Caminito #1: Bloomfield to Newark/Harrison along the Lenape Trail

 A lovely May Thursday. I'd be mad not to use it! So I get the backpack on and take off! Finally doing the Lenape Trail!

Clark's Pond, Bloomfield.

Yanticaw Park/Booth Park, Nutley.

Belleville Park, Belleville

Path washed away by recent storms, just above Branch Brook Park Drive, Newark

Footbridge over Branch Brook Park Drive, Newark.

Of course it's safe!

Branch Brook Park, Newark.

Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark.

Branch Brook Lake, Newark.

Essex County Hall of Records, Newark. Hmm . . . what are those big letters on the street?

St. James African Methodist Church, Newark.

Streets of Newark.

Campus Town, Newark.

War Memorial, Military Park, Newark.

Newark Downtown over the Passaic River.

Southward view along restored riverfront walk, Newark.

They didn't knock the Ballantine House down!

Old Presbyterian church now converted to an "Innovation Cathedral" by Audible. Next door Rutgers Business school and dorm building.

The first third of my Lenape Trail caminito finished. What a wonderful walk! Newark really surprised me at the end, and I must return there for more exploring!

Caminito #2 on the Lenape Trail: Bloomfield - Verona

Bloomfield to Verona on the Lenape Trail.

14 miles, which took me six hours with several breaks.

Ready for Walking!

 

 

Clark's Pond, Bloomfield

 

  Archery Field, Brookdale Park

 

Mills Reservation

 

 Mills Reservation

 

 Newark Reservoir

 

West Essex Trail.

The trail is a converted railway line. Hence "JC 18" - Jersey City 18 miles.

 

From the converted railway bridge over Highway 23.

 

Cedar Beans - an absolutely fantastic coffee shop 100 yards from the railway bridge. Go down the steps on the western side of the bridge, walk south for 100 yards and use the crosswalk (lights flash when you press a button). DO NOT TRY TO CROSS 23 ANY OTHER WAY (traffic is fast and dangerous).

 

Atmosphere in the coffee shop.

 

Dave and Christina in the Coffee Shop. Christina made me a mean latté! Cedar Beans, Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove. @cedarbeanscoffeejoint

 

Hilltop Reservation.

 

Hilltop Reservation

 

Hilltop Reservation

 

Hilltop Reservation

Caught the bus back home from Verona. Alas, a terribly sub-par experience with NJ Transit's 29 bus, which runs the length of Bloomfield Avenue. Surly drivers, buses way off schedule, and half of the buses untrackable because their GPS transponders were off.

The only good news is that the 29 is frequent. Don't bother using the NJ Transit app or any other transit app, as many of the buses don't show up. You'll simply have to wait at a bus stop and throw yourself in front of the first 29 bus that comes along. The first one that showed up never even stopped for me.

Altogether a great day. We'll brush the bus thing under the carpet.