Thursday Along The Plains Branch

Teegate

Administrator
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Sep 17, 2002
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All,

The weather seemed right for a Thursday exploration, so Rob from work and I took off and headed out before sunrise to do just that. We first visited a location in Runnemede which I will be writing about later on the weekend when I return. From there we headed to Stevenson Road (Red Road) where we parked my car here at the beginnings of the Plains Branch and headed south along the same.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.79789509981406&lng=-74.4078254699707&z=14&type=k&gpx=

The small savannahs were completely dry until we arrived near the intersection of the two streams. We wandered around somewhat along the route and something caught my eye that forced my first photo of the day. Hidden away in a remote spot we had stumbled on a rare Pine Plains property stone. This stone was barely sticking out of the ground, and I almost missed seeing it. It is most likely on the Haines property line.

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From there we explored the cedar swamps which was one of our objectives for the day. They have been harvested over the years and are full of corduroy roads which are always fun to visit. This shows our route there.


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Corduroy Road

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Haines Monuments.

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Eventually, we made it all the way down to the Nature Conservancy House at the Oswego Preserve, and we borrowed a couple chairs and had our lunch on the dock. This was about the same time those where we work were finishing lunch and heading back to work. It was a good feeling putting our back to the breeze with our feet propped having the time of our life. This shows Rob preparing for lunch.


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Kind of messy there.

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So by now we had made it all the way to here.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.768254986058906&lng=-74.40979957580566&z=16&type=k&gpx=


Then back to exploring. Our next route.

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The convergence of two corduroy roads.


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Finally, we arrived at our next objective of the day. We found the refrigerated truck that Bobpbx visited in the past. Carefully checking out the writing on the side it informed us the truck was from Ship Bottom NJ. The fifth photo below shows that.


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It says Refrigerated

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Ship Bottom

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We then headed north back towards my car, exploring the stream on the way.

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A great little spot that as far as we can tell does not have a footpath or road to it.

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And finally, we started in the pine plains, and we ended in the pine plains, and the day was over all too soon.

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We had bushwhacked 5.52 miles according to my GPS, and visited all of the places we had intended to go. And very soon I will be on another adventure and I will let you know how that turns out.

Guy
 

NJBill

Explorer
Sep 10, 2008
120
2
Hamilton (Mercer County)
Great trip report and photos Guy. As always, thanks for taking the time to share your day. I particularly appreciate the insert maps to give those of us less familiar with the area a better reference as to location.

Enjoy your next adventure! I'll look forward to hearing all about it.

Bill
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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Glad you enjoyed the maps. I should have been doing that in the past, but as usual I failed to do so.

Guy
 

glowordz

Explorer
Jan 19, 2009
585
8
SC
www.gloriarepp.com
Thanks, Guy. It's always an education to read one of your journeys. The corduroy roads are fascinating, and so is your ability to spot meaningful stones. I agree--the maps are helpful. On the first map link, what is the airport/airstrip WNW of your starting point?

~Glo
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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Thanks, Guy. It's always an education to read one of your journeys. The corduroy roads are fascinating, and so is your ability to spot meaningful stones. I agree--the maps are helpful. On the first map link, what is the airport/airstrip WNW of your starting point?

~Glo

That airstrip is Coyle Field. That is used for forest fire planes and equipment among other things.

Guy
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,672
4,849
Pines; Bamber area
Great stuff Guy! How did Rob like it? I'll bet he likes getting away from society, like I do.

Regarding the location of the old cabin, I like that mess you found better than the cabin. I did not think much at all of that cabin. It seemed a shack to me.

Did you make it to those savannas inbetween the branches? What were they like?
 
Oct 25, 2006
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Nice report Guy, looks like you two had a great day, any ticks encountered ?

On the Haines Stone pic, any way to zoom in on the GPS screen, i can't make out the readings.:D

Jim
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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On the Haines Stone pic, any way to zoom in on the GPS screen, i can't make out the readings.:D

Jim

Jim,

On the original photo I can see them clearly. I tried to view them on the photo I posted but could not. Better that way since we came the legal way, but others may not.

Guy
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,342
328
Near Mt. Misery
Nice trip Guy!! Hey, in the forth pic down...what is that thing half submerged in the sphagnum in the foreground? Looks metallic. Also, that pond in the second to last photo is a real nice one huh? Yes, I've fished it. Surprisingly secluded given it's location, but has you know, well protected by vegetation.

Jeff
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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Nice trip Guy!! Hey, in the forth pic down...what is that thing half submerged in the sphagnum in the foreground? Looks metallic. Also, that pond in the second to last photo is a real nice one huh? Yes, I've fished it. Surprisingly secluded given it's location, but has you know, well protected by vegetation.

Jeff

I am not sure which item you are referring to, but it either is a leaf or a root of a tree.

Guy
 

LARGO

Piney
Sep 7, 2005
1,553
134
54
Pestletown
Guy,
Your trips oft yield great finds. In this one I especially like the look of the corduroy roads you came across. While plentiful in the region sometimes they are not as obvious or apparent as one might think. In one of your pics for instance the "road" could almost be a coincidental clearing instead of a path.
Do you often see a pattern of telltale "signs" of a really old road before you realize you're on one? I'm talking old now. I've found quite by accident a few over the years that I didn't even realize I was on till after a bit and then saw the road itself right under foot. Just wondering if you look on purpose or find by chance. Just the same thanks for a really informative report.

g.
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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George,

These roads did not have the wood in this area, but did in other places. I took that photo because they came together there.


The signs I usually notice is the ground is lower. When I am walking through the woods and the ground dips I start to look around.


Guy
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,342
328
Near Mt. Misery
On a PBX hike once, we were walking through a predominently maple/blueberry swamp when one of the hikers noticed very old timbers crossing the ground. A closer look revealed the dip and more timbers. It was barely distinguishable. That might have been the most overgrown and oldest cord road I was ever on. The fact that it was in a maple swamp was weird, but there was alot of ceder forest around it. this was in Medford near Atsion road and the power line.

Jeff
 
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