He mentioned that he had purchased these tuner things, which were supposed to keep it in tune, but it didn’t work. Something about the neck on the guitar being too short for it to work properly I think he said, but it all sounded good to me. He has on more than one occasion talked about smashing the guitar in the style of The Who, and I could see a level of frustration that I thought it might actually happen this time (it didn’t)! He made the best of it, and it really all sounded quite good.
Canal towpath
We continued from here beyond to the foot bridge over the Hokendauqua Creek, using a foot bridge that is adjacent to the site of the earlier aqueduct, the footings for which can be seen just below in the creek.
There was concern because there was a fence and blockades saying that the trail was closed in the area. Apparently, the 9th Street Bridge is either being repaired or replaced, I’m not exactly sure. It looks as though it might be coming down though. The trail beyond the aqueduct site is very natural, and the canal prism is extant but not watered in the section.
9th St. bridge
Everybody goes around the barricade anyway, and there was no construction going on at this time. We simply went under the bridge in question, and had clear towpath for the rest of the way. From the north side, there were no signs even saying it was closed to begin with anyway, so anyone traveling south to north, they’d still end up passing through.
I tried pointing out to everyone as we went beneath that there actually was a walkway for the towpath built up against the bridge, but we were in a hurry to get through so I didn’t take any extra time. Eric didn’t want to go on through, but I called him up and Mr. Buckett helped to persuade him that it was going to be fine, the trail on the other side wasn’t a problem.
Historic image at Lock #35
We passed soon beneath the abandoned railroad bridge that connected the lines on the east side of the river with the Ironton Railroad and Thomas Ironworks on the west side. Just beyond this we reached the remains of Lock #35, which had a lift of seven feet.
Lock #35 today
Lock #35 today is in pretty bad shape. No water, and much of the lock wall has deteriorated except for the concrete that would have held a latter day bridge. The height shows that it probably was built while the canal was still active at least. There was junk and an old car in the canal prism. I remember the first time hiking this, a guy with some crazy conspiracy ideas was trying to tell us some supernatural thing was how the old car got in the lock!
There is some kind of metal thing in the river that looks like part of a bridge truss system that I still do not know what it is for certain.
Jen in one of the creeks
Down stream from Lock #35, the Lehigh Canal is actually the canalized Lehigh River. It utilized the slack water above Dam #6. The towpath continued along the waterfront, somewhat grown in but really not bad at all. We crossed over a little stream, and at one point, at a good little confluence spot there is a great rope swing off into a deep section of the Lehigh. We took a break here, and of course Lerch was the first to go off the swing. I held off for a little bit, and sang some songs with Jack and Serious Sean. I recall “Crocodile Rock” was one of them. Then Jack said “Hey remember this one?”.
Rope swing spot
He then broke into the lesser known Beach Boys track “I Can Hear Music” from the 1969 album 20/20. It’s a really high and tough one to sing, but I was able to do it for the most part.
I was being beckoned by this time to go and try this rope swing. I saw Delotto and Lerch were already back up to the top ready to go off of it some more. Delotto did it either right before or after me. I let go kind of late and ended up going off from pretty high up, which kind of hurt, but I was fine.
Cupcake had met us where Dry Run flows into the Lehigh, which was right about at our break spot for the rope swing.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qqyx4TW4Ptw
The trail continued on the river side slack water for a while. It remained a simple foot path section that was quite relaxing. Eventually, we came to where paved trail emerged from under the former Central Railroad of NJ (and before that Lehigh and Susquehanna) tracks to the left. It was here that Jason Itell met up with us.
Historic postcard image of Guard Lock #6
We continued along he paved trail until it ended, which was right before we got to the former site of Guard Lock #6 and Dam #6. We passed by what I believed to be the guard lock, rather overgrown, and off in the weeds next to the clearer path.
Guard Lock #6 remnants
I recall that the trail weaved around through these woods for a bit as the canal had been obliterated. The Lehigh Street Bridge which we were now approaching had obliterated some of it, but we could still see about where it was. We regrouped under the bridge again, as I wanted to make sure everyone knew the right way to go. Of course, the bridge underpass provided a reasonable amount of acoustics that meant we had to do some songs. I don’t remember if I sang anything here, but Jack and Serious Sean were going at it and some of the group was dancing around them with a sort of impromptu party.
Guard Lock 6 historic view with Thomas Ironworks sen behind.
The dam that used to span the river in this area is now only partially in place, and is majorly purged in the middle. It still provides enough slack water for the swimming spots we had just a little bit earlier though.
