Going The Distance ...

“Going the distance.”

   ~ complete a difficult task or endure an ordeal. Go the distance is a metaphor from boxing that means, when used of a boxer, “complete a fight without being knocked out.”

An artistic view of the new “Get Distant On The D&L” sign along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail) against the backdrop of the Kittatinny Ridge under bright spring skies on an early April 2020 afternoon at Lehigh Gap.

Being able to enjoy the beauty of the D&L and other trails and parks – while still observing social distancing – is a true blessing to me and many others during the novel coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. The fresh air, sunshine and watching the rebirth of life in spring blossoms and newborn birds and wildlife in God’s creation is a wonderful reminder that the United States and the rest of the world are “going the distance” to triumph over this insidious pandemic.

In the shadow of the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the D&L Trail.

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.

This sign is one of a number of signs now found at different trailheads to caution trail users to practice social distancing in light of the COVID19 outbreak.

Underneath the top design featured in this image, the sign includes trail etiquette for times of social distancing, such as don’t recreate in groups – limit interactions with other trail users; be safe – our medical systems are at their limit, do our part to limit the need; don’ t touch public services like benches or water fountains unless necessary, and if you must, wash your hands/sanitize thoroughly before and after; avoid touching your face, eyes and nose; and cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a flexed elbow.

It also cautions to observe distance of 6 feet from persons at all times.

The sign encourages trail users to always share the trail and be friendly – a smile, wave or hello can go a long way. And that’s good advice for any day!

The Lonesome Road ...

“Look down, look down that lonesome road

Before you travel on

Look up, look up and greet your maker

For Gabriel blows his horn

Weary, totin’ such a load

Tredgin’ down that lonesome road

Look down, look down that lonesome road

Before you travel on

Through love, through love, what have I done?

That you should treat me so

You cause me to walk and talk

Like I never done before

Weary, totin’ such a load

Tredgin’ down that lonesome road

Weary, totin’ such a load

Tredgin’ down that lonesome road.”

 ~ “The Lonesome Road”

         ~ 1927

~ music by Nathaniel Shilkret, lyrics by Gene Austin, written in the style of an African-American folk song & alternately titled “Lonesome Road,” “Look Down that Lonesome Road,” & “Lonesome Road Blues.”

~ initially recorded by Gene Austin September 16, 1927, other artists performing the song include Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong & Bing Crosby. Jack Prince sang the song in the television series” The Andy Griffith Show” in the episode “Rafe Hollister Sings” which originally aired February 11, 1963.

A man travels the snow sugared trail of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail) that hugs the Kittatinny Ridge at Lehigh Gap in serene winter solitude on a January afternoon in this monochrome shot.

In the shadow of the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the D&L Trail.

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.

Autumn Falls ...

“But memory is an autumn leaf that murmurs a while in the wind and then is heard no more.”

                       ~ Kahlil Gibran

                           ~ 1883-1931

A single autumn leaf rests in the cascading waters of Resh Falls, which flows like silk in harmony with autumn along the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain. I shot this long exposure capture on a beautiful October afternoon at Lehigh Gap along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail).

The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the D&L Trail.

Resh Falls is one of the Five Falls at East Penn along a unique area of the D&L Trail.

Railroading has a rich history in the development of lower Carbon County as three railroads went through the Lehigh Gap.

East Penn Township had two of them on its side of the river as the Lehigh Valley Railroad ran along what is now the D&L Trail. The Lehigh and New England Railroad ran parallel about 75 feet higher on the mountain on what is now the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Bobolink Trail.

The engineering needed to build these railroads would be a wonder today, but when you consider that they were done a century ago it becomes more impressive. They built pools along the railroad to collect runoff similar to what we now have as detention basins.

These pools still collect water and they discharge the collected water at five waterfalls that can be observed year round when hiking or biking the D&L Trail.

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.