I took Boyd's new topo map program installed on my Nuvi for a test ride today through the Pines. This is just an absolutely amazing gift that Boyd was so generous to develop and share. A DEFINATE must have for any Nuvi owners. Boyd's program worked awesome and all the roads I travelled showed up and many locations discussed here noted on the screen.
A trip summary:
I made my way down to Tabernacle and stopped in Nixons for a quick bite to start the day. Never enter the Pines hungry! I headed down Caranza through Friendship and down to Hawkins Camping area where an inspection of their outhouses was required. Other than a cold seat they worked fine! From there I made my way down to Batsto with a slight detour through the bustling metropolis of Tylertown. Having never been there I was curious. No more to add on Tylertown!
So it was down to Batsto and an attempt at finding Constable Bridge which has been mentioned often on the site. Now I also was testing for the first time a setup that I've read about here using my laptop with my old Magellan Sportrak Pro GPS and using USA Photomaps with both aerial and topo maps loaded. So in other words I was loaded to the gills with location equipment (by the way, the laptop setup works pretty cool) I figure I got within a ¼ mile of it but bailed out before I got to find it. It was a combination of too much information and too many road options at one point. I tend to get a bit risky traveling alone off the beaten path but something told me to bail at this point. It appears this area could be a bit hairy in warmer weather with soft sand. I shall return!
Other than the attempt at Constable, these were all roads I had been on previously so now it was time for some new adventure. So with my trusty Boyd's maps I headed over to Bass River State Forest and Lake Absegami and took a quick tour of that area. Upon leaving I picked up Dans Bridge Rd and headed off to the unknown. Munion Field popped up on the Nuvi so I decided to pursue that and see what I was missing. As so often with me being new, I tend to get excited at arriving at a new destination. Well, I'll have to do some reading on the history of Munion Field because all I found was another decision to make of many roads at an intersection.
I opted to continue northeast past Munion Field. About a ¼ mile down I came upon a large frozen puddle. From reading horror stories here on puddles I always get out and check the depth. Well this was frozen and seemed to be able to hold my large frame. There was also the usual dry lane on the right side of the puddle. OK, 2 wheels will be on dry land and 2 in the puddle, I can do this. So I did the typical 2 minute stare at it as if to say I OWN YOU and decided to back the old two wheel drive F-150 up for my running start and make a go of it. To slightly digress here, winter is a great time for driving the pines as the sand is solid, however, the down side is not knowing how deep the frozen puddles are. Lets just say that there was nothing in my truck that did not go flying, including me, as the left side of my truck dipped toward China. Yes I did make it through but only due to the running start and BARELY. The mud mark on the drivers side was at the bottom of the door. I'll only add it was a good thing I checked that cold toilet seat out earlier!
The worst part about a new road and this happening is you pray there are no more puddles ahead or that you don't have to turn around and go back through it. Luckily there were not. Desperately needing a dose of paved road I headed in the direction of Rt 539 and came out close to the Parkway entrance.
I had planned on a little walking around the Franklin Parker Preserve and headed in the direction of Chatsworth. Passing through Warren Grove, which I think has probably been about 20 years since doing so, I took the time to try and absorb some of the discussion related to the area. Definitely on my to do list for future exploring. I arrived back in Chatsworth, pulled up to an access point of the Preserve , took a deep breath and decided this too will wait for another day. That puddle really took its toll on me! Home and a nap was calling me.
Bill
PS...Hmmm, maybe Boyd can plot deep puddle locations on his maps?
A trip summary:
I made my way down to Tabernacle and stopped in Nixons for a quick bite to start the day. Never enter the Pines hungry! I headed down Caranza through Friendship and down to Hawkins Camping area where an inspection of their outhouses was required. Other than a cold seat they worked fine! From there I made my way down to Batsto with a slight detour through the bustling metropolis of Tylertown. Having never been there I was curious. No more to add on Tylertown!
So it was down to Batsto and an attempt at finding Constable Bridge which has been mentioned often on the site. Now I also was testing for the first time a setup that I've read about here using my laptop with my old Magellan Sportrak Pro GPS and using USA Photomaps with both aerial and topo maps loaded. So in other words I was loaded to the gills with location equipment (by the way, the laptop setup works pretty cool) I figure I got within a ¼ mile of it but bailed out before I got to find it. It was a combination of too much information and too many road options at one point. I tend to get a bit risky traveling alone off the beaten path but something told me to bail at this point. It appears this area could be a bit hairy in warmer weather with soft sand. I shall return!
Other than the attempt at Constable, these were all roads I had been on previously so now it was time for some new adventure. So with my trusty Boyd's maps I headed over to Bass River State Forest and Lake Absegami and took a quick tour of that area. Upon leaving I picked up Dans Bridge Rd and headed off to the unknown. Munion Field popped up on the Nuvi so I decided to pursue that and see what I was missing. As so often with me being new, I tend to get excited at arriving at a new destination. Well, I'll have to do some reading on the history of Munion Field because all I found was another decision to make of many roads at an intersection.
I opted to continue northeast past Munion Field. About a ¼ mile down I came upon a large frozen puddle. From reading horror stories here on puddles I always get out and check the depth. Well this was frozen and seemed to be able to hold my large frame. There was also the usual dry lane on the right side of the puddle. OK, 2 wheels will be on dry land and 2 in the puddle, I can do this. So I did the typical 2 minute stare at it as if to say I OWN YOU and decided to back the old two wheel drive F-150 up for my running start and make a go of it. To slightly digress here, winter is a great time for driving the pines as the sand is solid, however, the down side is not knowing how deep the frozen puddles are. Lets just say that there was nothing in my truck that did not go flying, including me, as the left side of my truck dipped toward China. Yes I did make it through but only due to the running start and BARELY. The mud mark on the drivers side was at the bottom of the door. I'll only add it was a good thing I checked that cold toilet seat out earlier!
The worst part about a new road and this happening is you pray there are no more puddles ahead or that you don't have to turn around and go back through it. Luckily there were not. Desperately needing a dose of paved road I headed in the direction of Rt 539 and came out close to the Parkway entrance.
I had planned on a little walking around the Franklin Parker Preserve and headed in the direction of Chatsworth. Passing through Warren Grove, which I think has probably been about 20 years since doing so, I took the time to try and absorb some of the discussion related to the area. Definitely on my to do list for future exploring. I arrived back in Chatsworth, pulled up to an access point of the Preserve , took a deep breath and decided this too will wait for another day. That puddle really took its toll on me! Home and a nap was calling me.
Bill
PS...Hmmm, maybe Boyd can plot deep puddle locations on his maps?