Historic image shortly after the purging of Dam #6
These old dams were rock and crib work, really very simple, but it’s amazing they have lasted as long as they have. If not maintained (and they won’t be without having any industrial purpose) they can purge out and cause major flooding.
The group along the former canal under Lehigh Street
From this point, the Lehigh Canal turns in land a bit more. We got on the now clear path (it wasn’t clear a couple of years ago, I only found out it was good last year). The trail led us through a section with a sweeping turn with concrete lined sides.
Lehigh Canal approaching CNJ bridge overpass
I think this is a particularly beautiful section. The canal curves and then passes beneath the former Central Railroad of NJ’s double through truss bridge.
Lehigh Canal approaching Catasauqua
The canal passes beneath and then curves to the south once again. The towpath remains clear, but the canal prism itself then begins to grow in to the point where I can really hardly recognize it.
We were now entering the town of Catasauqua. The town is another hugely steeped in local history dating back to colonial times when it was first settled. It became a place of major importance in 1839 when it was the location of the first manufactured Anthracite iron in the United States.
The town was originally known as Biery’s Port, and is credited as being the starting point for the Industrial Revolution in America.
Historic 1860s scene of Crane Ironworks
David Thomas, a Welch immigrant, relocated to the area now called Catasauqua and opened up the Crane Ironworks along the canal. The Thomas family helped set up churches and were upstanding members of the community. Thomas originally named the settlement “Cranesville” after his former employer in Wales, but the town was renamed Catasauqua, which is a native American word meaning “dry ground” or “thirsty ground”, in 1854.
Historic Lehigh Canal image in Catasauqua PA
By 1900, Catasauqua had more self-made millionaires than any other town in the country.
Walking the canal today, one would never know that this thriving industry was once on the shore. The vegetation has grown in to such an extent that it can’t be seen.
The 1867 Catasauqua Station
Ahead, there was a culvert access under the still active former CNJ tracks off to the right. Somewhere in this vicinity was the location of the original railroad station built in 1867. There were railings and such, and the location of the original bridge over the canal and Lehigh River was in this area, but I missed it entirely walking through these woods.
Old bridge and industry along the Lehigh around Catasauqua
I was kind of glad we missed some of it. On the other side of the Lehigh was an industrial site accessed by probably the most deplorable bridge still spanning the Lehigh. I would probably never cross the thing again, it’s that bad. If Lerch and Justin saw it, my nerves would be shot.
1890s view of Crane Iron Works
We passed beneath Pine Street Bridge and then eventually came out at Race Street, which was our lunch stop. I told everyone to grab something nearby, but the local pizza place was closed. The nearest was well up the street to the east, which some did. Someone bought me some ham in this area, which was very nice!
George Taylor House
Catasauqua’s earliest prominent resident was George Taylor, signer of the Declaration of Independence. His homestead is just south of the Race Street crossing along Lehigh Street. The lovely old house was built in 1768.
Those who have been on other recent hikes in this series may recall visiting Taylor’s grave, in Easton PA. Catasauqua was a prominent residence of his, but not his last residence, which is still standing in Easton. Taylor was one of the early opposers to the British crown, and one of the signers of the Declaration not born in America. Further, he was the only one who was once an indentured servant, and worked his way to being an iron master, and then politician.
We stopped at the Catty beverage place and I had a couple of delicious beers that I don’t often see including Dogfish Head’s Palo Santo Marron, and Weyerbacher’s Quad. Red Sean, as well as his cousin with his wife came along and joined at this point. Some of the group were a bit nervous as Sean’s cousin was open carrying a hand gun, which is legal in Pennsylvania.
Postcard of Lehigh Canal at Catasauqua
Race Street in Catasauqua was a change bridge on the canal. Just north of the bridge was the site of Lock #36, with a lift of 7.4 feet. I didn’t really note it due to the weeds. The towpath switched to the west side of the canal at the bridge, and we walked by some sort of church place who seemed rather surprised to see so many walking. It must had been odd that so many of us were waiting in the shade outside someone’s house on the corner for our break too, but oh well!
Lock #37 site
We regrouped again when we got to Catasauqua Lake to the south, a nice little spot where there are docks out onto it. We got our best group shot there, because there were the most of us out at one time here.
I got everyone back together to give another little historic dissertation, and to get the group shot, then to let everyone know what was coming up ahead. Once we got to Allentown I wasn’t worried about the group staying together, but there are some odd spots between Catasauqua and there.
Silliness
Serious Sean appeared behind me making all sorts of ridiculous faces for apparently a good while, which was funny.
Once I felt like everyone kind of had an idea of what we were doing, we headed on along the former towpath. Just ahead was the former site of Lock #37. There was just a blue sign reading that and part of a wall visible. The lock had a lift of 7.4 feet.
Ahead, the canal is really tough to follow. We had to get off and go to Dauphin Street parallel with where the canal was because of the new construction work going on to replace or maybe just add a second bridge to Rt 22 over the Lehigh.
We had to walk Dauphin Street past a cleared industrial area to the left, where the canal has been filled in for a good while. There used to be a trail along this section, but it has been covered over, and there are signs reading “trail closed” during the construction time.
The canal near "Kittets Lock"
Just ahead, we came to a parking area along the river to the right. The parking area was the site of Lehigh Canal Lock #39, which was the upper end of another slack water section in the Lehigh River. I'm not sure why, but apparently there was no Lock #38, or maybe there was in the past and the canal was refurbished to eliminate it. Not sure any reason for that.
On the bridge.
The lift for lock #39 was 11.2 feet. Only one side of the lower wall is still there on the edge of the parking area. At some point before this, Red Sean and his cousin and his wife turned back.
At this point, I told the group to take a break, unless they wanted to follow me for some craziness.
The bridge
Across the former CNJ tracks is an abandoned railroad trestle we've been jumping off of now for over a decade. I hurried on out to the bridge, and got to the point where I recalled it was best to jump. I stood on the framework for a few moments before actually doing it. I think even Lerch was telling me I was crazy for doing it, but after I went off a whole lot more followed me. I went twice, and I think Lerch went off it four times.
I think Lerch, Elizabeth, Jen, and and I'm sure Justin all went off of it. Red Sean was definitely out on the hike at least until this point because I recall him getting blamed for stealing Justin's shorts.
Lock #39, Kimmett's Lock
When Justin came up from the trestle in his skippies, his shorts were missing. Fortunately, I had a bio hazard green pair in my backpack I was able to loan him for the remainder of the hike.
Music and hiking fun
Jumping from the bridge this time, it was not easy to get back up. When kids used to do this regularly, there was a good path up on the other side, but clearly no one was doing this for a good long while. Even last year, we were able to get back up the other side to the left of the bridge. This time, that was majorly overgrown, and it was easier to get back up on the other side.
When we'd had enough of the silliness, we headed back across the bridge to the lock site, which was known in the old days as "Kimmett's Lock". We then headed back out to the road to walk that to the south for a little while more.
Historic Allentown canal postcard
Beyond the lock, I have never followed the slack water section canal towpath beyond. When David Barber wrote the guide book to the canal, it was walkable, but I have never tried.
We followed Dauphin Street under the American Parkway bridge, then turned right on Bradford Street.
Historic image of a slack water Lehigh Canal boat approaching Guard Lock 7 at Hamilton Street Bridge and dam
Only Dauphin was really a busy one. There was pretty much no traffic on Bradford, so it was fine. We even had a little laugh at some signage when we did get near buildings that read "watch children", followed immediately by a sign that read "except bicycles". At this point, the Lehigh Canal towpath remains along the river next to the tracks, and the canal is officially two places. Up stream navigation was in the channel along the towpath adjacent to Adams Island, which is a small residential island in the Lehigh. Downstream navigation was cut loose and used the current of the river to flow down to the next pint, closer to Eve's Island, which was a smaller unoccupied island in the river
Historic Allentown image with the towpath along the river, and what is probably Adams Island
Just after the Adams Island turn off, the D&L Trail has been constructed from Bradford on up a hill, high above the former canal section. This was the most elevation of the entire hike. The paved trail goes up near a rather new development, and offers a bit of a view across into Allentown before descending back down to Albert Street, from which point it is only a short distance back to the Lehigh Canal at the Hamilton Street Dam, which was historically Lehigh Canal Dam #7.
Dam #7 and Guard Lock #7 at Hamilton Street Bridge
We headed down cutting a corner of the actual trail, and reached former Guard Lock #7. The original stone and crib dam that was in place was purged in 1979, and I'm not sure when the current concrete dam went in. It has a fish ladder like Chain Dam and the Easton dam down stream from it, so probably around the same time.
Historic image looking down the canal from Guard Lock #7
We had a nice long break here. Apparently there was a train stopped because we went across the tracks, and I figured maybe some railroad police would come and see what we were doing, but we had no problem. People cross to get to the trail there all the time.
