Thursday Hikers

Today was fantastic! A day of history, marvelous steep trails, daring heights, and the Westfield River in springtime fullness. Lots of water everywhere today! These amazing bridges, 2 of which still support train traffic, were built in 1840 with a largely Irish immigrant labor force of 1000 men. Designed by George Washington Whistler, father of James Whistler the painter. No mortar was used. The stone construction simply amazes you, especially when you think about the one critical stone, the keystone, that holds the whole thing together. Look for the keystone at the very center top of photo 5. The highest of the bridges is 70′, and feels really really high as you walk across the old rail bed atop it. No sides! People have pushed those stone into the river below. Egad. Second photo, Tony descended to the river in pursuit of a photo. The dogs followed. We all held our breath and were very happy when they all made it back up to the trail. Third photo: A trio of daredevils. Fourth photo: Just one of the many many gorgeous things, some small, some very large, that we encountered today. Fifth photo: One of the bridges. Wonderful to see, impossible to comprehend! Sixth photo: Great friends, hearty hikers, taking in a view at a beautiful steep part of the trail and down to the river. Last photo: Inside the Chester Railroad Museum where we brown bagged lunch and had a wonderful time with the man who has put so much of this together. It’s an old train depot, not unlike the one in Glen Rock, filled with neat stuff. Also, there’s an amazing old caboose, all wooden interior, that can be rented for a night of “camping”!!! We went into it and I must say: I was enchanted. Anyone for an night in a caboose? Love, Penny