All,
For the second time in two weeks I took a Friday off from work and went hiking with Rob from work. I usually come up with a good tough one when this happens, and today was no exception So this morning long before the sun even started to awake, we were heading to the woods off of Jackson road along the Burlington/Camden County border. As we arrived daylight was occurring, and we were off to enjoy the pines.
Our first stop was to find 4 stone property markers for a small parcel of land described as:
Metes and Bounds From Adjoining Deeds. Last known owner by following deeds. Jesse S. Braddock to James A. Nale and Henry Phelps. Aug 25, 1873 Burlington Co. Acquisition No S-26 (3 Acres plus or minus) Approximate location only, not surveyed out.
Because it was not surveyed out, I could only guess where the stones may be, so I was uncertain if we would be close. As we arrived at 130 feet from our intended location, I noticed this.
So we had found the first one but off by 130 feet, and we tried adjusting our search for the next 3 with that in mind. However, we did not have any luck. In the midst of this area we stopped to enjoy this little spot as the sun just started to show in the tree’s.
Our next stop was to visit the most southern tip of the private Dutchtown Bogs. While heading to this location I decided to break open a Granola Bar to eliminate some of the hunger that was becoming hard to ignore. The usual cumbersome removal of it from my bag while keeping track of my gloves and walking stick occurred, and we headed off while I munched away. A short time later I suddenly became aware that only my GPS and gloves were in my hand, and I was minus my walking stick. My mom paid $50 for it and I wanted it back. A quick retrace of our route of about 600 feet was in order, but after a half hour we had to move on. The end has most likely come for it.
Arriving at the bog we just broke through the woods, since it is private and we did not want to cause any problems. A few quick photo’s and we headed on to our next stop.
It was still early so the shadows were long.
A panoramic of two photo’s.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/11022007/Untitled.jpg
On our route we found this little gem.
Our next stop was the 130 foot hill that in the past someone on this site said they drove on. Unfortunately, there is not a vehicle route to the top so that could not have happened. There is an old road around the base which we crossed on our way up. This hill at the top has depressions like cellar holes of old homes, but it most likely is another location in the pines were sandstone was mined for property stones and home foundations. There is no view since the surrounding woods are quite dense and hard to maneuver in, causing some slow going.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.8013&lon=-74.81122&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=m&s=25
Then to our next property stone where surveyor’s had been at in the past year and cut down massive pine tree’s for better satellite reception for their GPS equipment. These tree’s were huge and it is really quite troubling that they would take them down for more exact locations of these corners when I was able to find it with my handheld GPS. It had been surveyed in the 1950’s and it was obvious they could not find the survey monument, which I was able to find in less than a minute. Covered in moss and sticking up 3 inches, but unfound by them.
Here is the stone.
At this point things become even more depressing after earlier misplacing my stick. I removed some of my paperwork from my bag and we discussed where to go next. We picked up and decided to change our route to get back to the car a little earlier. We had walk about 300 feet when Rob noticed my sandwich fall out of my bag. Alarmed at this, I removed everything from my bag and my cell phone was gone. We retraced our steps and returned again, but for the second time in almost as many hours I had lost something else. He did not have his phone or we could have called it, so we had no choice but to head on.
On our way back we discovered this property stone also.
And after enduring a very long tough stretch of woods, we encountered this really nice old unused road that does not even show up on any aerial maps I have looked at. I will be returning to follow it on another visit there.
And that visit will be quite soon, since tomorrow morning Jessica and I will be returning to give one last look for the 3 remaining property stones, my stick, and my phone. It will be a long tough road for her, but I am sure she will prevail. I have cuts all over my face and legs, and am hoping we don't acquire anymore.
Guy
For the second time in two weeks I took a Friday off from work and went hiking with Rob from work. I usually come up with a good tough one when this happens, and today was no exception So this morning long before the sun even started to awake, we were heading to the woods off of Jackson road along the Burlington/Camden County border. As we arrived daylight was occurring, and we were off to enjoy the pines.
Our first stop was to find 4 stone property markers for a small parcel of land described as:
Metes and Bounds From Adjoining Deeds. Last known owner by following deeds. Jesse S. Braddock to James A. Nale and Henry Phelps. Aug 25, 1873 Burlington Co. Acquisition No S-26 (3 Acres plus or minus) Approximate location only, not surveyed out.
Because it was not surveyed out, I could only guess where the stones may be, so I was uncertain if we would be close. As we arrived at 130 feet from our intended location, I noticed this.
So we had found the first one but off by 130 feet, and we tried adjusting our search for the next 3 with that in mind. However, we did not have any luck. In the midst of this area we stopped to enjoy this little spot as the sun just started to show in the tree’s.
Our next stop was to visit the most southern tip of the private Dutchtown Bogs. While heading to this location I decided to break open a Granola Bar to eliminate some of the hunger that was becoming hard to ignore. The usual cumbersome removal of it from my bag while keeping track of my gloves and walking stick occurred, and we headed off while I munched away. A short time later I suddenly became aware that only my GPS and gloves were in my hand, and I was minus my walking stick. My mom paid $50 for it and I wanted it back. A quick retrace of our route of about 600 feet was in order, but after a half hour we had to move on. The end has most likely come for it.
Arriving at the bog we just broke through the woods, since it is private and we did not want to cause any problems. A few quick photo’s and we headed on to our next stop.
It was still early so the shadows were long.
A panoramic of two photo’s.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/11022007/Untitled.jpg
On our route we found this little gem.
Our next stop was the 130 foot hill that in the past someone on this site said they drove on. Unfortunately, there is not a vehicle route to the top so that could not have happened. There is an old road around the base which we crossed on our way up. This hill at the top has depressions like cellar holes of old homes, but it most likely is another location in the pines were sandstone was mined for property stones and home foundations. There is no view since the surrounding woods are quite dense and hard to maneuver in, causing some slow going.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.8013&lon=-74.81122&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=m&s=25
Then to our next property stone where surveyor’s had been at in the past year and cut down massive pine tree’s for better satellite reception for their GPS equipment. These tree’s were huge and it is really quite troubling that they would take them down for more exact locations of these corners when I was able to find it with my handheld GPS. It had been surveyed in the 1950’s and it was obvious they could not find the survey monument, which I was able to find in less than a minute. Covered in moss and sticking up 3 inches, but unfound by them.
Here is the stone.
At this point things become even more depressing after earlier misplacing my stick. I removed some of my paperwork from my bag and we discussed where to go next. We picked up and decided to change our route to get back to the car a little earlier. We had walk about 300 feet when Rob noticed my sandwich fall out of my bag. Alarmed at this, I removed everything from my bag and my cell phone was gone. We retraced our steps and returned again, but for the second time in almost as many hours I had lost something else. He did not have his phone or we could have called it, so we had no choice but to head on.
On our way back we discovered this property stone also.
And after enduring a very long tough stretch of woods, we encountered this really nice old unused road that does not even show up on any aerial maps I have looked at. I will be returning to follow it on another visit there.
And that visit will be quite soon, since tomorrow morning Jessica and I will be returning to give one last look for the 3 remaining property stones, my stick, and my phone. It will be a long tough road for her, but I am sure she will prevail. I have cuts all over my face and legs, and am hoping we don't acquire anymore.
Guy