A trip down Jones Road

Wick

Explorer
Mar 6, 2016
408
296
Forked River
Took the family out for a nice jaunt in the pines. Dover road has been graded and you can drive from Lacey Rd. to 539 without going through a giant mud hole or puddle. The grass at Eureka or Blacks Bridge is super tall. When you drive thru it is almost like you are driving in a gorge or ravine. It feels like there are walls on each side. They repaired the road at Bulls Gut. You no longer have to drive through the water as they put a pipe under the road. The water levels at Webbs Mill and Bulls Gut were extremely low and muddy. In fact there was no water exiting the pipes from BG at all. From there we turned and went to Preachers hill. Lots of deer everywhere! Cut though Fun Town and back to Jones road, All the puddles were mostly dried up or super low. Then on to Bryant Rd. towards Forked River Mountain. At the top they have done even more extensive work blocking off all access besides the main road. Wood chips abound the whole viewing area I assume to prevent erosion? They even have a picnic table there too! It was nice to be there and see no garbage. I did not see any burned areas, I thought the FFS hand some areas around the mountain on their list. We left via the railroad and to the road that parallels the Factory branch back to Lacey Rd. I did not pass or see another soul out there.
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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Nice report. Yes, Webbs Mill has been worked on in recent weeks and hopefully they have solved the flooding problem. I hear plants are growing at the boardwalk.
 
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bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,153
4,257
Pines; Bamber area
Speaking of Forked River Mountain, I went to the mountain after the cleanup. I then headed west from the mountain base and made it to 539, but those puddles do hold water. The big clay ones are below. It's like they had a plan, but did not finish it. I used the go-arounds.

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Wick

Explorer
Mar 6, 2016
408
296
Forked River
Wick I am curious. I have never heard of Funtown. Can you elaborate where this is and how it got its name?
I am not sure how it got its name. I assume because it is a popular place to ride bikes, wheel and hang out. Teegate or Bob may be able to shed some light on this. I guess since it was on Old Rd. it was a gravel pit owned by Brick Wall Corp, Parker Associates or Hess

https://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.84098650544553&lng=-74.33270115058897&z=17&type=hybrid&gpx=
 
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Pinesbucks

Explorer
Apr 15, 2013
295
111
Thank you. I know the spot but did not know it was called that. Your right that the bikes and quads love that spot unfortunately.
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,153
4,257
Pines; Bamber area
I am not sure how it got its name. I assume because it is a popular place to ride bikes, wheel and hang out. Teegate or Bob may be able to shed some light on this. I guess since it was on Old Rd. it was a gravel pit owned by Brick Wall Corp, Parker Associates or Hess

https://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.84098650544553&lng=-74.33270115058897&z=17&type=hybrid&gpx=
I recall when that spot was all grasses waving in the wind. Back in 2003 PBX led a trip through there to the Factory Branch headwaters, looking for Swamp Pink. Mr. Parker came along in a truck with his family and was congenial; said he just wanted to ensure we were not hunters. He had his family out there because it was a quiet place, not the hell hole it is now. Remember the car or truck upside down and burnt there? I never heard it called fun town, but that is of course a name the hell raisers adopted so they can figure out where the party is.
 
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Boyd

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Jul 31, 2004
9,502
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Ben's Branch, Stephen Creek
I know that place too, but not the name. Looks like it was a sand pit as far back as 1995

https://boydsmaps.com/#17.00/39.840830/-74.332700/pines1995/0.00/0.00

The 1980's aerials show a forested area with some overgrown roads. Could it be some kind of failed development?

https://boydsmaps.com/#17.00/39.840830/-74.332700/njgin1980/0.00/0.00

Screen Shot 2022-05-14 at 2.20.45 PM.png



The current Mapbox/MAXAR aerials show three vehicles parked there with ORV trailers in tow. The resolution of the MAXAR imagery (level 21) is pretty impressive, but coverage of the pines isn't complete.

https://boydsmaps.com/#21.00/39.840602/-74.333602/mbxsat/0.00/0.00

Screen Shot 2022-05-14 at 2.52.30 PM.png
 
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Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,602
8,177
We visited Jones Road today between 532 and the old Cedar Bridge fire tower and it is flooded in the puddles. Most of them are hard on the bottom but a couple were deep. I checked the bigger ones before going through them and used a few go arounds. I guess they are clearing the sides for a firebreak.


DSC_4132a.jpg



It was quiet there this morning but we did see two living breathing individuals when I was checking the puddle depths.

DSC_4131a.jpg
 

Wick

Explorer
Mar 6, 2016
408
296
Forked River
We visited Jones Road today between 532 and the old Cedar Bridge fire tower and it is flooded in the puddles. Most of them are hard on the bottom but a couple were deep. I checked the bigger ones before going through them and used a few go arounds. I guess they are clearing the sides for a firebreak.


View attachment 17341


It was quiet there this morning but we did see two living breathing individuals when I was checking the puddle depths.

View attachment 17342
Playing LEAP FROG?
 
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