A Fond Farewell to New Jersey

A Day in the Jersey Marshes

Today was our last full day of hiking in New Jersey. It was also the first day of nice weather we've had since we've been here, and the sunshine was certainly welcome. We had a shorter hike today, only a little over 9 miles total, but it was definitely the prettiest and most interesting hiking we've done in New Jersey. The majority of the hike was through wetlands and marshes. We started the hiking circling the perimeter of a reclaimed wetland, and some swans and hawks were there to greet us. The best part of the hike, however, came towards the end.

Boardwalk through the Marsh

The end of our hike included walking about a mile along the longest boardwalk we've encountered on the trail. Even though it's too early for all the swamp plants to be blooming, it was still very beautiful. The boardwalk wound back and forth through the marsh, out into the middle of the swamp, along the treeline at the edge of the water, and back again. It was a great walk, and not just because it was nice and smooth underfoot. The only problems we encountered were a missing section of boardwalk about 10 feet long (it was left out on purpose, and we had to wade through swamp balancing on wet sticks...I have no idea why they just left a random bit of the boardwalk out...cruel joke), and a bridge that had been damaged in the recent thunderstorms.

I call this the Alice in Wonderland Bridge. Because it's extremely twisted and makes you feel like you're falling.

We were finished with our hike by early afternoon, just in time to get some delicious homemade fudge and brownie ice cream from a local creamery. I can't say that New Jersey has been my favorite bit of trail, what with all the swamps to wade through and strange smells to combat, but I can say that today left me with a very good impression. The only other impression of New Jersey I have is that they are in love with vinyl. As we drove from trailhead to trailhead, everywhere we looked we saw massive vinyl houses. Sometimes several in a group, sometimes standing alone in the middle of nowhere. Always huge, always symmetrical, and apparently always...deserted? We rarely ever saw anyone in the yards or driveways. It's as if they just discovered vinyl building materials here, and they are trying as hard as they can to show it off. Perhaps it's simply a New Jersey mystery that will never be solved.

Swamp Hikers