Hike #484 5/9/10
5/9/10 Del Haven, Belvidere/Riverton to Washington with Amanda Rosenblatt, Rachel Rosenblatt, Jason Itell, Larry Butler, Ron Phelps, Barb Blythe, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Bill "Guillermo" Fabel, Mark "Bobo" Godfrey, "Major Tom" Conroy, Wayne Meiner, Scott "Tea Biscuit" Helbing, "DJ Ray" Cordts, David "Captain Soup" Campbell, and Eric Pace
Group shot on the historic stone bridge in Bridgeville NJ
This hike marked a decade since I first did an earlier version of the same hike. Ron Short and I scouted stuff in the area and included most of the same railroad beds on hikes we'd done at this time of year. It was now just four years and one month since my one time best friend Ron had died. Now I'd lost another just a week before. I was really hoping Kyle would come on this hike with me and I'd been talking to him about how excited I was about it.
I wore a suit I'd found recently in an abandoned house in Allamuchy Mountain State Park on this hike, with a button of Kyle's face Carol Creamer had made for everyone at Kyle's memorial service.
We started this hike at a tiny ball field parking lot on the corner of McDermitt Road and Bush Drive, Lower Mt Bethel Township PA. Most of this hike would be stuff we'd done before, but this beginning part was new, adding to the bit of excitement. Everyone was mourning in their own way, but I was trying to have fun.
We started walking along the path that left the ball fields heading north.
The new trail heading north near Del Haven road.
The trail, crushed stone in surfacing, led us across Del Haven Road and then parallel with it within the trees and fields. I tried to pass out kids toy Digimon plastic containers instead of backpacks on this one; I had them in my closet for years when Cathy used to use them for hair ties and such, but now was ready to pass them on. Not everyone took one, but a few did.
The trail followed closely to Del Haven, then turned right parallel with the Martins Creek-Belvidere Highway. It then turned away from this road and headed through an open area. It was surprising to see a series of boardwalks were built over areas that probably only became wet seasonally. I guess they justify it by thinking it won't wash away the quarry stone screening surface. The trail descended into the woods and soon came to the creek crossing.
Creek crossing on the new trail heading north toward Tekening Preserve
I'd been here once before, with Action Adam and Cupcake when we followed it north, but at the time the water was at flood level and we couldn't get across. I'm not even sure that the concrete cylinder things for walking across were in place yet. Now we were able to walk across, but the water was so low we probably didn't even need them.
Bad Ass Guillermo
Guillermo must have gotten it in the ear with a briar or something because his ear was bleeding quite a bit. I think he liked it because it made him look bad ass.
Along the trail nearing Depue Ferry Road
The new trail ascended the hill on the other side and then headed out to Depue Ferry Road.
In Tekening Preserve
The trail then paralleled Depue Ferry Road and went through woods next to it to connect with the parking area on that road for the Tekening Preserve, owned by PP&L. We took a break for a little bit here before moving on along the trail.
We were soon on our way and made our first right turn onto the trail that led to the cliffs above the Delaware. Along the way someone had constructed a man made "vernal pool" lined with stone, which we laughed at a bit. We also took some time out to climb around on some rock outcroppings in the area.
Looking into the mirror in the new restroom made by Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission in Riverton PA.
Once along the river, we contiued upstream, stopping as always at the observation deck overlooking the beginning of Foul Rift, one of the Delaware's most dangerous spots. We then took to the trail north. Along the riverside route we were soon joined by our friend Wayne Meiner who had missed only the beginning section. Together we headed away from the river briefly and then made the right turn onto the connector trail to Lower Mt Bethel Township Park. We continued straight out to the new visitor center I'd found on my last visit. Unfortunately the visitor center was again closed but the restroom was open.
Lower Mt Bethel Township PA must have an ordinance forbidden deer hunting in flower beds.
We took a break here for a bit, then descended along the nice lighted path to the Lower Mt Bethel Twp Park (where hunting is not allowed in their flower beds).
Another one of those mirror shots, Belvidere NJ
We continued back onto the road and continued across the old Belvidere-Riverton Bridge into Belvidere. We stopped in the grocery store where I got some chocolate milk, and then the liquor store as I recall and I think I must have gotten a couple Four Loco drinks.
