New Jersey, You Were Filled with Surprises

After my phone fell in a river, I’ve fallen way behind on my blogging. But I’m back and ready to play catchup. Have a look at my video from New Jersey with New York’s Lemon Squeezer and some bears at the end:

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The Garden State

Pennsylvania was a downpour. As I hiked out of Delaware Water Gap, the skies were clear but the ground still wet. But before I left I had to stop by the Village Farmer and Bakery for some amazing mac n’ cheese pot pie. I had tried their $3 slice of apple pie and hot dog special the day before. As I entered New Jersey, I was surprised at how quickly the terrain had changed. I was expecting the rocks of PA to gradually fade away as I walked through NJ, but this was not so. The landscape was beautifully wooded as I hiked along a ridge. The views were gorgeous of the valley below and the noise from the roads and towns was gone. The Mohican Outdoor Center was worth the detour. Leftover cookies were out and I indulged myself. I spend the night stealth camping atop Rattlesnake Mountain, enjoying a spectacular sunset. I always thought of New Jersey as the armpit of America but I was happy to now see it as the Garden State.

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Flora and Fauna

After all the rain in PA, the flora and fauna were spectacular. I saw countless orange salamanders out and about while frogs and toads abound (yay, puns). Now that the sun was out, snakes lay out on the rocks to warm up. One of my favorite parts of New Jersey was the boardwalk section. It was a lengthy stretch of boardwalk that snaked its way across the wetlands. It was great for bird-watching and looking for turtles. Once again I was truly impressed with the state.

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Short but Sweet

My time in New Jersey was a welcome change to wet and rocky Pennsylvania. I was delighted by the easy terrain, beautiful views, and great weather. After only a few days I was already leaving the state for New York and I was just getting to see Jersey in a new light. But before I left I was able to stop for some amazing ice cream and fresh watermelon at Heaven Hills Farms. I also stopped in a bar where they were offering a drink called Angry Balls. It was a pint of Angry Orchard cider with a shot of Fireball added; it was actually quite good. Overall, New Jersey treated me well and I would highly recommend this state for section hikers; very enjoyable!

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For a more detailed account of my day-to-day on the trail, check out my personal blog and YouTube for more videos from the trail.