Today's walk was with Get Out Lehigh Valley at the Trexler Nature (aka Game) Preserve, Last year's walk was done in high humidity with a crazy steep hill. I thought a lot about not going. Even with a walking stick, that hill would be tough. And would it be slippery when wet? I decided to go. Plan B was to park at the covered bridge and walk to the ford and meet the group there—the bottom of the hill.
I left late. Lydia came for the dog and it was pouring so I took them home. It was a drizzle going over the Hill to Hill bridge, and by the time I reached the Lehigh River Bridge on Rt. 22 it was pouring. My windshield wipers couldn't wipe fast enough.
I turned on to Game Preserve Road and went over the bridge. About 1.5 miles in, there's the zoo. Where's the environmental ed building? There were no signs for the ed center, just north, south, and central ranges. Useless. I was following signs for north and that had no potential, so I switched to the south. Clearly, I took the wrong road. Okay, reading directions instead of relying on memory, might have been helpful.
I came to a sign that said "one-lane bridge ahead". I said if that's the covered bridge I'm going to Plan B. It was. This group always runs late, but I was close to 45 minutes late. I parked and walked to the ford. If they left the ed center at 10:30 (1/2 hour is average lateness) they should arrive at the ford no later than 11:30. They arrived at about 11:15. But not from the direction I expected. They came from the zoo. Huh?
Apparently, they met at the ed center and drove to the zoo. Wildlands decided it was unsafe to take the original trail.
The trail today turned out to be the Covered Bridge Trail. Gravel, relatively flat. Round trip it might be 1.5 miles. We headed from the ford to the covered bridge then back along the other side of the creek, up the hill, and back to the zoo. I signed in as everyone was leaving. Several people offered me rides, but I headed back down the hill, and walked back to the covered bridge, and then home.
Miles/Steps: 5 (plus dog walking)
Bathrooms: L-3 at ford
Wildlife: Cardinal, frogs, fox scat, lots of birds
Weather: High 60s/low 70s, cloudy. It didn't rain at the event, but it rained before/after
$ Found: 1¢
Extras: I was supposed to turn on Orchard Drive before LCCC to get to the ed center. It is on the opposite side of the zoo. Memo to self. At least review the directions, even if you think you know where you are going.
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Last night I got invited to go on the Lehigh River Sojourn on Saturday. Jim Thorpe to Allentown. Can't wait.
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