Number of Days Afoot: 3 Days, Day 098 AT - Day 100 AT

Distance in 1978: 48.0 miles

High Point, 1803 feet summited on 28 July 1978 on Day 100 AT

None

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Established 01 Septembrer 1965

After driving to the w-mart for coffee, com, computer and congregation meeting, I pack out to begin my search for a non-toll bridge over the Delaware River. (the reason for not wanting to cross a toll bridge is fully discussed in my journal on this same date.)

As the day is dwindling down to darkness, I am finally able to cross into New Jersey upon a non-toll corridor, the Riverton-Belvidere bridge, which by doing so, begins my drive in another state that I have not been within for many, many years past.

Repeatedly, the flood of thoughts ripple through the synapses of my memories and overwhelm me once again with those long trail walks, and other events in my life some 50 years ago. In truth, it was 48 years ago when I walked upon these Mountains, however, now, since in all likelihood, I will not have the same opportunity in two years, I have instead resorted to calling this 2026 Journey On™ my Fifty Year Appalachian Trail Reunion (FYATR). Nevertheless, methinks, it is also possible that in two years, I will be back in the east once again, during which, I would hope to drive the southern half of the Appalachian Trail, that portion of the which begins at Springer Mountain, Georgia and continues north to the Pen Mar Pavilion, Pennsylvania where this years FYATR began.

After returning to my drive paralleling the AT, now in New Jersey and driving within the DWGNRA on the Old Mine Road along the Delaware River. There, right along side the Old Mine Road, I come upon a deserted homestead site which I find out is called Millbrook Village Historic Site, I stop to investigate, wondering why the people are still not living here, and also to take a couple of photos.

What I find out about this location upon a later research, is that it resulted in a federal land grab in the 1960s for the purpose of building a dam across the Delaware River.

Although the dam was never built, 72,000 acres of land along the river were acquired by condemnation and eminent domain. Thus, this village subsequently became a site for historic interpretation now owned by the National Park Service and as part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Excerpts from page 211

Arise with the birds and although indoors and not hearing their song, myself awakes knowing they are up too. My walk on the path begins by crossing the interstate bridge over the Delaware River. Then before beginning the climb to the ridge on Kittatinny Mountain, toss my remaining fourteen cents of change.

This walk starts well before seven this morning and continues all day and throughout the night until moments before the dawn. This is because of not wanting to stop and set up my tent only to be drenched by rain but instead, my walk, guided by the flashing of lightning high in the sky above, pushes thru the night, which allows myself to reach a lean-to. Long has been this day, that I am too tired to read or write, so instead take out my sleeping bag, set it out and go directly to sleep without doing anything else.

The walk this day upon this ridge has become my third longest one day of walking on the AT.