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Couture Barefoot Books Susan Couture 570-729-4005 spcbarefoot@gmail.com susan-couture.barefootbooks.com 2 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Before the chill winds of winter blow across the Upper Delaware River Valley, the golden days of autumn beckon us to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities that our region has to offer. Almost any day now, we’ll be turning our attention to indoor exploits, as temperatures get colder and night falls too soon. Whichever your penchant—whether you seek the outdoors or the indoors to enjoy some of your precious free time, let The River Reporter inspire you to get out and expand your horizons. In this issue of the Upper Delaware Magazine, we offer ideas for activities from the traditional (fishing, hiking, motorcycling, or getting lost in a corn maze) to a relatively new form of high-tech outdoor entertainment, an activity called geocaching. Or perhaps you’re looking for some less strenuous way to enjoy some of your free time—a visit to an art gallery or a stroll through some antiques shops on a weekend afternoon. In this issue issue of the magazine, we seek to share some “hidden treasures,” those special places and activities abailable to us here at home in the Upper Delaware River Region. Wishing you a wonderful autumn and an easy winter, Jane Bollinger Section Editor
4
The hunt for cache Geocaching: The high-tech search for hidden fortune By Billy Templeton III
12
Hidden treasures in the mountains The pleasures of antiquing By Jane E. Castelli
18
Take a hike this fall: visit a local waterfall
19
Discover local art galleries
UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE A RIVER REPORTER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON
OUT & ABOUT
CONTENTS 8
Fall fun down on the farm Lose yourself in a corn maze By Lisa DeNardo
14
View from the top
A hike to scenic Jensen’s Ledges
Catskills fishing: Preserving and reinventing tradition Still luring fishermen from near and far By Steven Schwartz
24
Stuart Communications Creative Services
By Isabel Braverman
20
PUBLICATION DATE: October 3, 2013
The biker’s way A devotion to motorcycling is a frame of mind
Publisher: Laurie Stuart Section Editor: Jane Bollinger Production Manager: Amanda Reed Advertising Sales Director: Barbara Matos, ext. 34 barbara@riverreporter.com Advertising Sales Associate: Denise Yewchuck, ext. 32 denise@riverreporter.com Advertising Sales Associate: Eileen Hennessy, ext. 35 eileen@riverreporter.com Distribution: Would you like copies for your place of business? Breann: 845/252-7414, ext. 21 or trrsubs@riverreporter.com Editorial: Have a comment or idea for the magazine? Jane Bollinger: 845/252-7414, ext. 29 or jbollinger@riverreporter.com
By Joe Befumo
Upper Delaware, a special publication of The River Reporter, is published by Stuart Communications, Inc.
Cover photo by Isabel Braverman
About the cover: The cover is a photo of the waterfall at Jensen’s Ledges in Lordville, NY. The hiking trail at Jensen’s, called the Bouchoux Trail, is two miles long, has a steep incline and takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete. The difficult hike leads to an amazing view of the Delaware River, as well as this waterfall. There are many rocks on the path and at the top, as quarrying of bluestone was once a big industry in the area.
Entire contents ©2012 by Stuart Communications, Inc. Mailing Address:
PO Box 150, Narrowsburg, NY 12764 Phone: 845/252-7414 • Fax: 845/252-3298
A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 3
Geocaching: the hunt for cache By BILLY TEMPLETON III wo hundred yards up the hill from my home in Bethany, PA, hidden in the heart of the borough park, is a small canister that few people have found or even noticed during the six years of its existence. It would be easy to overlook, considering one has to solve a puzzle of coordinates in order to obtain the exact location of this treasure—or “cache.” Concealed inside the canister are a small rubber dinosaur, a signature log and a congratulatory letter with the mysterious signature “The Fox and the Hound.” Since the consumer launch of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the year 2000, “geocaching” has grown into a mainstream, global treasure-hunting game. With the aid of a handheld GPS device or a smartphone, participants seek out hidden items called geocaches using exact coordinates from the website www. geocaching.com. Geocaching began 13 years ago when Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, hid the first cache in Oregon in order to test and challenge the accuracy of the brandnew GPS technology. On May 3, 2000, Ulmer posted the coordinates of his cache online along with a single rule:
T
Photos by Billy Templeton
The two essential tools of geocaching, a smartphone and a GPS locator, can lead to a cache of hidden treasures.
4 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
Geocacher Chris Mackey acted as guide for the author’s first geocaching experience. Mackey and another acclaimed geocacher in the Northeast have found and stashed thousands of caches.
“Take some stuff, leave some stuff.” The fi rst to find his treasure had their pick of CD-ROMs, a cassette recorder, a “George of the Jungle” VHS tape, four $1 bills, a Ross Perot book, a slingshot handle and a can of beans. Obviously, the appeal of geocaching goes beyond the tokens left within these canisters, and speaks to the fun of the search and the reward of finding hidden treasure. Word of Ulmer’s cache quickly spread online, and soon people from all over the world were posting coordinates to geocaches. Eric Fox and Chris Mackey, two of the northeast region’s most notorious geocachers, make up the duo The Fox and the Hound. Together they have both found and stashed thousands of geocaches. Many geocachers create online profiles to log their finds and achievements and to share stories about their adventures. “The first library my son ever attended was in Bethany,” said Chris Mackey. “It was such an important moment and special place that I wanted to mark the occasion by leaving a micro-cache.” Geocachers from all over the country have solved Chris’s puzzle, found the cache and signed the logbook. One day, he’ll return to the park with his son and read over the names and places and reminisce about their fi rst trip to the library. In addition to leading the group Northeast Pennsylvania Geocachers, Chris Mackey is one of the preeminent designers of geo-coins in the world. A geocoin is a metal or wooden medallion used as a common and often coveted form of treasure in geocaching. Groups or individual geocachers design their own unique coins that represent personal significance; these are then cached and shared with others. Specific geo-
coins are sought and collected, and many coins contain a tracking ID so cachers can log the location of the coin. Its journey, which often spans the globe, can be recorded and followed by all. I met Chris at his office in the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce building on a warm, late summer morning for a crash course in geocaching. Before we set out on our hike through the Merli-Sarnoski Park in Jermyn, PA, Chris explained that, although geocaching does not require more than a pair of sneakers and a smartphone, it is essential to the spirit of geocaching that all cachers follow a few ground rules while treasure hunting. First, he stressed the importance of treading lightly and of practicing the “Leave No Trace” philosophy while hiking in order to minimize the impact on nature. Second, it is understood that one should not take something from the geocache without replacing it with something of equal or greater value. This practice of anonymous gift-giving and reciprocity is what defines the heart of geocaching and has connected people from all walks of life, while creating a strong community that extends all over the world. Chris led the way through the park to our first cache using his handheld GPS. The trails were well maintained and he walked at a brisk pace, occasionally glancing down at his GPS to make sure we were heading in the right direction. The coordinates brought us to a stop at an inconspicuous pile of rocks just off of the main trail. There, behind a mismatched slab of bluestone, we spotted the cache—a military ammo box. Ammo boxes are the Continued on page 6
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Sometimes a cache is hidden in plain sight but still hard to discover.
