All
On Saturday i wanted after all the rain to go to places in Wharton, Monument hunting was my first order of things, due to the rain my friend George and i almost decided to cancel the Wharton trip, we were going to go to Howardsville instead, another place that i have yet to visit.
I picked him up at 9:00 A.M. and said let's check out the road south of Atsion which i needed to use to get to my first objective, on the live maps it shows the road to be lake filled washouts, as soon as i entered said road off of Rt.206 the puddles were there halfway stretching across the road, i drove the Jeep as far as i could but then this stopped me, even the go around was deep and rutted.
Parking the Jeep, we then had a less than half a mile trudge through numerous washouts going through the woods most of the times, chest waders would have been more appropriate than knee high boots. We then reached what was a very sugar sand area where we would have parked if not for the huge washouts. This is the point where we needed to go on a southern trek to reach my first objective, Monument #64, in the area is a Burlington-Atlantic County Monument plus a Township Monument.
Before crossing a Savannah, which is the first time that i have ever tried that, i took the following pic of the road past the parking spot, this washout went on for about two hundred yards or more. Just looking at it you can tell it is real deep.
On the way to the Savannah crossing point we found this Stone, it was the only one in the area, is it Sandstone ? or Bog Ore ?
Now it was time to cross the Savannah, i asked Guy the night before about the water in there, he said it was on the dry side, but due to the rains i might need more than knee high boots,, a view of the Savannah, just from looking from the North side over to the South side i thought that the crossing over to the Monuments might have to wait another day, i did not bring along my chest waders.
Time now to give the crossing a try, we are here and if possible maybe we can make it across. I told George that i as usual will be the point man, almost immediately the water was two inches below the top of my knee highs, the water did not get any deeper as i was using the Reeds to prop me up higher, when almost reaching the Southern side i took this pic of a Flower whose name that i do not know.
Upon reaching the Southern side, i took another pic of this patch of Pink Flowers, these Flowers were abundant all over the area, once again i do not know their name.
Oh yes, halfway through the Savannah crossing George decided to turn back, coming this far i was ready to let my boots get innundated with water to get to my objective, persistance was my reward, i then started on my journey to the Monuments, on the way i took this pic of a White Flower, name once again is beyond my knowledge.
Then after a trek of about .16 of a mile through wet foliage i found the Burlington/Atlantic County Monument, notice the date 1935 on it.
When discussing with Guy that i would like to view this Monument after looking on the live maps, he gave me the precise GPS coordinates, my yellow E-trex was only 13 feet off, i also found about fifteen feet away the Township Monument which Guy advised me of.
Quest accomplished i now set my E-Trex for a return trip to the Savannah crossing point, amazingly at the Monuments i shouted to George that i was on my way back, he did hear me but he could not understand. Arriving at the crossing point i took another pic of a cluster of these Flowers.
We then started our way back to the Jeep, we noticed a cleared out roaded area that looks like a Bulldozer had cleared who knows when then i took the following pic of our new walking sticks, nothing like the Wife wanting to discard two old brooms, this is the first time that we have ever used a walking stick.
Arriving back at the Jeep i took the following pic of George navigating the washout, yea easy compared to the Savanna.
By the way, before leaving the area George found a fairly new set of Ford car keys, there was a metal plate on the ring with an American Eagle embossed on it, anyone lose them give me a PM.
Leaving the area we then traveled to Rockwood to view a Monument there that we missed on our last trip, thanks to Guy, we found it immediately, the road was not as bad that i thought that it would be after the recent rains. The designation on the plate is NJ 301 H.
Now a pic of a Rockwood Bog with some real nice Flowers floating on the water. The water from the Bog was overflowing it's banks.
Now it was time to go looking for two other Monuments #29 and #35, taking Rt.206 to Columbia Road to Richards Ave, George noticed the following concrete structure sitting in the creek at a Bridge that we crossed over on Richards Ave. I have no idea what it is.
