Hawkin Bridge to Evans Bridge

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,895
1,037
On Saturday Sept 25 we took a paddle on the Wading River. There's not many places to go with the water so low, but it did make for some interesting exploring. We did some walking untill we got past the Hawkin Bridge camp ground, the rest was OK. It was interesting to see how little soil overlays the sand and gravel. The banks were very high (for South Jersey). I was particulary looking for structure exposed of the several of the old bridge supports. I saw more than usual, but nothing remarkable. The dam near Evans Bridge was a different story. Since the water was so low and the dam broken, much more was revealed.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=339&pos=0

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=339&pos=1

There are joints in the top of the dam
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=339&pos=2

Maybe for extending it's hight?

Square nails held it together

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=339&pos=3

along with tree nails, dowls inserted in holes in the planks which swell in water. These are common in ship building.

Evans Bridge was quite high
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=339&pos=4

I remember barely being able to get under it last winter.

This is a great time for putting on an old pair of sneekers and walking down stream.

Ed
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
26,012
8,788
Very nice Ed. You may want to explore near Bodine Field since John Pierce said during the 1995 drought a very large dam was found there.

Guy
 

onehand

Explorer
Apr 11, 2005
374
1
potter co. pa.
those are great pics, i have paddled that section when the water was about 2-3 inches over the dam and another time when the dam was about 3 inches visable and wondered what it looked like at very low water level

it is interesting to see that much of the dam and how it was constructed and the surounding contours and depth of the waterway
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,723
4,911
Pines; Bamber area
woodjin said:
Very nice report. You are right, this is a great time for exploring the rivers by foot, gives me some ideas. Jeff

Yeah, ideas! I like ideas!

Sunday is supposed to be really nice weather. Why don't we put on old sneakers and nylon pants and a tee shirt and walk down the middle of the Oswego from the pump house to Martha? What is it-a mile, mile and a quarter? Afterwards we can bathe in the creek, put on dry clothes, and go have a couple beers and a sandwich at another watering hole.
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,363
357
Near Mt. Misery
Great idea Bob, however I am camping Saturday night I will probably get back around 2 ish, I don't know what time you were thinking of. I would like to do that though! If I have to miss it I have to miss it I guess.

Jeff
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,723
4,911
Pines; Bamber area
Oh well Jeff and Bear, some other time. I know you'd be tired from camping Jeff and I didn't want to start too late. More like 1PM after the sun's been out awhile to warm things up but not so late we'd be stuck (double meaning here) in waist deep mud with the sun going down.
 
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