GEOCACHING
Continued from page 4
gold standard of containers because they are waterproof and animal resistant, and they have plenty of room for “swag,” or trade items. This cache contained sundry items, from personal trading cards to a matchbox car. Our second cache was much more difficult to find than the first. Even with coordinates, caches are often cleverly hidden and tricky to find, and take a bit of poking and scrambling to uncover. Without Chris, I would never have thought to climb on top of a boulder so that I could reach over the trail, where the cache was hidden in a small nook of the rock wall. According to Mackey, some caches are hidden at the top of tall trees, some require repelling gear, and some are accessible only by boat or helicopter. Geocaches can be found on every continent in the world. Yes, even Antarctica. A bit of bushwhacking was required to reach the next treasure. Mackey guided us to the spot as the crow flies using his GPS, and we reached the location after a short jaunt, where we discovered “Charlie’s Shoe Tie Cache.” The description inside explained that this was a cache made by kids, for kids, to commemorate the location where a young boy learned to tie his shoe. Charlie’s small, camouflaged container housed a few small toys and a sign-in log. The idea is that, one day, he can show his own kids where he finally learned to tie his shoe. In this way, caches often serve
6 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
as a tribute to historical places, people or events, as well as to small but significant personal memories. As we uncovered the “treasures” found in these quiet, waiting caches, from exquisitely designed coins to bouncy balls and figurines, I realized that the essence and value of geocaching has little to do with the swag found inside them. True, while Chris’s geo-coins are works of art and have value in their own right, and the toys and even money some geocachers leave behind can be a real thrill to find, the real value of geocaching is the experience itself. Alive and well in cities as well as the wilderness, geocaching is a great way to enjoy nature or one’s neighborhood with hyper-attentiveness and purpose and is, perhaps, an ideal activity for families with children. Emerging from the woods and trails with recovered objects in tow, one leaves feeling an asynchronous connection with the person who left the last personal artifact, even though you’ll likely never meet. Above all, geocaching fosters a “giving” community that relishes the idea of sharing a special moment or place with likeminded individuals.
These hidden treasures may have little monetary worth, but the real value of geocaching is the experience itself.
Some geocachers, like Mackey, design their own unique geo-coins to leave behind for others to find in a hidden cache.
Geocaching event Find up to 10 caches within five miles HAWLEY, PA — On Monday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center invites everyone to make it a geocaching day. The event is part of the center’s October programming, marking Energy Awareness Month. (Lake Wallenpaupack is the renewable source of water for PPL’s hydroelectric power plant downstream at Kimbles.) Geocachers will find two new caches and one existing cache along the Wallenpaupack Creek Trail. Visit the learning center for key information to solve the last cache puzzle. For more information about this event, call 570/253-7001, or email: pplpreserves@pplweb. com?subject=Hydrocaching%20 at%20Lake%20Wallenpaupack
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 7
Fall fun down on the farm Lost in a corn maze
By LISA DENARDO s the cooler temperatures start to hit and the leaves start to change, we all know that fall is in the air. For some of us, this time of year may signify hay rides, pumpkins and hot apple cider. For some, it may mean it is time to find the closest corn maze for an annual corn maze adventure. If there is one certain way to adventure this fall, the corn maze would be it. Corn mazes are like giant puzzles that you can walk through, complete with loops and dead ends to get you lost. From an aerial perspective, most corn mazes create an intricate design—something that, from down below, where the corn is much taller than you or I, one would never even know. Corn mazes can be accomplished by anyone with a sense of adventure. Both children and adults will love the experience of navigating, getting lost and finding their way again within the tall corridors of corn. Nestled within the scenic terrain of northeastern Pennsylvania, in the small rural town of Herrick Center, you can find the Zembrzycki Dairy Farm, home to the Zembrzycki Corn Maze. The corn maze was started in 2009 by Brian Zembrzycki and his fiancée, Melissa, in an attempt to try something new and different for the family farm. “We had the land and grow the corn for the cows, so we figured we would try a corn maze one year, and it was a big hit,” said Melissa. When it comes to the behind-thescenes of making a corn maze, things get interesting. The very beginning of it all happens in the spring, when the corn is planted. Your average corn field gets planted in rows, either horizontally or vertically; however, when planting a corn maze, the corn gets planted both ways. This method takes a lot more time and effort, but in the end, it prevents you from being able to see through the rows within the corn maze. Once the corn is about one foot tall, it is time for the Zembrzycki family to call out
A
8 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
Photos by Lisa DeNardo
Hawthorn DeNardo-Yost finds his way through the tall corn corridor.
This is the aerial view of the 2013 Zembrzycki Corn Maze.
Contributed photo
Brian Zembrzycki and his fiancée, Melissa, are the founders of the Zembrzycki Corn Maze.
a corn maze professional to help create their maze. Professionals use state-ofthe-art technology to geo-reference the cornfield and get the lay of the land. The image is integrated into a GPS system that acts much like a road map for the professional, who uses a lawnmower to create the maze. As the foot-tall corn gets mowed, it falls to the ground, creating a path that will mulch and break down into the dirt path that will wind throughout the corn maze. Integrity and accuracy, Kayla Newlin lines up her game card to solve the riddle at a checkpoint.
