walking in the woods

This weekend is the State Parks Weekend for the Liberty Bell Wanderers Volkssport group. Three state, and one county park in one weekend. Last time, we stayed overnight. This time I went alone and did three-ish walks in one day.

The start point was a hotel, and the road was closed in front of it. Hopefully, this was not a sign of things to come. I signed in for the three walks, stamped my books, secured directions and hit the road. (Yesterday, I went on google maps and printed a map to get from one walk to another. )

The first stop was the Marsh Creek State Park. I parked and followed the directions into the woods. I did not take my walking stick. The initial path said I didn't need it. I made a judgement call. I was very wrong.

The route was basically around the man-made lake. The 5K went as far as the dam, and then you went back. There was few hikers, but a lot of bikers. Some of them were not "sharing the road". It was starting to piss me off.

As I was walking deeper and deeper into the woods I started to think about all the things I was doing wrong. Walking alone on an unfamiliar path. Not having a stick. (I tripped 3 times). I left my backpack in the car, so I had no food or water. I would have flunked Girl Scouts.

I saw 5 other Volkssporters. Here, I did the whole 5K.

 The next stop was Warwick County Park. The website says "In the 18th and 19th centuries, Warwick’s woodlands provided much of the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region’s iron furnaces and forges. Remains of the iron industry can still be seen at various charcoal hearths along old cart paths." I was looking forward to seeing the ruins.

This walk was written by the Chester County Red Rovers, a new club, and a co-sponsor of the event. They were really hard to follow. I saw the treasure of the club and her dog, also having trouble. We figured out where the start point was, but that was an out and back, with no historical artifacts.  I decided to do the second half, and then do the first half if I had time. 

The directions said to return to the park office, and go thru the parking lot on the left, and turn on the grass path after the pavilion. What grass path? The county had just mowed the lawn. No grass paths were apparent.

In the distance, to the front left, I saw a wooden structure and something that looked like a sign. I went toward it. It was where I was supposed to be. The instructions said to turn left on the trail and follow the tree line, past the parking lots, blah, blah. I did that.  But since I approached the bridge from the wrong direction, I really should have gone RIGHT. I am wandering all over the place looking for the trail. Couldn't find it.

Then I decided to go the other way. I had nothing to lose, and I was over this walk. I just wanted to leave. After I passed the bridge, I turned left and the directions were correct! Sheesh. Also, With the sun not hitting it, I could see the "grass trail". The grass was mashed down and by doing that it was a different color. (Think golf course.) 

This park was buggy. Several flew up my nose. Yuck!

I followed the directions until it went into the woods then I worked my way back to the car. I didn't trust these directions. At all and my phone was dead. Not a good combo.

It was only a 7-mile drive to the next park. Not enough time to charge the phone, but enough to take these two pics from the car with it plugged in.

The last stop was French Creek State Park with the start/end point being Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Visitor's Center. The National Park services website says  that Hopewell was in operation from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other "iron plantations" laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant.

I've been here before. The last time was Jan. 1, 2016 with Angel and her family at a First Hike event  and everything was closed. Since we hiked in from French Creek State Park, I didn't realize there was a visitor center. I didn't stamp my Pennsylvania Passport books, but I was able to stamp my NPS one.

I was so disappointed the camera was dead. The whole village was OPEN. Even the house. And the water wheel. And it was running. I would have taken dozens of photos.

These directions were also written by the Chester group, but they were much better. The first half of the walk was at the furnace, the second half in French Creek, including the 2nd 5K. I didn't do the whole thing. Again, when the trail became too rustic, I doubled back and headed to the parking lot.

This week I did very little walking, and I was tired after the third walk. Laziness always rears it's ugly head.

Miles/Steps:   7 miles
Bathrooms:      I-3.5 at the visitor's center
Weather:        Perfect. 70s, sunny, breezy
Wildlife:          I heard a lot at Marsh Creek including something diving into the lake. The only thing I actually saw was a chipmunk. I saw nothing at the other two. Heard lots of birds and insects. 
Extras:           Pat wanted me to stop at Michaels on my way home. Before I left the furnace, I  googled for a store in Pottsville. Coming up I saw 2 AC Moore and 1 Joanne's. There was one on Route 100.
     I turned at the entrance sign and there was an access road. In the middle of the road was something dead. And a wake of what I thought were vultures, feeding on it. I slowed down. I stopped. I beeped the horn. They didn't budge. They looked up and gave me the "what the hell are you beeping at look". It was then I realized they weren't vultures. Or even turkey vultures. 
     They were large and dark grey-black but their heads had feathers. I tried to look them up, but the closest I could come was forest ravens, but they aren't right either. I wonder if they were young. They committee was sitting in a tree when I came back. (Vulture trivia: The term kettle refers to vultures in flight, while committee refers to vultures resting in trees. Wake is reserved for a group of vultures that are feeding.)