Allie
Forum Sage
Hi folks, this is a copy of a post in the Riding Game thread, just a little plug for how nice the riding and countryside are up here in Northern New Jersey. This is just one late afternoon's sampling!
As promised (threatened) here are some pics I snapped yesterday, in the spirit of the 'artifacts from yesteryear connected to a previous way of life'. I just love this stuff, and have to share.
Exhibit A: this is one of many old forges scattered throughout our area, they can be seen beside old back roads. I'm sure they date back to the early 1800s or earlier, obviously when metal working was a local affair. All the forges are of similar design, I'm not sure why we have so many.
Exhibit B: an antique gas pump, probably well over 50 years old, hearkening back to the days of uniformed gas station attendants filling your car, checking your oil, cleaning your windshield. Extra bonus is that the 'mom and pop' garage is still in business. I love Stillwater!
Exhibit C: last but by no means least is this viaduct located just outside of Blairstown NJ. This is part of the Lackawanna Cutoff rail system connecting PA and NJ. It was built in 1910, and was a marvelous engineering feat in its day, one of the largest projects in the nation at the time, as well as one of the first uses of reinforced concrete. It once serviced a booming tourist industry to and from the Poconos, but has been abandoned since the early 80s, people are trying to bring it back into service. This viaduct is enormous, it's really hard to get the scale of it from pictures. By the time I was far back enough to get the bottom and top into the picture you could barely see the bike at the bottom. I've been up inside the arches in the past, and walked along the tracks at the top. This is a favorite spot for 'rural graffiti artists'.
I hope you enjoyed yesterday's ride!
As promised (threatened) here are some pics I snapped yesterday, in the spirit of the 'artifacts from yesteryear connected to a previous way of life'. I just love this stuff, and have to share.
Exhibit A: this is one of many old forges scattered throughout our area, they can be seen beside old back roads. I'm sure they date back to the early 1800s or earlier, obviously when metal working was a local affair. All the forges are of similar design, I'm not sure why we have so many.
Exhibit B: an antique gas pump, probably well over 50 years old, hearkening back to the days of uniformed gas station attendants filling your car, checking your oil, cleaning your windshield. Extra bonus is that the 'mom and pop' garage is still in business. I love Stillwater!
Exhibit C: last but by no means least is this viaduct located just outside of Blairstown NJ. This is part of the Lackawanna Cutoff rail system connecting PA and NJ. It was built in 1910, and was a marvelous engineering feat in its day, one of the largest projects in the nation at the time, as well as one of the first uses of reinforced concrete. It once serviced a booming tourist industry to and from the Poconos, but has been abandoned since the early 80s, people are trying to bring it back into service. This viaduct is enormous, it's really hard to get the scale of it from pictures. By the time I was far back enough to get the bottom and top into the picture you could barely see the bike at the bottom. I've been up inside the arches in the past, and walked along the tracks at the top. This is a favorite spot for 'rural graffiti artists'.
I hope you enjoyed yesterday's ride!
. You feel like a bit like Indiana Jones
) Its a 29 mile reserve that is part of the Appalachian mountain range. It is right on the border of NJ and PA. Lots of great roads surrounding it but since we took the cage no pics of those sorry. However after a steep about 2 miles to the top, the view was pretty awesome.