Continued on page 10
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CORN MAZE
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combined with highly advanced corn field cutting techniques is what brings the corn maze together, providing a one-of-a-kind seasonal adventure. At the entrance to this year’s seven-acre corn maze at the Zembrzycki Dairy Farm, two giant, black Halloween spiders welcome you in to your adventure. Once you are about 20 feet into the maze, the corn will be towering above you, leaving you to concentrate fully on the aerial photo of the maze in order to know where you are and which way to go. If you don’t, you will find yourself lost (and confused) very quickly! Within the maze, there are 12 checkpoints that are mysteriously hidden in various nooks and crannies. At each checkpoint, you get to solve a riddle and fill in the blanks on the game piece you receive upon entering the maze. The overall goal is to find all the check points and solve all the riddles. And if you really want a challenge, you can do the maze in the dark, with a flashlight, every Friday night from 6 to 10 p.m. Since the Zembrzycki’s initial corn maze, there have been numerous additions to their fall-themed fun on the farm. These include: • Hay Bale Tower: The hay bale tower is fun for people of all ages to jump and climb. It makes for nice photo opportunities as well. • Sling Shots: The sling shots are the newest addition. Here, you can test your skills and see how far you can launch a gourd at one of the four targets set up in the pasture. • Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch: Here, a two-acre pumpkin patch is filled with bright orange pumpkins just waiting to be picked. Or you can simply choose from one of the pre-picked pumpkins in one of the wagons. (Prices will vary depending on the size of the pumpkin.) • Snack Shack: The Snack Shack has food and drinks available for purchase. • Petting Zoo: The petting zoo consists of some of the farm’s friendly animals. It is a great opportunity for those who don’t get to see farm animals up close too often. • Campfires: Each campfire ring has its own large picnic table. These spaces are a great way for friends and family to get together and roast some marshmallows, cook some hotdogs and just simply enjoy the fresh country air and scenery. Large groups and parties are most welcome. (It is highly recommended that you reserve your campfire early so that you are guaranteed a spot on busy weekends.) In addition to these fall themed activities, there is the Zembrzycki Farm Stand, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from mid-July through late October. The farmstand
The Hay Bale Tower is a new addition to the corn maze this year.
offers a wide variety of seasonal produce, along with baked goods, flower bouquets, strawberry rhubarb jam and sunflowers. Currently, their fall specialty offerings include baby yams, corn stalks, gourds, hay bales, Indian corn, pumpkins and winter squash. The Zembrzycki Dairy Farm is family owned and operated by Bernie and Linda Zembrzycki, along with their four children, Amanda, Brian, Bernard John and Katelyn; and with Bernie’s mother, Rose Zembrzycki. Each family member plays a part in working together to keep their farm up and running in order to provide for themselves and their community. This is the kind of story that leaves one feeling inspired by a family whose close bonds keep them and their farm and business going and growing—working together and coming up with new ideas to try each year. It is places like the Zembrzycki Corn Maze that makes our local community that much stronger. Zembrzycki’s Corn Maze Hours: Fridays: 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; last admission will be no later than 9 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; last admission no later than 5 p.m.
The Zembrzycki Dairy Farm is located at: 6229 State Route 374, Herrick Center, PA 18430 570/679-2490; 570/960-1832; 570/561-5898 Visit, www.zembrzyckidairyfarm.com
In New York State, the Cunningham Family Farms corn maze is located at: 233 Hurd and Parks Rd., Swan Lake, NY. Visit www.cunninghamfamilyfarms.com, or call 845/583-4083.
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 11
Hidden treasures in the
By JANE E. CASTELLI
ay the words “The Poconos” or “The Catskills” and your listeners will probably conjure up wonderful images of lush forests, sparkling lakes, exhilarating speedboat rides, fly fishing in mountain streams, challenging golf games or tubing and kayaking on the Delaware. Shopping would probably not be top on the list— but really, there is a certain kind of shopping, a treasure hunt of sorts, that can be one of the top things to do here. Hidden on the main streets in our towns are wonderful antique shops that will challenge anyone’s desire to find a special unique piece to bring home from their vacation. With that in mind, I set out to explore the art of antiquing in the Upper Delaware area, selecting one town in Pennsylvania (Hawley), and one in New York (Liberty). I had a wonderful time indulging every woman’s dream— shopping to my heart’s content. Hawley was my fi rst stop, and it had an almost endless supply of antique shops to visit, each with its own special flavor. Most are lined up on Route 6, Main Avenue, as it wanders through town, or are a short, easy ride from there. My first stop was the Hawley Antique Exchange, on the right on Route 6 as you drive into Hawley from the south. A plain cement façade hides an unimaginable mix of items from the past. A cooperative of over 30 dealers, it has everything you can imagine. This includes vintage crystal; a large collection of unusual “Vaseline Glassware” and pressed glassware; primitive furniture; old tools; early phonograph records marked T. Edison Co.; “costume” clothing from the past, such as vintage World War II woolen U.S. Army uniforms; delicate batiste baby dresses from the early 20th century; and school books from “the olden days” with even an antique school desk and chair to go with them. I loved seeing a mannequin decked out in a splendid satin wedding gown from the 1940s. It brought back tales that my aunts and uncles told of their joyful weddings after the vets returned from World War II. Among the most amazing items were a “really” old,
S
12 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
Photos by Jane E. Castelli
Barbara’s Books and Antiques specializes in “paper” antiques, including old books, postcards, prints and magazines.
Miss Elly’s Antiques and Such in Hawley, PA is located in a charming circa 1869 cottage with gabled roof and eyebrow windows.