We then started our search for Monument #29, we turned onto a sand road which had some washouts but it was not that bad, we traveled West to where #29 is located but after a half hour search we did not find it, on the Live Maps this road narrows down from an unimproved road to a Jeep trail but my Jeep narrowly fit through without a scratch, oh yes, George found another set of Ford car keys, this set looked about a year old or more, like before if anyone lost them give me a PM, this set by the looks of them were owned by a very religious person for a hint.
Upon leaving the area we had plenty of time to spare, it was 2:30 P.M., we were not due at our friends house in Tabernacle until 5:00 P.M., so i decided to show George St.Anthony's Cemetery in Pestleton, the second e in cemetery is an e not an a, after a short visit and with time still on our hands we decided to try to look for Monument #35 around the Swamp Monster, and West Mills Road was right there at Rt.206 and Rt.536, i knew West Mills Road was going to be in worst shape that the last time that we were there with Ed, but exploring was the name of the game.
Upon entering West Mills Road i was not wrong on my assumption, but onward ho, we after going through the numerous wider and deeper washouts than last time went on to where the road intersects with the road to the Swamp Monster, going North i drove as far as i could, but the washouts then got trench like, we then proceeded to where #35 should be but once again after a half hour search we did not find it. The road that #35 should be located at was one of the worst concerning huge washouts that i have ever seen, but there were huge tire tracks, and they looked fresh went through all of the washouts, i then took my last pic of the day of the following flower, again i do not know it's name. Oh yes, we also traveled to the South side of Bloody Bridge.
It was now time to end our exploring part of the day, the pedometer read over 5 miles, we were tired, exhausted, and today my back is killing me, in retrospect, we then went over our friends house for refreshments, we got home at 11:00 P.M., i crossed my first Savannah, the morning rated the best when it was 59 degrees, when the Sun came out later it got hot, humid, Mosquitoes were about, Gnats, and those damn Pine Flies, we did not get bit, but they were buzzing, all in all, another awesome day in the Pines, but i am paying for it today.
Jim
On Saturday i wanted after all the rain to go to places in Wharton, Monument hunting was my first order of things, due to the rain my friend George and i almost decided to cancel the Wharton trip, we were going to go to Howardsville instead, another place that i have yet to visit.
I picked him up at 9:00 A.M. and said let's check out the road south of Atsion which i needed to use to get to my first objective, on the live maps it shows the road to be lake filled washouts, as soon as i entered said road off of Rt.206 the puddles were there halfway stretching across the road, i drove the Jeep as far as i could but then this stopped me, even the go around was deep and rutted.
Parking the Jeep, we then had a less than half a mile trudge through numerous washouts going through the woods most of the times, chest waders would have been more appropriate than knee high boots. We then reached what was a very sugar sand area where we would have parked if not for the huge washouts. This is the point where we needed to go on a southern trek to reach my first objective, Monument #64, in the area is a Burlington-Atlantic County Monument plus a Township Monument.
Before crossing a Savannah, which is the first time that i have ever tried that, i took the following pic of the road past the parking spot, this washout went on for about two hundred yards or more. Just looking at it you can tell it is real deep.
On the way to the Savannah crossing point we found this Stone, it was the only one in the area, is it Sandstone ? or Bog Ore ?
Now it was time to cross the Savannah, i asked Guy the night before about the water in there, he said it was on the dry side, but due to the rains i might need more than knee high boots,, a view of the Savannah, just from looking from the North side over to the South side i thought that the crossing over to the Monuments might have to wait another day, i did not bring along my chest waders.
Time now to give the crossing a try, we are here and if possible maybe we can make it across. I told George that i as usual will be the point man, almost immediately the water was two inches below the top of my knee highs, the water did not get any deeper as i was using the Reeds to prop me up higher, when almost reaching the Southern side i took this pic of a Flower whose name that i do not know.
Upon reaching the Southern side, i took another pic of this patch of Pink Flowers, these Flowers were abundant all over the area, once again i do not know their name.
