some real nice dike walking
a dirty old man! Just like meHmmm...I missed seeing that when I was out there.
No, Ed the whole trail was dry.There is one stream crossing and there is a bridge over it and then you cross the swamp on planking.Where the planking is if the water was up you migh have a little trouble at both ends or in really high water it may even come over the planks but right now you will have no problem.The stream crossing is beautiful.I have crossed this stream in several places on stone hunts an it is a deep 5 to 6 ft stream and about 5 top 6 ft wids and fast with a sand an gravel bottom and clear water.I have never seen such a narrow stream so deep before.Where you cross woul make an excellent soaking spot come summer.Just above the bridge there is about a half mile long dike walk and then you come to the resevoir (this whole swamp looks to have been a cranberry operation in the past) and the resevoir lake is very pretty,before you get there though you pass a nice old bog that is starting to go wild.the rest of the route is basically through upland pine woods of moderate thickness.most walking is either on driveable sand roads or old fire breaks six feet wide.Al, are boots necesary on that section? It looks wet.
if it raining wednesday morning i will postpone till thursday.I want to do it wednesday so i will have a day to recuperate before going back to work.I can imagine what fourteen miles will do to me.I should break it up into two sections and do it in two days but I still believe I can do what i use to do I just know it is going to hurt worse for longer afterwards.
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/index...0473022461&z=14&type=nj2007&gpx=NJPB642131877
Walked the new section from 532 to 72 and back yesterday.14.5 miles.I am a hurtin puppy today.one blister and gimpin from sore muscles like an old man.Sophie took it quite well though she was extraordinarily calm and slept a lot for the nex fourteen hours.She had to of done at least 30 miles.
I pronounce it one of the prettiest sections of trail and I've walked it all.Three nice ponds one of which you have to cross seven small beaver dams.This is definite knee high country.This walk truly has shown me that I can still do what I use to do but it will hurt much worse for much longer.Walked 22 miles once when i was 27 but it took all day.I did 14.5 in just 6.5 hours and one hour of that was rest.Knew I had to keep moving.Started at 1020 am and walked up to the car at 450pm as the sun was setting.
If your going to wheel me out in that you must be as strong as Bigfoot.I am no lightweight Old CrazyGood job, Al. Thanks for the report.
It does get harder to hike as you get older, but you'd be surprised at what you can still do even at 80 years old if you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. I've been on the summits of mountains that I hiked/rock climbed in my 20's & 30's that nearly killed me of exhaustion getting there and bumped into guys up there that were 75-80 years old.
If you ever get in trouble hiking the Batona Trail, just give me a call and I can pick you up in my emergency vehicle:http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...pspla&ef_id=UPrvmAAAF05AuhBK:20130120124430:s
will this help Ed http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=754858Al, could you give me the coordinates of where the trail crosses 563? I drove by twice today but didn't see it.We want to leave a car there and hike one way from the fire tower in Lebanon. Today we did the Batona from Ong's to the fire tower. Six miles a day is plenty for me and I'm good for the next day, and always time for a picnic. Does it meet up with the old Batona Trail at 532?
Thanks,
Ed
I have a motor on my wheelbarrow but it's solar-powered, so it'll probably take me about three weeks to rescue you.If your going to wheel me out in that you must be as strong as Bigfoot.I am no lightweight Old Crazy