This primitive wooden baby cradle is one of many treasures to be found at Eiss Elly’s Antiques and Such in Hawley, PA.
c. 2100 BC, piece of jade crockery from the Qijia culture period in China; and the ship’s wheel from the Battleship USS Massachusetts, which saw service in the Spanish American War. Do not miss this spot. It is worth a special visit. Next, I drove “around the corner” to Miss Elly’s Antiques and Such shop on Church Street in Hawley. The shop itself is an antique, i.e., a charming historic building. Owner Elaine Herzog told me that it was built around 1869 by George Schlager for his bakery and grocery store. Blue clapboards, gabled roof, full front porch, eyebrow windows, sidelights and transoms adorning the front door all make this cottage a special spot for those who love architectural history. Herzog, who is also president of the Wayne County Historical Society, showed me old photos of the house and street as it was in the 19th century, pointing out the other historic buildings on Church Street that still stand. Inside, the delights for treasure hunters include china, pottery, beautiful full sets of silverware, furniture, primitives, old toys, vintage clothing and linens. One of my favorites was a primitive wooden baby cradle. Any little girl would love to tuck her doll to bed in that lovely little piece. Nearby, back on Route 6, was Timely Treasures, run by Pat and Bob Ohlson. They are also in a historic building—the original, early 20th century hydroelectric power plant building on the Paupack River. They have six rooms filled with antique furniture and furnishings: dining room tables and chairs, cabinets, bookcases, “secretary” desks and hutches, bureaus, china and an inlaid mahogany desk. They also carry a variety of statues and small decorative pieces, as well as some decorative reproductions. My favorite piece was an oval carved wooden wall decoration with the early American pineapple motif. It was both simple and elegant. I loved it. Another great item was a matching blue china pitcher and bowl that would fit in any country room. Have fun here, and use your imagination to think about how these beautiful vintage pieces would fit in your home. Further down Route 6 heading west,
The author discovered this wood carved commode chair on display outside Doodles and Such in Hawley, PA.
This collection of early 19th century clocks caught the author’s eye at Sandspring Antiques and Art in White Mills, PA.
Jukebox Classics & Vintage Slot Machines in Hawley, PA is filled with restored and working entertainment classics from the early and mid-20th century.
mountains just outside of the village, is Barbara’s Books and Antiques, a place to shop for a different genre—“paper” antiques, such as old books, postcards, prints and magazines. You might find favorites like “The Bobsey Twins” or the great Nancy Drew series. The old postcards tell the stories of how places looked long ago. My favorite—a print made from a late 18th century Pennsylvania folk art piece—was a WPA (Works Projects Administration) project. Its vibrant red and blue colors and simple design are fantastic. Just about seven miles east of town, on Route 590 East, you will find The Loft, a rural, barn-like shop filled with quality, authentic antique furniture and decorative items. There was plenty of crockery, old prints, dolls, tools and kitchenware. I loved a large cherry corner cupboard (c.1820s), its shelves loaded with blue pottery mugs and beige earthenware bowls. Its top was loaded with country baskets. If you are shopping for beautiful, quality, country furniture or decorative pieces, stop here. Owners Don and Maralyn Nalesnik will help you make the right selection. Another shop that is loaded with beautiful furniture is Sandspring Antiques and Art on Route 6, Main Avenue near the Lackawaxen River Bridge in town. Owner Marilyn Shatt has a wonderful collection of fine quality furniture, original artwork and prints, china and crockery. A collection of early 19th century clocks, including one by Chauncey Jerome (c.1840), caught my eye. Across the street, owner Jackie Queipo’s Doodles and Such features china, pottery, glassware, baskets, tin ware, lanterns and reproduction decorative items and linens. A wood carved commode chair, on display outside, made me think that it must have been a welcome addition to the home in longago winters, before indoor plumbing, when a night trip to the outhouse wasn’t too comfortable. Almost next door is the most unusual antique shop in town, John T. Johnston’s Jukebox Classics & Vintage Slot Continued on page 16
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This satin wedding gown from the 1940s brought back memories for the author of joyful weddings after the veterans returned home from World War II.
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This ship’s wheel from the Battleship USS Massachusetts, which saw service in the Spanish American War, can be found at the Hawley Antique Exchange, a cooperative of over 30 antiques dealers.
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 13
View from the Top By ISABEL BRAVERMAN n a perfect clear day in the very beginning of fall (the trees teasing with hints of reds, yellows and oranges), I gathered a group of friends to do something that we locals have probably done once before, if not multiple times—hike Jensen’s Ledges. Jensen’s (as we call it; some call it the Ledges) is an uphill hike that leads to the top of a mountain with stunning views of the Delaware River. But first, how do you get there? While my friends were no strangers to the hike, this was only my second time; and getting there is certainly a journey—one of those things that you would only know about if you’ve been there before (how’s that for an oxymoron?). Thus it earns its title as a “hidden gem” both literally and figuratively. Our journey started in Callicoon, where we all met each other to carpool to Jensen’s. From Callicoon, all you do is get onto Route 97 heading toward Hancock and stay straight for a while. Next, you make a left onto Lordville Road (don’t miss it!). You stay straight on that road until you get to the little town of Lordville, a town made up of old houses, one church and one large abandoned boarding house. The atmosphere is entirely creepy. You make a left onto Bouchoux Road, which has a Dead End sign (I feel like it’s there because the locals want to keep Jensen’s hidden). The Dead End road is practically one-lane and definitely dirt and gravel and a tad bit scary if you were to, say, meet a pick-up truck coming the other way. After it seems the road will never end, it takes a sudden sharp curve and there it is—the parking lot. The common path is at the beginning of the parking lot. There is a sign-in sheet so that if you don’t make it back down someone will come find you (so don’t forget to sign back out). I wondered aloud how often they check the sheet. Being of adventurous spirit, we decided to take the path less traveled. At the end of the parking lot there is a wooded trail that leads you to the railroad tracks. You have to walk along the tracks for a little while until you see the waterfall, at which you cross over to the bottom of the waterfall. Our friend Dylan had convinced us to take this “trail,” although there was no trail to be seen and we soon realized to our great surprise that we would be climbing up the side of the waterfall. This proved to be rather difficult; Dylan and the Great Dane (Diogi) we brought with us had to turn around. The rest of us pressed on, and after some complaining, one snake sighting, and two snack breaks, we made it to the
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TRR photos by Isabel Braverman
The bottom of the waterfall at Jensen’s Ledges that we were about to conquer.