Lunch stop at Skoogy's Deli, Belvidere NJ
We continued right up Greenwich Street over the Pequest River, and then stopped at Skoogy's Deli for a bite. My brother Tea Biscuit joined us here, and I remember really building up the fact that Tea Biscuit was going to make his "proclimation" for every as he'd done so many times in the past. We wandered back and forth through the store and Tea Biscuit was quiet. I remember a puzzled look coming from Jason and Larry about what this was going to be. Tea Biscuit calmly just said "I'm a nudist" in the store instead of blurting it out, and so I think they never figured out what it was about.
After eating we walked further down Greenwich Street and turned right onto 2nd Street and turned into the vacant lot owned by my grandfather. We cut into the bit of woods here and to the old creamery ruins, out to the tracks.
Old creamery ruins in Belvidere NJ
We continued along the former Bel Del Railroad south for a bit. As in the past, we made the left turn onto the former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad bed. The tracks were still in, but the way the path went was now a bit different along the side. It was evident that this was once double tracked, and I don't remember it being so obvious in the past. The ATVs had been more using the lower right of way now.
We passed by the former junction with the north bound connector, and then under Rt 620 past the abandoned rail cars.
Along the abandoned LHR railroad, Belvidere NJ
Abandoned LHR railroad in Belvidere NJ
As we continued out of the more wooded area and into the clearing, on the left of us was a large cement building I don't remember seeing much of in the past. Either way, this time the front of it was completely open. I don't know what such an odd shaped building, considerably tall with an open end, would be used for. It had graffitied on the wall "I Hate Fun".
We continued on along the rail bed as it entered the woods, and then soon crossed the bridge over the Pophandusing Brook. We then came out on the obliterated section where the age restricted developement had been built. We took the trail pathways across the developement, close to where the railroad had been, and continued on out to Rt 624. No one yelled at us this time for walking through the developement.
We crossed the road and went through the wooded section out to the open field section. This part was always nice, especially in the Spring time.
On the former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad bed near Hazen and Belvidere NJ
We had no trouble crossing this section, and soon were parallel with the quarry operation to the right. We passed this as well, and then came to where the rail bed had been farmed over completely out to Rt 519. We passed by here very easily as the corn hadn't yet grown, and then turned left on Rt 519 in Bridgeville. When we reached the beautiful stone arch bridge here I did like I always did and walked across in the middle of the stream. We continued shortly to the Bagelsmith on the right side of the road. It was here we were joined by DJ Ray, Captain Soup, and Eric Pace I believe. We had a little lunch break before moving on again.
When we were all done, I don't think we did the flea market this time, so we followed Titman Avenue out to old Edison Road. In the past, this road had been closed but the road bridge was still open. This time, the bridge had been completely removed to my surprise! I think only DJ Ray and I opted to wade across to the other side and continue on the rail bed. The others continued on, and I think they stopped at Hot Dog Johnny's. Ray and I passed the giant Sycamore Tree and the old farm site, then went across the deck girder bridge beyond. Just beyond here was an ATV trail that came back out to the rail bed from the highway along a field, and the others used that to reach us.
The group along a field heading from Rt 46 to the railraod bed in Buttsville
Once everyone was back, we continued on the rail bed out across Mill Street, then though a yard to Buttsville Road next to an old truss bridge. We then continued on to the section on a fill along the Pequest River. We continued on beneath Rt 57 and under the Lackawanna line's Pequest Viaduct on a through girder bridge directly beneath, then continued on to Pequest. At Pequest, we took another break at the other through girder bridge that had been somewhat recently redecked (Warren County was going to pay for it but Fish Game and Wildlife came up with the money on their own).
While we were taking our break Captain Soup climbed around on the girders on the outside of the bridge.
Captain Soup climbing on an old rail trestle, Pequest NJ
From here, we continued north along the path ascending past the Pequest Furnace site, and up to the old Furnace Railraod out to the old Warren Lackawanna main line. We hiked through the Pequest Cut and headed south to Pequest Road. Like always, we continued into Oxford. I think almost everyone cut out somehow in this area. Only a few were willing to finish up the full twenty miles. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince anyone to do the Oxford Tunnel with me, so I went on and did it by myself. Apparently the others didn't expect me to make it through so quickly, because I continued by myself on the south side thinking they'd already be ahead. When I got to Jackson Valley Road I waited at least a half hour for them to show up. Maybe they were waiting for me to come out.
I was depressed about so much at this time. It was tough dealing with everything, but we moved on. We continued along the railroad bed into Washington, and switched onto the former Morris and Essex line there, then when we got to Family's Pizza I guess it was we ate. I was impressed that Rachel handled twenty miles so well on her first try.
It was a good hike, but I finished the day feeling hollow.
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