On Saturday, the Pine Barren Explorers could not resist going back to Lower Mill. It is such a neat area with a lot of hidden little spots along the stream. We started out close to the Mill and went upstream to Turkey Buzzard Bridge. We all had a really good time. The day was not as wet as we thought it would be, and the company, as always was good. We gave it an 8.625 out of 10. Not bad at all.
Here are the guys who started out (besides yours truly); Mickey, Tom, Gabe, Scott, and Jeff.
Our first canal crossing was tough on those of us who only had knee boots.
This is the site of Lower Mill according to Jeff. He found something there you’ll see a photo of later. Scott took the photo.
The Sulfur Spring. It is actually a spring. There is a lot of clay in this area, but it does not explain the white coloring coming out of this spring that smells like sulfur.
There are some nice inclines down to the river in this area. Here’s a shot of the boys from about ¾ of the way down.
Tom at a nice little stream coming in to join the main one. There were several along the way. Beautiful country.
I got across, but then Jeff broke the log, so the rest of them had to go upstream to find a suitable crossing. Those with hip boots held on to the log and crossed. The current is strong the whole way on Bispham’s Mill Creek. It seems always in a rush to become the mighty Rancocas.
Now Gabe points and asks Jeff to try the strength of the log. He does not want it to snap while he is on it.
Sure enough, it snapped. You can see the others dejectedly going upstream while Jeff and Tom cross.
We found a Hunter’s Bridge, and the rest crossed easily. This is Mickey.
Found a couple bogs that are good flower spots. These are pretty exciting to me. They are just like Webbs Mill, but the vegetation has never been scraped down to the sand. I’d like to do that.
Another little stream joining the creek.
Big Country this is.
We met the big man himself, Steve, at the bridge. He is sidelined from hiking for a little while. We went and had a couple beers. That is a story in itself. I had a great time.
Here are the guys who started out (besides yours truly); Mickey, Tom, Gabe, Scott, and Jeff.
Our first canal crossing was tough on those of us who only had knee boots.
This is the site of Lower Mill according to Jeff. He found something there you’ll see a photo of later. Scott took the photo.
The Sulfur Spring. It is actually a spring. There is a lot of clay in this area, but it does not explain the white coloring coming out of this spring that smells like sulfur.
There are some nice inclines down to the river in this area. Here’s a shot of the boys from about ¾ of the way down.
Tom at a nice little stream coming in to join the main one. There were several along the way. Beautiful country.
I got across, but then Jeff broke the log, so the rest of them had to go upstream to find a suitable crossing. Those with hip boots held on to the log and crossed. The current is strong the whole way on Bispham’s Mill Creek. It seems always in a rush to become the mighty Rancocas.
Now Gabe points and asks Jeff to try the strength of the log. He does not want it to snap while he is on it.
Sure enough, it snapped. You can see the others dejectedly going upstream while Jeff and Tom cross.
We found a Hunter’s Bridge, and the rest crossed easily. This is Mickey.
Found a couple bogs that are good flower spots. These are pretty exciting to me. They are just like Webbs Mill, but the vegetation has never been scraped down to the sand. I’d like to do that.
Another little stream joining the creek.
Big Country this is.
We met the big man himself, Steve, at the bridge. He is sidelined from hiking for a little while. We went and had a couple beers. That is a story in itself. I had a great time.