The waterfall at Jensen’s Ledges is majestic—and difficult to climb up
Ahhh, relaxing at the top of the mountain
14 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
top of the waterfall. A sense of accomplishment rushed over us. The view was spectacular, but we knew even greater views lay ahead. Onward and upward. We knew that once we had reached the waterfall, the top of the mountain was not far off. We walked the path through the woods and veered off to the right, which took us to a spot none of us had been to before. It is at the top of the mountain but not the usual spot, and the ground is made of broken up rocks. Travelers before us had created a cone-shaped rock sculpture and a chair and foot rest made entirely of rocks for weary hikers to rest and take in
the view. I definitely suggest going to this spot, but I think that, kind of like Narnia, it has to be found by accident. We then walked to the left, sensing that it must be where the top is, and we soon found it. The view literally took my breath away; I passed out and fell down the mountain (just kidding, but that would make a good story). Anyway, the view really is breathtaking. The Delaware River winds below you, nestled in vast mountains covered in trees with only a few houses dotting the landscape. It is truly no-man’s-land, an unconquered territory, no Wal-Marts in sight, although I joked that they should build one. And a bar called Cliff Bar. (It was funnier at the time). We sat on the smooth rock covered with carvings (“Jack was here,” “CB<3LR” and the like), and ate some more snacks and took pictures. Then, after the right amount of time of admiring the view from the top, we headed back down (this time on the trail). Now, I wouldn’t recommend taking the waterfall route unless you are ready for a challenge. So, I’ll talk about the regular path. The first time I hiked it was last spring, and it is more challenging than I thought it would be; some spots are quite steep. I definitely had to stop and catch my breath a few times. But, it’s a really nice walk, and as Demetri Martin said, “Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee.” Also, you can see the waterfall from this trail, as well. Being immersed in the woods is something so simple and yet so refreshing. I think we can all forget sometimes that we live in a really beautiful area, and if you want to get away from all the technology and stress and whatnot of everyday life, a secluded hike is only a drive away. I encourage you to take advantage of Jensen’s Ledges this fall, whether it’s your first time or 15th time, and enjoy this hidden gem.
The view from the top of Jensen’s Ledges is a sight to behold
Find a hiking trail! Sullivan County: www.trailkeeper.org Wayne County: www.visitwaynecounty.com/ places/recreation Pike County: www.discoverpikepa.com/places/ outdoor_recreation/Hiking Someone who had hiked Jensen’s before us (possibly many years ago) created this artful rock sculpture.
We made it! That’s me on the left, with my friends Julie, Chelsea and Martin
A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 15
HIDDEN TREASURES Continued from page 13
Machines. It is filled with restored and working entertainment classics from the early and mid-20th century. Who doesn’t remember the local soda shop with its colorful jukebox? Nostalgia may carry you away to your youth if you visit here. One of the jukeboxes ($2,500 to $8,500) might fit in your playroom, or you might want a working slot machine for $2,200 and up. You could top that with a working “Bally Reliance” dice machine (c.1937) for about $13,000. Guys probably would love this place. After visiting Hawley, I decided to sample treasure hunting on the New York side of the Delaware River. Here I found two wonderful shops in the old town of Liberty: The Antique Palace Emporium and Town and Country Antiques. The Antique Palace Emporium (300 Chestnut St.) is just west of the village of Liberty on Chestnut Street, or Route 52 West. This treasure trove of beautiful and elegant, completely restored furniture spanning the years 1875 to the 1930s is run by Denise Reeves. Any piece of furniture here would bring classic elegance to your home. There were dining room sets, with chairs and breakfronts to match; and many handsome bureaus and matching mirrors. Mahogany, cherry and walnut pieces were all there. Matching boudoir lamps sat on the bureaus to finish out a bedroom’s look. There were occasional tables, bed
headboards—almost anything you might need to furnish an entire house elegantly. My favorite, on the first floor by the entrance, was a 1920s-era French dining room set with a beautiful, banded satin wood finish. It included six chairs, with newly upholstered cushions and seat backs; three leaves; two servers, one large and one small; and a full china cupboard to match the table. This was a lovely collection of sophisticated furniture and furnishings. Further east, where Route 52 intersects with Main Street, is Town and Country Antiques (1 North Main St.). This store is bursting with treasures: furniture, glassware, china, bronze statues, period milk glass lamps, vintage clothing, jewelry and even a gorgeous harp. You could have your choice of Victorian loveseats, early 19th century sideboards, Sheraton desks or some apothecary jars and vintage original design soda bottles. They had what seemed like an endless collection of early 20th century jewelry and clothing. You could dress the entire cast of a Great Gatsby production right there. Fun indeed! However, my favorite was tucked in the rear of the store on the first floor—I was charmed. A child-sized, gorgeous collector’s Blackwood Doll sat on an old chair and stole my heart. She had long brown ringlets; gorgeous eyes; a crisp, sunny, yellow dress with white eyelet trim; yellow hair ribbons; and yellow “Mary Jane” shoes to match. What a charmer. Stop here and let your imagination go wild.
ANTIQUE SHOPS—HAWLEY, PA
From dining room sets like this, with chairs and breakfronts to match, the treasure hunter can find a large collection of furniture in mahogany, cherry and walnut at The Antique Palace Emporium in Liberty, NY.
A child-sized, collector’s Blackwood Doll, with long brown ringlets and gorgeous eyes, stole the author’s heart at Town and Country Antiques in Liberty.
Hawley Antique Exchange 209 Bellmonte Ave., Route 6, Hawley 570/226-1711 www.haexchange.com Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tues. & Wed., Jan. through Mar. Miss Elly’s Antiques and Such 518 Church St., Hawley (just four doors off the intersection of Route 6 & Church St.) 570/226-7513 www.missellysantiques.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following days: Fall, Sept & Oct.: Fri., Sat. & Sun. Winter, Nov. & Dec.: Sat. & Sun. Summer: Thurs, Fri, Sat. & Sun. Timely Treasures Route 6, Hawley 570/226-2838 www.timelytreasures.com Call for hours, open all year Barbara’s Books and Antiques 237 Texas Palmyra Hwy., Route 6 Hawley, (2 miles west of Settlers Inn in Hawley) 570/226-9021 Email: Corrigan.barbars@gmail.com Open 12 noon to 5 p.m., closed Tuesday. In winter, call for hours The Loft 1751 Rte. 590, Hawley (just 5 miles east of the Settlers Inn) 570/685-4267 Email: nalesnik@ltis.net Summer hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends; winter: most weekends, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Sandspring Antiques and Art 121 Main Ave. (Route 6) Hawley 610/960-5106; 215/687-9890 cell Email: sandspringantique@gmail.com Open seasonally, May through October—usually 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mon, Thurs., Fri., Sat., Sun. Doodles and Such 202 Main Ave. (Route 6), Hawley 570/390-4490 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jukebox Classics & Vintage Slot Machines 210 Main Ave. (Route 6), Hawley 570/226-9411 www.jukeboxclassics.com Open “everyday”
ANTIQUE SHOPS—LIBERTY, NY
This matching blue china pitcher and bowl is just one of the treasures to be found in six rooms of antiques at Timely Treasures in Hawley, PA. 16 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
The author’s favorite piece at Timely Treasures in Hawley, PA was an oval carved wooden wall decoration with the early American pineapple motif
The shelves of this cherry corner cupboard (c.1820s), are filled with blue pottery mugs and beige earthenware bowls at the Loft, located seven miles east of Hawley, PA.
