June 4, 2010 New Jersey Section 1 from 5.7 to 9.3 South to North [AT: 3.6 miles]
With Sona, Denise and Denise’s dog, Dora.
This was Denise’s first hike so we chose a short section to do. We started at Warwick Turnpike on the boundary of Waywayanda State Park and headed north to the NY/NJ state line. Actual hike miles were greater since at the end of the hike we had to take the State Line trail down to the car a little over a mile.
Denise and Dora
Dora leads the way
About lunch time we came to a rustic wooded bridge crossing a beautiful bubbling brook so we decided to sit there and eat. We had entertainment provided by 30-40 damselflies of a couple of different species dancing around the brook and us like little faeries. One even landed on my face (which Sona captured on video). There were also many frogs hanging out in alcoves in the earthen banks of the brook like little hobbit houses.
Blue flag Iris in bloom
We had just started down the State Line trail we we lost the trail and had to spend a few minutes looking around for it. While doing this, my hiking pole slipped on a rock and I went down on my knee bruising it pretty badly. Sona and I followed our SOLO wilderness first aid training and after rest, ice (cold water), compression, and elevation – I was able to get down the trail to the car.
"practicing" our wilderness first aid
lindasnature