Looking down from Guard Lock #7 today
We went down from this point onto the fish ladder. We'd been goofing around here on hikes for many years, climbing into the fish ladder, getting ourselves shot out of it, always a great time. Lerch even climbed to the top and jumped off into it from there. We swam around in the fish ladder for a while, and the river water was up pretty high, so so too was the current strong. It got worse as I neared the middle of the river.
Silliness on the river
Rather than let me drown, Lerch went on out into the middle of the river on the concrete things to holler at me like a drill sargeant and tell me what an idiot I was being for trying that, and then convinced me to quit trying to cross and go back. Meanwhile, everyone on shore must have though this was a funny display, as Delotto snapped photos of the crazy scene.
The original dam that was at this location was only eight feet high, and this one was taller than Lerch by quite a bit, so I think it might be higher, because he's six foot seven.
Once we got back out to the lock area, I made my way out and we started getting ready to go. Some of the group opted to continue on from this point anyway, because the route was overall very obvious from here. The canal towpath beyond the lock was not clear for several years from this point, but this time it looked clearer than it had been in a long time, and so we were able to follow it, which was great.
Delotto's view of silliness
We walked along a lovely section of towpath heading to the south, which was parallel with Albert Street on it's way to the road access to Canal Park beyond. A police car cruised slowly on the other side of the canal from us, and watched us closely. I told everyone to behave themselves as not to have any problem with the police. We were soon to be in the most secluded section of the entire trip, and didn't want to get halted before we got there.
We soon reached an open area, which is where I believe an old mill used to be back in the old days as per some of the historic photos, and then passed beneath the still active railroad bridge over the canal, and then over the Lehigh River just to the west of us.
Lehigh Canal
Just after we got out from under the railroad underpass, the access from Albert Street crosses the Lehigh Canal at the former Lock #40.The 7.3 foot lock has been covered in concrete and altered so that the section of the canal down stream remains watered by control, flowing down stream. The vehicle bridge access was placed over the lower end of the lock. We continued ahead, and the towpath is like a road at first. The police officer that had been eying us up started driving on the towpath behind us.
Historic view at Saeger's Mill, Allentown.
We passed below the pavilion in the park, then came to the last parking access on the route before the secluded section on out to Bethlehem. The police car continued to that access and turned, then turned back and left us to walk on our own.
Historic view at Saeger's Mill, Allentown.
We had a good long stretch of calm walking in this section. The canal closely parallels the railroad yard to the west, which is reportedly one of the only remaining gravity yards around. At some points, the railroad has encroached on the canal making it a very narrow waterway.
Historic view of the Canal Park
I was actively watching for good places we could go down to swim from here. We always used to find good stuff while passing through this area, and in particular was a nice one with a river access, and a nice little shelter along the river side.
Mule tender at Lock #40, named Lovett Wood
I found the little path that went down sort of a ramp to the old picnic shelter. I knew that it had been wrecked and sort of abandoned, but it was far worse this time than I'd ever seen it. The entire area was full of overgrowth, and all access to the river at the site was cut off by very thick vegetation.
I remember reading an on line article about how locals had destroyed the "popular place". It's mostly just kids causing problems and being destructive. I'll never understand why anyone would feel the need to do something like that. The place was amazing, and anyone could get away with camping there at any time, and they just ruined it. I would have thought that at least fishermen or someone would keep the path to the river access open, but no one has been using it at all.
Secluded Lehigh Canal stretch
I wasn't seeing anywhere good to take a dip in the river in this stretch, and we were getting much closer to Bethlehem. I finally spotted a path off to the right, that the homeless guy named Robert had shown us at night the previous time we had done this hike in 2016.
The shelter in Aug 2008
We headed down the hill somewhat steeply, and had a very nice swim, but it looked kind of brown and foamy. Cupcake heckled us for getting in "shit water", but he too got in with us soon.
The shelter in 2017
It was pretty foamy, but it was so hot we didn't think about it a whole lot. Commando Tom got in and was creating some sort of "safety wake" pushing all of the foamy stuff off and away from the area we were swimming in. I swam out under some tree branches into the current, then came back and looped through a couple of times until I was satisfied.
Historic view of Lehigh Canal Lock $41
We eventually headed back up, and we had lost a whole lot more of the group at this stop. We were so close to Musikfest that those who didn't go swimming mostly moved on.
In this area was also Lock #41 on the Lehigh Canal, which now has a foot bridge over the upper end of it. The lock had a lift of 7.3 feet, but was now open with water running through it down stream.
The section of the river we were in is interesting geologically because it switches from flowing almost completely south to almost completely east. This is because when the erosion happened, the Lehigh could not force it's way through the South Mountain formation.