The Antique Palace Emporium 300 Chestnut St., Route 52W, Liberty 845/292-2270 www.AntiquePalaceEmporium.com Open year round Town and Country Antiques 1 North Main Street, Liberty 845/292-1363 www.TownAndCountryAntiques.org July & Aug.,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. through June, 10 a.m. t0 5 p.m., Thurs. thru Sun.
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 17
For fall hiking, visit waterfalls wo off th the mostt iimpressive i waterfalls t f ll within ithi an easy drive of the Upper Delaware River Valley are Kaaterskill Falls in the Town of Hunter/ Palenville, NY, Greene County (www.catskillmountaineer.com/NSL-KF.html) and on the Pennsylvania side of the river, Bushkill Falls in Bushkill, Pike County (www.visitbushkillfalls.com.) But there are other lovely, if smaller, falls throughout the region. Some are an easy stroll, others a more challenging hike. Trails range from easy to difficult; check websites for degree of difficulty and distance of hike, etc. Here are just a few of the other waterfalls in our region. With some research online, you can find more. [Editor’s note: Waterfalls on private property are not listed.]
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NEW YORK STATE
SULLIVAN COUNTY (nyfalls.com/waterfalls/#Sullivan) Katrina Falls, Neversink Unique area, falls drop 90 ft from Davies Lake; 404 Katrina Falls Rd., Rock Hill. (www.trailkeeper.org/trail/neversink-unique-area/katrinafalls-road-access-trail/) Denton Falls, Neversink Unique Area, series of small cascades on the Neversink River, (www.trailkeeper.org/
trail/neversink-unique-area/denton-falls-trail) trrai a l/neve vers rssin nk uniq iqu ue area//de d nton n falls ls trail) High Falls, a small cascade on the Neversink River; 241 Hatchery Rd., Forestburgh. (www.trailkeeper.org/ trail/neversink-unique-area/high-falls-trail/)
DELAWARE COUNTY Tompkins Falls, 4212 Barkaboom Rd., Andes, NY (can be seen from the road); (www. mapquest.com/maps?name=Tompkins%20 Falls&city=Andes&state=NY)
ORANGE COUNTY Fitzgerald Falls, Warwick, NY (near Greenwood Lake), dirt trail, easy, 4.6-mile roundtrip hike; on the Appalachian Trail (www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/finda-hike/hikes---ny)
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA (www.nepafalls.com) PIKE COUNTY (www.delawareriverhighlands.com/pike/ attractions/waterfalls/) Shohola Falls, state game lands, Route 6, Shohola Recreation Center; 570/675-1143 Stairway Falls, Delaware State Forest, Contact PA Dept Conservation & Natural Resources at Swiftwater Savantine Falls, Delaware State Forest, Contact PA Dept Conservation & Natural Resources at Swiftwater
ral waterfalls are in the h Indian Ladder Falls Sever Several Bushkill Falls park, call 570/595-7401 for access, www. nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/hike-pa-waterfalls.htm
WAYNE COUNTY Wagnum Falls, Palmyra Twp., Wagnum Rd. off Owego Tpk. (www.nepafalls.com) Tanners Falls, state game lands, Dyberry Twp., Tanners Falls Rd., off Woods Rd. (www.nepafalls.com)
DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Raymondskill Falls, 224 Dingmans Falls Rd., Dingmans Ferry; 570/828-2253 Dingmans Falls www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/ to-dingmans.htm, 570/828-2253; (:www.nps.gov/dewa/ planyourvisit/hike-pa-waterfalls.htm) [Note: As of Spring 2012, visitors must hike in to Dingmans Falls from intersection of Johnny Bee Road & Rte 209. You cannot reach Dingmans Falls via Johnny Bee Road from the west off SR2001. (Milford Road) This section of Johnny Bee Road is closed to vehicles.] Childs Park, series of three waterfalls in George W. Childs Recreation Site, Silver Lake Rd., Dingman’s Ferry; 570/588-2451 Adams Creek (www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/hikepa-waterfalls.htm)
WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS Ledges Hotel’s picturesque natural surroundings and facility features are the perfect complement to your special Pocono Mountains wedding day. The staff at Ledges Hotel understands the importance of all the details that go into planning for weddings and receptions. Contact us to plan your perfect day in the stunning Upper Delaware Region of the Pocono Mountains. 120 Falls Avenue Hawley, PA | 570-226-1337 | www.ledgeshotel.com
18 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
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St., Milford www.highlandphotoguild.com or 570/296-2440 Looking Glass Gallery, 221 Main Ave., Hawley, www.lookingglassartgallery.com, or 570/226-0782 PaPA (Parker and Parker Art), 747 Texas-Palmyra Hwy., Honesdale, PA www. parkerandparkerart.com, or 570/296-5055 The Willow River Gallery, 118 Willow Ave., Honesdale, www.willowrivergallery.com/ contact.htm, or 570/253-3013 Wayne County Arts Alliance Gallery, 742 Main St., #2, Honesdale waynecountyartsalliance.org , or 570/3904420 A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 19
Catskills fishing rediscovered & renewed Preserving and reinventing tradition By STEVEN SCHWARTZ
ong considered the birthplace of fly fishing in America, the Catskills offer dynamic opportunities to discover, rediscover and renew one’s interest in the sport. A unique combination of natural resources, proximity to urban areas and history leads to a bounty of hidden treasures, often in plain sight. Since the 19th century when Theodore Gordon popularized the use of dry flies (artificial flies tied by hand that float on the surface; previously Catskill fishermen had used wet flies fished below the surface) for fishing Catskill streams such as the Willowemoc (aka Willow), Beaverkill, Esopus and Neversink, anglers have revered the area. Theodore Gordon himself wrote of rediscovering the effectiveness of the dry fly after having dabbled with English tied flies when he learned how to fish his own flies on the surface to rising fish and went on to invent the first flies designed to imitate local adult mayflies. The oldest family-owned fly shop in America is located in Roscoe, NY. Dette Trout Flies, founded by Walt and Winnie Dette in 1928, has a direct lineage to the flies of Theodore Gordon and other innovators of his day. Today it is run by their daughter, Mary Dette and her grandson, Joe Fox. At 27, Joe is the only family member of his or his parents’ generation to take an active interest in the business. He maintains the tradition of his great-grandparents’ classic fly shop, where written files were kept to help fill standing orders for each individual customer’s dry fly