Oh yes, halfway through the Savannah crossing George decided to turn back, coming this far i was ready to let my boots get innundated with water to get to my objective, persistance was my reward, i then started on my journey to the Monuments, on the way i took this pic of a White Flower, name once again is beyond my knowledge.
Then after a trek of about .16 of a mile through wet foliage i found the Burlington/Atlantic County Monument, notice the date 1935 on it.
When discussing with Guy that i would like to view this Monument after looking on the live maps, he gave me the precise GPS coordinates, my yellow E-trex was only 13 feet off, i also found about fifteen feet away the Township Monument which Guy advised me of.
Quest accomplished i now set my E-Trex for a return trip to the Savannah crossing point, amazingly at the Monuments i shouted to George that i was on my way back, he did hear me but he could not understand. Arriving at the crossing point i took another pic of a cluster of these Flowers.
We then started our way back to the Jeep, we noticed a cleared out roaded area that looks like a Bulldozer had cleared who knows when then i took the following pic of our new walking sticks, nothing like the Wife wanting to discard two old brooms, this is the first time that we have ever used a walking stick.
Arriving back at the Jeep i took the following pic of George navigating the washout, yea easy compared to the Savanna.
By the way, before leaving the area George found a fairly new set of Ford car keys, there was a metal plate on the ring with an American Eagle embossed on it, anyone lose them give me a PM.
Leaving the area we then traveled to Rockwood to view a Monument there that we missed on our last trip, thanks to Guy, we found it immediately, the road was not as bad that i thought that it would be after the recent rains. The designation on the plate is NJ 301 H.
Now a pic of a Rockwood Bog with some real nice Flowers floating on the water. The water from the Bog was overflowing it's banks.
Now it was time to go looking for two other Monuments #29 and #35, taking Rt.206 to Columbia Road to Richards Ave, George noticed the following concrete structure sitting in the creek at a Bridge that we crossed over on Richards Ave. I have no idea what it is.
We then started our search for Monument #29, we turned onto a sand road which had some washouts but it was not that bad, we traveled West to where #29 is located but after a half hour search we did not find it, on the Live Maps this road narrows down from an unimproved road to a Jeep trail but my Jeep narrowly fit through without a scratch, oh yes, George found another set of Ford car keys, this set looked about a year old or more, like before if anyone lost them give me a PM, this set by the looks of them were owned by a very religious person for a hint.
Upon leaving the area we had plenty of time to spare, it was 2:30 P.M., we were not due at our friends house in Tabernacle until 5:00 P.M., so i decided to show George St.Anthony's Cemetery in Pestleton, the second e in cemetery is an e not an a, after a short visit and with time still on our hands we decided to try to look for Monument #35 around the Swamp Monster, and West Mills Road was right there at Rt.206 and Rt.536, i knew West Mills Road was going to be in worst shape that the last time that we were there with Ed, but exploring was the name of the game.
Upon entering West Mills Road i was not wrong on my assumption, but onward ho, we after going through the numerous wider and deeper washouts than last time went on to where the road intersects with the road to the Swamp Monster, going North i drove as far as i could, but the washouts then got trench like, we then proceeded to where #35 should be but once again after a half hour search we did not find it. The road that #35 should be located at was one of the worst concerning huge washouts that i have ever seen, but there were huge tire tracks, and they looked fresh went through all of the washouts, i then took my last pic of the day of the following flower, again i do not know it's name. Oh yes, we also traveled to the South side of Bloody Bridge.
It was now time to end our exploring part of the day, the pedometer read over 5 miles, we were tired, exhausted, and today my back is killing me, in retrospect, we then went over our friends house for refreshments, we got home at 11:00 P.M., i crossed my first Savannah, the morning rated the best when it was 59 degrees, when the Sun came out later it got hot, humid, Mosquitoes were about, Gnats, and those damn Pine Flies, we did not get bit, but they were buzzing, all in all, another awesome day in the Pines, but i am paying for it today.
Jim