Lehigh Canal in Bethlehem with the Central Railroad of NJ on the berm side. At Monocacy Creek Aqueduct and Lock #42
We continued walking from there, and it didn't take long before we arrived at Musikfest. At this point, I usually feel like my job is done. We can just wander wherever anyone wants, and then move on. I figured we would go over to the Monocacy Creek Aqueduct and jump into it, but I think everyone wanted food before anything else.
I don't remember exactly where everyone walked to at this point. We immediately lost Lerch and Elizabeth, as they wandered off somewhere into the crowd near the former Central Railroad of NJ station, which is now a restaurant. Cupcake and Darlene headed to the south side, to Lehigh Pizza, and were soon texting me about how they had eaten everything worthwhile they had.
Meeting old friends
I think at this point we wandered on up into town a bit more. I remember walking near Hill to Hill Bridge, and then up to the main street. Some of the grup had already wandered up there, and were sitting at some sort of restaurant.
There, we saw several more old friends like Mike Piersa, John Pershouse, and Erika Lorin Daniels, who was out for the first time with a puppy she had gotten (cats are better.).
Everything of course gets kind of haphazard when no one is making decisions on where to go.
At the 'fest
We wandered around a bit more, and there were some really good bands doing some interesting covers of hit songs I was quite enjoying. We hung out on the outside of a tent and listened for a while, and our group always had someone leaving or coming back with more food and such.
Also while we were there, Tea Biscuit came hobbling by on one crutch. It was good to see that he not only made it to Musikfest, but that he was getting around to some extent. His foot has been pretty bad, and I give him a lot of credit for even attempting to hike on it at all.
At the 'fest
He and Amanda were around for a while, but I think we lost track of him again at some point. At some point, we finally did head out and went over to the Monocacy Creek Aqueduct. It actually might have been earlier before heading into the 'fest.
At some point, we finally did head out and went over to the Monocacy Creek Aqueduct. It actually might have been earlier before heading into the 'fest.
I had always stopped and taken a dip in the thing in the past on hikes, including last year as I recall. It's kind of an odd little place to do it though. The historic aqueduct is gone, and there is a narrow sluice that carries water from the up stream canal to the lower part, and then flows down through what used to be Lehigh Canal Lock #42, and then continues below toward Freemansburg.
A Tea Biscuit sighting
The aqueduct and lock site are quite different than they were in the canal days. The original wooden aqueduct that carried the boats through was replaced with a steel composite structure that is very slippery on the bottom, and so we got into it and sort of skated through as I'd done in years past. I also floated around in the aqueduct's east side, which was the lock chanber, and it is quite over my head. It was a very relaxing spot to be at the time. It's a really nice feeling to know that I continue to do the same fun things I've always done.
Historic canal image at Bethlehem
While I was floating around and chatting with my friends, a couple came by and started talking to us about something or another. He asked a question pertaining to the canal, at which point I went into a full dissertation about it.
History lesson from a guy in the water
It was probably the last scenario these people would have ever expected to be in getting a history lesson! They were very happy with the things they'd learned, and I had pointed them in the direction to more interesting things.
Eventually, we ended up trying to wander out of the north side of Bethlehem over to the Fahy Bridge. I'd made this mistake in the past. The Fahy Bridge steps were closed from Island Park, just beyond the aqueduct, because that's where they'd be setting off the fireworks from. We'd have to go to the upper level of it by walking out and around. I don't recall if we ended up going this way, or if we walked on out to the Hill to Hill Bridge. I believe we went to the Hill to Hill.
Once we were on the south side, we made our way to Lehigh Pizza to get some food. Cupcake fibbed; he and Darlene did NOT eat all of the good slices, and in fact there were some outstanding ones. I think Jack spotted me for mine as I recall. It'd been a long day and I was still feeling too overly happy to be expected to remember so much!
Historic image of Lock #42 from PCS Collection
I remember leaving Lehigh Pizza, and we walked up the street a bit to where I could see the fireworks going off beyond buildings and trees to the south. All of a sudden, I was beckened to come back down the street past Lehigh Pizza because members of my group had ordered an Uber X to carry us all back to our cars.
Historic industrial Bethlehem image
I had an absolutely wonderful day, with a little bit of all of the components of a great festival hike that I love. Plenty of history, great people, great music, great food, exercise, and fun.
I also feel a great amount of grattitude in that there was no personal drama. It was so simple and wonderful, and I could not have asked for it to go any better. Sure, there was so much more to see, but we really couldn't have fit much more of anything into this day. It was simply outstanding.
Thanks everyone for coming out and making it so awesome!
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