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preferences. Fox has brought innovation to the flourishing business through online sales of flies and other merchandise while still affording him time to get outdoors to fish 200 days a year. Joe divides his beloved Willow into three sections: the section from Livingston Manor to the junction with the Beaverkill in Roscoe, the upper Willow from Mongaup Creek to Livingston Manor and the “upper upper Willow,” above Mongaup Creek, where there is lots of public access. In the fall when the brown trout are spawning and the leaves are turning, Joe recommends an outing the whole family will enjoy—hiking in the public lands of the Willowemoc Wild Forest along the upper upper Willow and its tributaries Mongaup Creek and along spring-fed creeks like the Fir Brook. He also recommends hiking Russell Brook, a Beaverkill trib, in the Cherry Ridge (NY) Wild Forest. Open season for trout on the upper upper Willow is April 1st through October 15, but the stretch of the upper Willow below the Parkston Bridge and a section of the Beaverkill are open till November 30. A section of the lower Beaverkill below Roscoe and the section of the Willow between Roscoe and Livingston Manor are open to angling all year. Eight years ago, Evan Lavery bought another longstanding fly shop in Roscoe, The Beaverkill Angler. Founded 40 years ago, the shop features a wide array of equipment, gear, clothing and accessories in addition to flies and tying materials. Evan believes that one of the Continued on page 22
Photos by Steven Schwartz
Joe Fox in the historic Dette Trout Flies shop in Roscoe, NY.
Photo by Joe Fox
Joe’s Quill Gordon fly tied in the Dette tradition. This fly has a 100-year-old unbroken lineage to its originator, Theodore Gordon.
Evan in front of his shop, The Beaverkill Angler, Roscoe, NY
Evan Lavery fly fishing on the Willowemoc at the Covered Bridge Pool. 20 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
Photos by Steven Schwartz
Public access on Mongaup Creek
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 21
CATSKILL FISHING Continued from page 20
hidden treasures of the area is “the legitimate two to three months of fall fishing, well into November. While you won’t find the proliferation of hatches like the spring, utilizing a variety of tactics, you’ll find plenty of voracious trout.” At a time when avid anglers are trekking to Montana or upstate to fish for steelhead, there is much less pressure on the streams and you may find yourself alone on an entire run. Evan advocates using new, or rediscovering old, fishing techniques for fall fishing. “When the fish aren’t feeding on the surface, try contact nymphing, popularized in Europe,” he says. To this end, he is sponsoring the 2013 Troutoberfest on October 12 and 13. In addition to a twoday fly fishing tournament, which Evan believes leads to innovative new techniques and equipment, there are a series of classroom and on-water workshops designed to improve the skills of all levels of fishermen. George Daniel, author of “Dynamic Nymphing,” will lead a class indoors and on-water on contact nymphing. Acclaimed fly tiers from all over will demonstrate their techniques, as will others showing various sub-surface fishing skills. For more information, see beaverkillangler.com/troutoberfest_2013. html. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum (CFFCM) located below Livingston Manor on the Willow has been preserving, documenting and sharing the traditions of fly fishing in the Catskills since 1978. Now with three buildings including a gift shop and museum on
more than 50 acres, the CFFCM offers something for everyone in the family. In the new Wulff Gallery and Catskill Rodmakers’ Workshop, the center’s executive director Jim Krull pointed out some of the items from legendary Catskill fly fishers Joan and Lee Wulff’s extensive collection. “Lee invented the fly fishing vest, sewing it himself. We have his second vest, from 1937, on display,” he said. In the workshop below there are extensive collections of rodmakers’ tools, patterns and machines including an original saw beveller constructed by George Halsteadand built sometime in the very late 1920’s to early 30s . Coming up on October 12 is the Center’s annual Catskill Fly Fishing Hall of Fame induction and dinner. This year the honorees are Rusty Gates (conservationist, fly fisherman, author), Joe Humphries (fly fisherman, conservationist, author and educator), AJ Campbell (tackle collector and writer) and Paul Schmookler (fly tier, author and collector). At the recent Catskill Rodmakers Gathering at the Center, 165 people from around the world came to learn about new and classic techniques of rod, reel and silk line construction according to Livingston Manor’s Mike Canazon. Mike is an accomplished rodmaker, having been hooked 14 years ago when fishing in Deposit, NY after he borrowed a split bamboo fly rod and “it came alive in my hand.” He makes about five rods per year, building each piece by hand including the rod, handle, reel seat and hardware. He donates one or two as fundraising items for youth programs and sells the
rest to customers who have pre-ordered. As he is building each rod, he thinks about each piece of the puzzle and how it will best serve the needs of the intended customer. “I handle each of the six pieces of split cane hundreds of time and many that are not the right fit for that rod might go into a future rod.”
The Catskills, the birthplace of fly fishing in America is, as Joe Fox says, “a real treasure. The fall is the perfect time to explore and discover the beauty of nature, the diversity of wildlife and the variety of small streams with actively feeding trout.”
