Hike #1183; East Hanover to Morris Plains
12/13/18 Troy Hills to Morris Plains with Jim "Uncle Soup" Campbell and Celeste Fondaco Martin
This next hike would be another point to point, this time between Hanover and Morris Plains. Much of it was stuff I’d done before, but I managed to throw things in there I’d been wanting to do for a while.
Patriot's Path at Troy Meadows Natural Area
The reason for this one was the fact that Mark Moran and his band, Poor Man’s Opera were again playing Hoover’s Tavern. The first time he’d played there, my friend Lerch asked me if I could come up with a hike that would end at it. I knew of a lot of ways it could be done, but we only did one of them. I had one that would most certainly be easier, and perfect for the darker days.
There was interest from a few people, but then no one was RSVP’d on the Meetup page. I was thinking no one would be there, but when I arrived I found Uncle Soup and Celeste! I was actually happy they’d arrived. I didn’t think I would be doing anything, and I really needed to get out.
Path in Whippany
From this point, my plan was to shuttle to East Hanover to begin the hike. The trunk of the hike would be along the Patriot’s Path to Speedwell, and from there we would head north through Morris Plains. The end point was actually more in the area of Mt. Tabor, but officially it’s Morris Plains.
We shuttled to the athletic club parking area on Algonquin Parkway, which is just off Troy Road in the Hanover area, where Patriot’s Path passes through Troy Meadows Natural Area. We drove around a bit looking for the best place to stash my car without it being towed, and began walking up the road toward the nearest trail access.
We found the trail, and headed into the state owned Troy Meadows Natural Area through nice meadows. It was a pretty relaxing area to walk, but it was already getting really dark.
We passed a connecting path to the north from there which led to Old Troy County Park. This is one of the parks I have actually never incorporated into any of my hikes. I’d forgotten all about it until walking through this area. I might have to repost it some time soon to be included. It’s a bit far for the start of a night hike, but maybe I’ll figure something out somewhere along the way.
The Patriot’s Path turns right on Troy Road to the intersection with Troy Hills Road. Ahead, it changes names to Bee Meadow Parkway. This was kind of a crappy road walk, so this was my first creative change to the route. I’d done this once before, when the Patriot’s Path was
not yet finished.
Patriot’s Path goes into a dead end road called Hillary Court, but we turned left on Troy Hills Road, then right on Woodcrest Road, followed by another right on Grove Place. That leads to a paved pathway into the woods at the cul de sac, from which a pleasant paved path leads to Bee Meadow School.
We turned right when we reached the parking lot to Bee Meadow Elementary School, and headed out to cross Reynolds Ave and regain the Patriot’s Path into Bee Meadow Park. We walked along the edge of Bee Meadow Pond on the way in, which was quite pretty.
When we got into the park, I made the mistake of turning left too early. We walked along the edge of a ball field and had to turn all the way back because nothing had been cut on the one side of the fence line. We eventually found the correct way for the Patriot’s Path, which is not yet officially open through this area yet.
At the end of the parking lot, we went left over a causeway between the two Bee Meadow Ponds. We crossed and soon reached an intersection of power lines. We turned right on the first one. There are no blazes and it’s hard to figure out where exactly to go in the dark, so I just watched closely to my phone GPS. I turned to the left into the woods a couple of times wrongly before I found the right spot. There is a bit of a woods road that leads out to the dead end on Wilson Place. We then turned to the right on Washington Avenue, which took us out to Parsippany Road in a really crappy section with no shoulder.
Celeste was getting a kick out of this hike a lot because it had a lot of her family history. She commented we went right by a bar that her family used to have, that now no longer exists at all. She remembered a lot of these roads as well.
Poor Man's Opera live at Hoover's Tavern
My next bit of changing things up was to turn left onto a power line very shortly after going right on Parsippany Road. We were able to follow a reasonably clear route a bit, then turn to the right into an apartment complex in a parking area.
We cut directly across Sunrise Drive, and then behind a couple of apartment buildings on a slope. We emerged on Sunrise Drive further up near Aspen Way, and followed that up hill slightly. We made the left then on Woodland Ave, which is the route of the Patriot’s Path. The official trail cuts to the left along a power line right of way for a bit.
This took us out to Jefferson Road where we turned left. We passed a couple of businesses and had a good shoulder, then cut to the left again where Patriot’s Path turned away.
I made a wrong turn again here and followed the edge of a field for a while in Veterans Park when I was supposed to stay on Patriot’s Path which goes behind a chain link fence more closely to Malapardis Brook. We backtracked and got back on it, then followed it through fields, then along wood line and the brook behind more housing complex stuff, and along a retention pond. The trail comes out at the jug handle for a shopping center on Route 10 just west of Whippany. We crossed and turned to the left to cross Malapardis Brook, but there was no bridge in place. Fortunately, there was a pipe across the bottom, so we were able to go down and come back up the other side without much problem.
