3 minute read
Hiking for Health and Enjoyment
Gary Clabuagh has always enjoyed the outdoors.
“My dad introduced me to fishing when I was only six years old,” he said.
Fast forward to now, and the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident is still reaping the rewards of being outside. He walks his dog, a Labrador Retriever named Julie, six days a week, several miles a day, for about an hour or two. Some of his favorite nature trails include Andorra Meadow, Forbidden Drive, Norristown Farm Park and the Green Lane reservoir.
Gary walks Julie several times a day. In the morning, he walks her outside around the entire village building. Then, he goes to the gym. When he’s finished, he takes her out on a longer, mid-morning walk.
“She was my wife’s service dog before my wife passed away, and we’ve had her for about eight years now,” he said of Julie.
When he’s not walking his dog, Gary enjoys fishing, as well, frequenting the Schuylkill River. “I carve fishing lures by myself. I have dozens of them,” he said. “Mine resemble injured minnow. Most of them float, and you jerk them like a minnow has been injured and is trying to right itself. The bass will see it and come up and strike it.”
Gary has lived at Masonic Village for about five years. He likes the companionship, not having to cook and clean and the absence of expenses, house upkeep and property taxes. “It’s a nice place to live. It’s friendly, well managed and pleasant. I’m glad I don’t live in my home anymore. I’d be quite lonely there,” he said.
Fellow residents Anne (pictured above) and Bill Franks are also hiking enthusiasts and members of the Philadelphia Trail Club, the Morris Arboretum and Friends of the Wissahickon. However, COVID-19 has curtailed many of their group activities.
“Here at the village, many residents have found creative ways to walk inside the building,” she said. “I think of them as hall walkers, step climbers and determined folks. These hearty souls also walk outside, even on cold and windy days. Perhaps we could think about forming a walking group when it can be done safely.”
When Anne was active in the trail club, the average hike was about three to five miles and lasted from one to three hours and was rated by difficulty.
“Walking in the woods on well-defined trails, while enjoying fresh air, nature’s bounty and the camaraderie of friends was a great feeling!” she said. “I really looked forward to weekends.” to school children and adults and chalking up more walking time.
Like Gary, Anne and Bill often walk around the building, which she estimates is about a half mile.
“We also check out the new home construction on Manor Road,” she said. “If you go to the very end of the road, you wind up on Northwestern Avenue. If you cross Northwestern, you will be able to pick up trails that lead you to Forbidden Drive without crossing another street!”
Some of Anne’s favorite places to hike/walk in the area, besides the Wissahickon and Fort Washington Parks, are the Dixon Meadow Preserve, Schuylkill Center and Harriet Weatherill Park.
“We would like to get back to hiking when weather permits and the pandemic is under control,” she said.
Anne and Bill were born in Philadelphia but have lived with their five children in Lafayette Hill for almost 50 years, so the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill has been a perfect fit. “We are quite happy here and grateful to have been kept safe,” Anne said.