Workshop session during the annual Catskill Rodmakers Gathering at the CFFCM
Covered bridge on the Willowemoc near Livingston Manor, NY
Mike Canazon, bamboo flyrod builder, at CFFCM in Livingston Manor, NY 22 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
Jim Krull with saw beveller constructed by George Halstead, built in the very late 1920s to early ‘30s, at CFFCM’s Rodmakers’ Workshop
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A RIVER REPORTER MAGAZINE • 23
The biker’s way Motorcycling is a frame of mind By JOSEPH P. BEFUMO o readers of a certain generation—we who were born under the Truman or Eisenhower administrations—mere utterance of the word motorcycle could invoke no other image but that of a young Marlon Brando: shades, comb, black leather jacket (“The Wild One,” 1953). Teen boys gazed admiringly. Young girls giggled nervously. Shopkeepers cringed and police officers scowled whenever a biker rolled into town… Curiosity. Surprise. Nervousness. Admiration. Whatever your particular visceral reaction, almost everyone feels something when the earth rumbles and a herd of Harleys stampede into view. Today, of course, most people probably know someone who rides, and understand, intellectually at least, that (to quote the ever-insightful George Carlin), today’s riders are: “Dentists and bureaucrats and… software designers….” Nevertheless, there’s still some primal essence in us that recognizes that something about these people is different. And so there is. Recently at an open house at Baer Sport Center in Honesdale, PA, a Harley-
T
Davidson, Polaris, and Victory dealership, I had the privilege to meet numerous intriguing individuals, and hear many absorbing stories. Each conversation always included these two questions: “How many miles do you ride each year?” (most average about 5,000 miles annually—pretty impressive in a part of the country with such a limited riding season.) and “What are your favorite routes and/or TRR photos by Jonathan Fox
Hundreds of bikers descended on Honesdale, PA on a September Saturday for an open house at Baer Sports Center.
For Chris, left, three-month-old Aria, and mom Lauren, ‘biking’ is a family affair. “If Grandpa has anything to say about it, Aria will be on a bike soon,” Chris shared. 24 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
destinations?” (More about that later.) None of the interviews that sunny day encapsulated the biker spirit as succinctly as Chief Joseph Graywolf of Damascus, PA. Here is a man who has been riding motorcycles for as long as I’ve been alive (Truman administration, remember). When I posed the first question to Chief Graywolf, he paused, almost as if perplexed that anyone would even ask so outlandish a thing. He thought a moment before replying: “Just as much as I please.” From anyone else I might have taken this as a wiseacre response, but somehow I knew that this was not a man who would waste my time or his own with frivolous evasions. I had a sense that his answer was more profound than superficial interpretation would suggest, and I
filed it away for subsequent analysis. Expecting a similarly vague and philosophical response, I nonetheless fired off my second question: Favorite destinations? This time his companion, Melanie, provided an immediate, concrete, and very revealing answer: “Once, he woke up and said he wanted to go for breakfast at this great little diner we know about, so off we went—on a four hundred mile ride….” That was the moment when I suddenly realized that these people, and others like them, were really on to something here, something the rest of us can only hope to find at some point on our journey through life. Most of us are taught—indoctrinated, really—to plan, to analyze, to set concrete, measurable goals and engineer our way toward attaining each in turn. Study so you can get good grades. Get good grades so you’ll be accepted into a prestigious college. Go to college so you can land a lucrative job. Work hard so you can acquire the things you desire. Acquire those things so you can… what? Enjoy life? So “the one who dies with the most stuff wins?” We are conditioned to approach life as a series of milestones. “Keep your eye on the ball,” we are incessantly enjoined. “Plan your life and live your plan.” How easy it is, with our eyes so fi xedly glued on some nebulous destination, to totally ignore the rich and varied scape along the way. So, does this mean you have to sell that Continued on page 26
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THE BIKER’S WAY
Continued from page 24
minivan, buy a Harley and set off on a cross-country jaunt like “Easy Rider” in order to be happy? Of course not. What brings one person joy would bring another only discomfort. Viennese psychiatrist and author W. Béran Wolfe wrote: “If you observe a really happy man, you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.” The mantra of “bigger,” “better,” “more,” “flip this house”… is utterly inimical to the true biker mentality. While most of the bikers I interviewed clearly lavished great effort on maintaining and accessorizing their vehicles, almost none seemed at all inclined to “trade up” every couple of years. Rather than seeking fulfillment in that next acquisition, these people are completely focused on enjoying and appreciating what they already have. Living in the here and now. What a concept! As I pondered this avalanche of profundity on that sunny Sunday afternoon at the Baer Open House, I suddenly realized something: I wasn’t sure at first, so I started looking around, and sure enough, I was right… Nowhere in this gathering of several hundred people did I spy a single individual chatting on a cell phone, texting some far-away phantom, or surfing the web. I saw nobody videoing the event for future analysis. They were there, for goodness sake. Completely. Wholeheartedly. They were with the people they loved. I have owned and ridden many motorcycles over the years, and thought I had a pretty good handle on what it means to be “a biker,” but I discovered some valuable insights at this event—not only about bikers, but about life as well. In her novel “Magic Bleeds,” by bestselling author Ilona Andrews, she writes: “Everybody has something, that one thing they must do to feel happy.” If you have already found that thing, then may this article serve to remind you how very fortunate you really are. Otherwise, let it motivate you to find your unique, personal wellspring of fulfillment.
“My machine is not a toy. It is an extension of my being.”
TRR photos by Jonathan Fox
“I ride because it is fun.”—From the Biker’s Creed (www.weaselsspfld.com/gaggles/bikerscreed.shtml)
Tess from Beach Lake, PA has been attending this annual event for motorcyclists since 1999.
When the road calls... “Wummer” (he says he has only one name), and Lee Marks found it the perfect day for a ride from Port Crane, NY to Honesdale, PA.
Contributed photo
Bikers from the Milford, PA area set out for an unknown destination—the perfect way to enjoy a ride
—Anonymous
We asked bikers to share some of their favorite destinations, near and far, and here’s what they told us: Hawks Nest, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania (near Wellsboro, PA), anywhere in the Adirondacks, county Route 30 in Delaware and Schoharie counties., Myrtle Beach (NC) for Bike Week, Route 44 and Route 414 around Williamsport, (PA), River Road from Milanville to Narrowsburg, the “Tail of the Dragon Run” in Tennessee—114 curves in 11 miles. Many told us they “never pick a destination,” they “just get on their bike and go.” 26 • UPPER DELAWARE MAGAZINE
TRR photo by Amanda Reed
These bikers stopped to compare notes from their excursion and to admire the view at Hawks Nest, a bluff overlooking the Delaware River not far from Port Jervis on Route 97.
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