Batona Trail in South Jersey

Tranquility

It's called Tranquility,  hiking in God's world on the Mullica River Trail. It's almost like a chapel.

He made our day

We took a camping trip last week to the Delaware Water Gap and did a little hiking of the Appalachian Trail. It began as a sightseeing tour around the area one afternoon and we found the trail just off of a beautiful look out point. Unfortunately, we weren’t prepared to hike any long distances. Wish we had brought our gear.

Even the short time on the trail, we still met some very interesting people, a few were section hikers and some were through hikers, hiking from Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

One in particular was a man with a story. Most hikers have a trail name they use on the trail and his was Sleeves. Not sure why he chose Sleeves and I wish I had asked him. He had been thru-hiking the AT last year and close to the trail at the Delaware Water Gap, broke his tibia.  Sleeves was determined that after the healing process he was committed to completing the Appalachian Trail this year.

When we met him, he was resting on a large rock on the trail and next to him was a this crooked wooden stick, actually resembled an Irish shillelagh.   We got talking. I think what impressed me most about Sleeves, was his attitude and his gratefulness to God. He commented a few times on God’s world and beauty.

I believe he had only hiked about eleven miles that day and was ready to find a place to camp. Every word he spoke, he spoke with a sincere smile and when we parted, my wife and I asked God to bless him and he returned the blessing with an even greater smile. So glad to have met him and we pray for his safety and completion of his journey.

Out there is God’s world and on many trails are God’s people, who just make your day.

Abandoned railroad tracks

The abandoned tracks on the Mullica River Trail, a reminder of long ago travel. Even the trees are growing in the middle of the tracks. But yet it is so peaceful. You can't help but to let go and feel God's presence in the midst of the outside chaos. Sometimes you just have to get away.

On the trail is a small area that allows you to launch a small canoe and provides a beach area.

Spring

In God's world  and what a beautiful world he created. This I took at Batsto Lake on my way to the Mullica River hiking trail

A tent Like no other

The bottom picture was taken close to 35 years ago. The picture above, last year with the same tent. They don't make tents like that anymore

The Ghost

Although this was not a hiking venture, it certainly was time well spent with family. Ghost stories around the campfire with the grandchildren at Lake Glory on our Knoebels amusement park vacation. It was my turn to scare the kids. These are certainly memories in the making and we hope to continue these camping trips each year. This being the second year and we pray and look forward to many more years to come. God is good!

What can break the silennce

It hasn’t been long ago that I was inspired to hike the woods, short hikes in the beginning, and now some much longer hikes. I have found in these moments that, besides the freedom, there is serenity and peacefulness. Just a few hours in the woods and I am refreshed, it rejuvenates my body, my mind and most of all my spirit.

No music, no talk shows, just the sound of nature. And when I am alone, the silence and solitude of hearing only what nature has to offer, is a tremendous gift from God. It is truly, “hiking alone with our Lord”.

However, on this one particular hike, I went into the welcome center at Batsto, to obtain a trail map, as this would be my first attempt at a four-mile hike on the Batona trail.  I was excited, I was prepared, and I was geared up for the wilderness, had a couple of snacks and my canteen was full of water.

As I left the welcome center with my map, I passed by their bulletin board and my eye quickly caught a picture of a bear on a poster. And it said, Yes, there are bears here.

I stopped, walked over and read it again. You know how you felt as a kid when someone just took your candy away from you. I knew bears were in New Jersey, but here. I read the sign again, “Yes, there are bears here”.

But, I slowly walked towards the trail, wishing there was someone with me that I could run faster than.  Said a prayer, regained my courage, as a matter of fact, once I got well into the hike on that trail I found myself at peace. Just me and the Lord, walking and talking.

That is until that poster, the picture of that bear disturbed my thoughts, “Yes, there are bear in here”. Lost the focus, lost the solitude.

It was a Peter moment with Jesus, walking on water until he realized he was really walking on water, and that’s not natural, and started to drown.

Every place I turned, I saw an imaginary bear, a large squirrel’s nest in the trees looked just like a bear, a burnt tree stump, a log, a deer running, and yes, it went on like that for the rest of the hike.

Although, I came across no bear that day, and I might add, I was truly relieved, it made me think of how many people hike these very trails without fear. I was determined to be one of them.

I have since learned more about bears and how to avoid them, and what to do if I encounter one. Still maybe a little edgy, but the fear is gone, and, I’m back feeling the peacefulness and those one on one conversations with our Lord.

Silence and solitude. It is those precious moments, when Jesus comes to us, when we truly welcome him into our hearts. Seek your moments in your daily life. Find a place, where ever that may be, just to be alone and reflect. For me, it’s on the trail, hiking alone with our Lord

Leave it up to a small toad

 This is why it's called the Pine Barrens. Today was hot and buggy, but still worth the hike on the Batona trail, although these trees don't offer much shade. Outside of the buzzing of the mosquitoes not a sound, no wind, no birds, until a small toad hopped in front of me and darn near scared me to death.

However, there were more deer this afternoon than I've seen before, but, of course, never have the camera ready in time. Today was wonderful prayer opportunity and I took advantage of it.

An entire area of fern, which I believe, is foreign to the area, and is beginning to wipe out the blueberry bushes in many areas of the forest

Peek-A-Boo

It's almost like playing "Peek A Boo". From the trail in Batsto, you have a beautiful stretch along the Batsto River. Not the most picturesque setting, but peaceful just the same. Here they are kayaking, and although I see them, I am hidden by the bushes on the trail from them. This particular hike was the tail end of the four mile trail.

Mountain Laurel on the trail

Mountain Laurel 5 feet tall on a narrow trail in Parvin State Park in New Jersey. The Blueberry bushes are well beyond their peak as only very small berries are left on the bushes and only a few berries to pick. I find them a little bitter compared to store bought, and naturally, they are wild berries. They seem in more abundance on the Batona and Batsto trails as do the pine trees.

Hiking Boots

These boots are by far the most comfortable boots I have ever owned. However, I did purchase a full size larger than a regular shoe. But, after a long hike in the summer, my feet do feel a little warm.

Men's Moab 2 MOTHER OF ALL BOOTS™ Mid Waterproof

Tranquility

My personal benefits from hiking, besides the freedom, is tranquility. Just a few hours in the woods is rejuvenating in body, mind and spirit. No music, no talk shows, just the sound of nature.

In the woods alone

The peace, the silence and the solitude of the woods, whether rain or shine, the woods offers its own uniqueness on the narrow trails of a forest. Being with another hiker and just listening to nature is a truly serenity. But, being alone on those trails is a little taste of heaven.

On these pages I hope to capture for you my adventures, my thoughts and whatever evolves from those thoughts, sharing my experiences as I hike alone with our Lord.