I had wanted a drink this entire time and we did pass a bar in this section, but I didn’t want one that bad. We continued on along Mt. Pleasant Ave to the middle of town and turned right on Parsippany Road to cross the Whippany River. This is all the Patriot’s Path route.
Just beyond the river crossing, there has long been a proposal to bring the trail off road and turn right along the river there. I’ve always wanted to do it, but not in the dark. Rather, we left the trail route and cut through some weeds to the back of another apartment complex. We skirted the backs of some buildings, and came out to a path that connects to sections of Oak Ridge Drive. We continued direct across where the path came out and behind more buildings to emerge on Whippany Road. It’s weird going by this section because the entire Lucent building that used to be across the street is totally gone.
We turned right and walked along the lot for Our Lady of Mercy Church, which gave us a short cut on the trail route which then follows Eden Lane to the right.
We followed Eden Lane for a while, but this point the crappiest part of the hike to me because it drags on, and then eventually came to where the trail turns off into Central Park. This is a good section high above the Whippany River, which was flowing quite loudly at this point.
The trail took us out to South Jefferson Road where we turned left to follow it south. I made the mistake of crossing over thinking it would be an easier cut over for the trail, but we had to cross back again where there was a good crosswalk when we got to Cedar Knolls Road.
The trail crosses Interstate 287 to the right on Cedar Knolls Road, and they recently delineated the trail along the south side of the bridge, which I’d not seen previously. On the other side, it cuts immediately off the road and into a housing development that used to be a huge industrial site. That was all demolished, and this entire section looks so much different than it ever used to.
We continued along the path as it left the complex and entered the woods along the Whippany River. It came out to a few old railroad tracks that appear out of use at Niram Construction Services. We kept along the river and then turned right behind the building to make our way to the next section of the trail. There was some kind of construction going on up there that ripped up a lot of the trail at the approach to the foot bridge over the Whippany River.
Rail and trail
Celeste commented something about how she likes the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, to which I explained to her that we were technically in part of the arboretum property, though it was the annex section across the street from it heading to the community garden.
We continud out to that garden, then crossed the Whippany again before coming out at Hanover Ave.
Officially, the trail turns left here, then crosses Hanover Ave at the traffic light, and comes back to this same spot, but traffic wasn’t too bad so we went right across. This section ahead is the old access road to the local jail, and Park Superintendent Russ Nee calls this “the jail trail”. We walked the path to where the foot path cuts up hill to the right, and headed up to the Morristown and Erie Railroad tracks.
This is a weird section that’s needed improvement for a long time, because you are literally walking along the railroad tracks. I like to use it as an example of how we can do rail with trail, but this one could actually use a little help because it’s not been cut back in a while. Also, it just randomly sort of crosses the tracks at a non specific site before coming out on Ridgedale Ave. People can get easily confused with this section.
We crossed, and the trail is very obvious following a fence on the right and the railroad on the left beyond Ridgedale. We skirted the cemetery and then came out on Garden Street. We followed that right, then left on New Street, then across and to the left of Abbett Ave to enter George Gramby Memorial Park. The trail follows a paved pathway along the Whippany River through the park.
We came out to Lincoln Street, turned left, then right on George Street, then left on Martin Luthor King Jr. Ave. We passed beneath the NJ Transit Tracks, formerly the Morris and Essex, and Patriot’s Path turned right on the other side along the river. We took a side trip ahead to a store where I found some MD 20/20 in all of the weird flavors. I wanted them for the Holiday NY City hike.
Mad Dog
MD 20/20 is known by many as “Mad Dog” because it would get people blasted so quickly. The actual name comes from it’s producer, Mogen David Wines. The name actually means “Shield of David” when corrected in spelling to “Magen David”. It was originally sold in twenty ounce bottles with twenty percent alcohol. Currently, it is no longer sold in that size, and most of their flavors of fortified wine are only 13% abv.
Pocahontas Lake
With our MD in hand, we headed back to the trail and followed it out between the Whippany River, which soon passed the dam to Pocahontas Lake, with the NJ Transit Tracks above us to the right. It came out into a former rail yard, and a train passed by, which looked amazing. I always love seeing the lights of the double decker trains go by. It looks like something out of a sci fi movie.
We headed out along the path to Cory Road, which it then paralleled for a short time. At the end of it, we turned to the right across. The Patriot’s Path continues along Speedwell Lake, but we cut across the parking lot to Historic Speedwell Village. From here, we started on my crazy weird route to the north.
Historic Speedwell
We walked the pathway through the Historic Speedwell area. The path led up past buildings to the right, the swept back to the left again.
Speedwell path
It was at this site in 1838 that Samuel F. B. Morse and Alfred Vail demonstrated the perfected electromagnetic telegraph. The estate was overhauled in 1844 by Stephen Vail, proprietor of the Speedwell Ironworks from 1830, and many of the period pieces are kept in the historic home. Other historic eighteenth century structures were brought to Speedwell Village, which is an eight acre site, to be saved from demolition. Joe Macasek, a great local historian, lives on the site as sort of a caretaker.
We weaved past the house and then out onto Route 202/Speedwell Ave to head north. I had wanted to cut through apartment complex lands and such, but it didn’t work out for us that way here.
We continued north, and I checked out another liquor store to see if they had anything interesting. The guy running the place was really friendly and took me back to show the bigger stash they had in the back. There was nothing I was particularly interested in, but I appreciated his time.
We turned to the right when we got to Hanover Ave again. The walk on Speedwell Ave wasn’t as great, but it would get interesting again here.
We passed a cop going up over the bridge over the NJ Transit tracks, and I was surprised he didn’t ask what we were up to. We made the first left we could into a sort of commercial complex access road. We passed one that says it was Ideal Strength and Fitness, and then cut across grass to another lot and another couple of buildings. We went left, then right heading to the north along the buildings with the railroad on a fill to our left.
Morris Plains Station
At the end of the last lot was a path up to a paved trail going north. I think this was an abandoned road that used to go through, but it now had park benches on it, so it’s public.
Historic postcard image of Morris Plains Station after the line was elevated but before electrification
We came to a power line cut where it looked like another trail went right, but we continued straight, and it took us out at the Morris Plains Station.
Tabor Road and 202
The station is a handsome structure built in 1913 for the Lackawanna Railroad. Many of the stations are more outlandish, but this one is quite modest. One difference in this one is that it has a sort of Spanish tile roof rather than a typical slate or asphalt one.
We continued walking along the station platform from here to the stairs that lead down to Route 202. We went directly across where there were huge Christmas displays everywhere. We walked between the lighted trees, and then cut to the right across Tabor Road into the local 911 park.
There was a big “Peace On Earth” sign across the way, which I liked. Those are among my favorite Christmas displays to see.
Christmas decorations.
People don’t realize that as far as government goes, Christmas is a secular holiday.
It was one of the first five designated federal holidays as decided by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870 (the others being Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Washington’s Birthday, and New Years Day). Grant’s purpose for choosing Christmas was not to impose any religion upon people, but rather because the holiday and it’s customs brought upon a strong sense of community he felt was so necessary in the years following the Civil War. A celebration of giving and sharing can be embraced by anyone regardless of what their beliefs are.
Morris Plains displays
We headed across, and soon came upon a very large 911 Memorial. This is only the second one after the one in Lebanon Township (Hunterdon County) that I’ve seen with double pieces of the twin tower frame work. This one was more disturbing looking, all gnarled.
911 Memorial
We made our way from the memorial to the north on a paved path which soon made it’s way closer to Tabor Road. This was a nice walking route, and not what I was expecting. I thought we’d have to cut through other properties, but this was comfortable for a bit.
We skirted Veterans Field, and then the VFW lodge along Tabor Road. Just after that, there was a path that went away from the road to the right onto the property of the Honeywell industry. We walked the path to the right, and came upon a sign saying it was only for their employees. I didn’t pay it any mind. The thing goes way into the back and then stays in the shade beyond retention ponds, and it was really a nice walk beyond where the parking lots and buildings are.
We continued along this as it entered that shade, and we were on a nice crushed stone path for a good long while. My plan was to continue behind this out to a power line where there is reportedly a trail called Briarcliff Trail to take us through to Tabor Road again. Unfortunately, when the path ended and we got to the road around the site again, we couldn’t continue due to high fences. We instead headed to the left, around some buildings toward the road.
As we walked, we came upon a building that appeared to be a mess hall or cafeteria. I had finished my Mad Dog, and decided to place it on the window facing directly into where they would be seated to eat. I’m not usually into leaving anything behind like that, but I found it incredibly funny that when someone sat down to eat, they’d see this mad dog bottle looking in at them from a hard to reach sill from outside.
Poor Man's Opera
We followed along the front parking lot and through the grass heading to the north and eventually got back out to the road again at the north entrance. From there, there was no choice but to remain on the road to our destination.
We continued up the shoulder of Tabor Road and passed beneath Route 10. This would be the worst road walk of the hike, but it went by quickly enough because we knew we were almost done and could see the mileage, plus we did everything I had been planning to do and then some. It was really a pretty fun route.
We actually got to Hoover’s in time to catch a lot of the show. The last time we’d done a hike to this location we were so late that we could only catch about three or so songs. There was also hardly anyone there that time. This time, we all stayed and listened for a while, and Celeste invited one of her friends from the area to come by and say hello.
Mark came around and chatted with me for a bit between a set and I’d told him some of the craziness we’d been up to. Uncle Soup got me a delicious drink, I don’t remember what it was exactly, some sort of 10% beer.
We couldn’t stay for the entire set. I’d been totally exhausted. I didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning after the Strikesound party the previous night, and now I was up late again. I was supposed to be to work at 7 the next morning, and I actually took a sick day I was so tired. I don’t regret any of the great fun times, and it ended up working out because being off work may have helped me to coordinate another acquisition of the Morris Canal that might not have happened otherwise.
HAM
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