who knew this was a park?

Well, my friend who works in Colonial Williamsburg would. She spent part of her youth in Warren County. It's easy to see on a photo. And I don't think I ever noticed the mules.

I've been passing this sign since September going 45MPH and all I really saw was "Bread Lock". I always thought it was an odd name for a bakery. It's located on Rt 57 at the end of Edison's Concrete Highway and near the Morris Canal Crossing sign. I just figured they were playing with the canal vernacular. Silly me.

Yesterday driving to WCCC there was road construction and I was driving slower. I saw the sign, as always. I'm going slower it's my opportunity to check out the "bakery". Wait, that says Bread Lock Warren County Park. Huh. I googled it once I arrived in my classroom I had another plan for my between schools walk at Thomas Stewart park in Stewartsville but my plans quickly changed. I didn't have sneakers or my sneaker-like slip ons, but I was wearing flats so I should be okay.

After class I headed to the park. I pulled into the entrance and there was a mid-century house that looked like an office. There was maybe 6 parking spaces in front of it. I drove into the driveway thinking there was more parking in the back, but there wasn't. The driveway was a U so I ended up back on 57. I returned to the "house" and parked, then walked down the driveway. On the left I could see the canal and a path. There was also a road to the "museum". In front of me I could see a boat in a pavilion. I walked towards the boat.

When I got closer I saw the ruins of  the Lock Tenders House. The lock tender and his family sold provisions (operated a  grocery store) to the boatmen since there was no long term storage on the canal boats. They also made fresh potato bread, and that's how canal lock 7W became known as the bread lock. 

Above is a photo of the canal, or what's left of it. It goes pretty much thru the property. On the right of the lock tenders house side, the trail goes right thru the cornfield. The sign says "to Main Street". I'm guessing that's P'burg.  Another guess is that this will take me to the park I was at Tuesday, if it connects.

As you head towards the museum, these wooden figures great you. Similar wooded sculptures are along the trail in P'burg.

This hollow log canoe was in front of the museum. Not sure why. Was is necessary to canoe in the canal? I guess I'll have to return on the 2nd Sunday of a month when the museum is open to find out.

I continued on the trail until it ended at Rte. 57. If you crossed the street, there was not canal path. Just corn and overgrown weeds. You'd need industrial strength bug stuff and maybe hip waders and long sleeves to walk there or be eaten alive. I walked along the road and returned to my car.

Where will my lunch break adventures take me next? Who knows. Maybe back on the Morris Canal.

Miles/Steps:           Maybe a mile total
Weather:                 70, mostly sunny

Wildlife:                  none

Bathrooms:             1 port o potty near the museum. didn't use

Extra:                      I arrived about 10 minutes before the race. It looked like the no-show rate was about 50%.