TRIPS, TREKS, and OUT & ABOUTS

How dense can I be?  

Until fairly late last night, it never occurred to me to share the trips, treks, and out & abouts Mom & I routinely took back in the day, which I now take with grannie clients.  Thank you, Jane Blair, for asking your FB friends for suggestions on where to ramble with only 90 minutes, an inspiring question!  (Although I was none too happy this a.m., waking up in the pre-dawn, unable to go back to sleep because I was running through beloved routes & destinations in my mind.)

What did I suggest as a possible pretty, shortish ramble for Jane & her awesome m-i-l?  A nip up Rt. 232  (which starts out as Huntingdon Pike in Jane's starting point, becomes 2nd Street Pike in Southampton, ends up Windy Bush Road when it Ts at its terminus at the Delaware River) to New Hope, crossing over the river to NJ at Lambertville, then taking Rt 29 up to Stockton, crossing back into PA, then heading home via Peddler's Village. 

If Jane had a couple hours, my suggestion would be to take the Newtown Bypass to Yardley Newtown Road & Afton Ave, joining the River Road at Yardley.  The view north of the river, the Yardley Inn on your left, the war memorial right in front of you, the river stretching languidly beyond, was Mom's favorite view of the Delaware.  

Mind you, Mom would have wanted to turn right for breakfast at Charcoal (back in the day, the owners still called it Charcoal Steaks & Things - hadn't gone WOW! yet in its decor & evening menu) or nipped into the Yardley Inn for a sip & a nibble at the bar or out on the "porch" with its beautiful view of both the river & the restaurant's lovely herb garden.   

I agree with Mom's opinion that the stretch of road between Yardley & New Hope is the most delightful stretch, hugging close to the river & providing great views of water, interesting houses (check out the stretch of houses north of the inn that are built atop stilts or risers to keep them out of danger of the flood waters that now plague the charming town, due to thoughtless upriver development), and sights like Washington's Crossing State Park, the David Library of the American Revolution, and Bowman's Hill & Wildflower Preserve. 

As you head up toward New Hope from Yardley, look for another beautiful view of the river bending ever so slightly to the right - at that very point, John's most remarkable (on so many levels!) railroad art clients built a stunning house with classic modern lines; it's outstanding for how well it suits the land while providing John's client & his lucky guests with knock-out views of the Delaware.  

Until Jane asked all of her Facebook friends for suggestions on local rambles, it never occurred to me to write out all the ones I know, some as close as a meander skirting the edge of the Pennypack Watershed or exploring the mostly residential roads between Susquehanna & Terwood, others as far distant as Manhattan,  Carlisle & Horseshoe Curve or SE PA/NE DE's Wyeth Country, and way beyond.

Jane - may you have a great & glorious ramble!  

Here's to many more!!