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It was raining when we woke up (although the weather online ensured us that it really wasn't), so we decided to go somewhere close, and to keep it relatively short,
in case the morning was a complete washout. So we headed to a built-up park (not our favorite areas to hike) which had been on our list for a long time, awaiting the right
opportunity. It's a pretty park, even in the rain, and it rained off and on for a good part of the two-plus hours. There are two main trails in this park: a paved bike path
with nice views of the Raritan River, and the much more enjoyable narrow gravel/dirt Canal Trail which parallels the Raritan Power Canal. Both extend further east (crossing
Robert Street) than is shown on the park map, and meet at the pedestrian bridge off Old York Road,
allowing for a nice circuit of about 5 miles. And this is exactly what we did today.
Total distance hiked today was just over 5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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 A rainy start |
 No barbecues today |
 Bridge over stream |
 One of several pavillions |
 These signs abound |
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 Views of ... |
 ... the Raritan River |
 Old sycamore |
 Heading west on bike path |
 To the banks of ... |
 ... the Raritan River |
 Bird on other side |
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 Raritan River |
 Bug on wildflower |
 [Photo by Laura] |
 Raritan River |
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 Headgates dam |
 Bank of river |
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 Shell |
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 Climbing west |
 Headgates dam |
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 Indeed |
 At western end of path |
 View west |
 Cormorant |
 Cliff |
 Looks like a ... |
 ... Palisades cliff |
 Heading back east |
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 Now taking ... |
 ... the canal trail |
 Lined with gravel in spots |
 Dirt in other spots |
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 Blow-down in canal |
 Canal path above picnic facilities |
 Wild flower |
 Cone flower |
 Trees outside visitor's center |
 Behind visitor's center |
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 Steps to ... |
 ... bank of canal |
 Continuing east |
 Canal east of park entrance road |
 Beautiful path here |
 Canada geese at ... |
 ... Duck Pond |
 Duck Pond |
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 Continuing ... |
 ... west |
 Nest over canal |
 Fake ducks across canal |
 Crossing Robert Street |
 Stump of blow-down |
 Graffiti shed |
 Mutant fungus in canal |
 Gorgeous path west |
 Beaver activity |
 Canal reflections |
 Approaching ... |
 ... pedestrian bridge ... |
 ... over canal ... |
 ... at Old York Road |
 Heading back west ... |
 ... on bike path |
 Raritan River |
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 Someone died nearby |
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 Car junkyard entrance on Robert Street |
 Raritan River |
 Bridge at Robert Street |
 Heading west |
 Huge old growth |
 Raining off and on |
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 Picnic pavillion |
 Rainy bridge |
 Wet (and empty) playground |
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Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |