Tag: Walking Trails

Healing in Nature at Hobler Park

This wasn't just a walk.

Yesterday's walk around Hobler Park near The Great Road in Skillman was a delightful escape from the everyday hustle. I was joined by Bhavana, Kiran, and a warm-hearted cluster of area residents. We all found solace under the open skies. Bhavna's sister and my other in-laws were among us, infusing the day with familial warmth.

As we meandered through the trails, our steps mixed with the rustling whispers of the dried grass underfoot, Terry Lynch, a renowned author and international speaker, guided our thoughts towards nature's healing effects. She illuminated the concept of nature as a conduit for vitality, inviting us to draw from its energies.

Terry spoke of stress and anxiety, not as burdens we must carry but as fleeting shadows dispelled by the light of nature. She encouraged us to breathe deeply, let the crisp air cleanse our worries, and let the serenity of our surroundings seep into our souls.

And so, we stood quietly, amidst the grassy fields, raising our hands skyward, emulating the trees around us. It was more than a mere gesture—a moment of unity, a collective release of pent-up emotions, and a shared rejuvenation. It felt as though with every breath, we were restored and intertwined with the pulse of life that thrummed beneath our feet.

We departed with more than just memories; we left with spirits lightened, minds clear, and hearts full of the healing power of nature.

Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · 35 mm f/1.8
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/7.1
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Week 9 - Healing in Nature · 3 March 2013 · Nikon D40 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail Walk with Montgomery Friends of Open Space

Last weekend I went for a walk along the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park Trail towpath with my family. The walk was organised by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space and The D& R Canal Watch. It snowed the night before, so it was cold that morning, but we bundled up and drove to the Kington Lock. The plan was to walk from the Griggstown Lock to the Kingston Lock.

Mary M. Penney, President of Montgomery Friends of Open Space, handed out maps and other information. Our walk guide and board member of the D&R Canal Watch, Bob Barth, explained the logistics of the walk. Some of us would carpool to Griggstown and walk back to Kingston, while the rest started at Rocky Hill.

My sister-in-law, Nilima, my niece Maya, and my other sister-in-law's father-in-law, joined us to walk from Griggstown in Franklin Township. With me were my wife and daughter. My son decided he was too tired for a walk.

As we walked, Bob Barth told us about the history of the canal and towpath and how it was used to transport goods between Bordentown and New Brunswick. Construction of the canal started in 1830 and was completed four later with an estimated cost of $2,830,000. The canal was built by hand by mostly Irish immigrants.

For nearly a century after it opened, the D&R Canal was one of America's busiest navigation canals. Its peak years were the 1860s and 1870s, when Pennsylvania coal was transported through the D&R Canal to feed the city of New York's industrial boom. During this period, 80% of the total cargo carried on the canal was coal.~ Delaware & Raritan Canal History

We walked quickly, occasionally stopping to listen to Bob explain more of the history of the canal and the surrounding towns. We encountered a few large trees that had fallen across the path. It's incredible how much damage Hurricane Sandy did to the forests of New Jersey.

My family and I had a good time and plan on attending other MFOS events.

Mary Penny hands out maps and information about Montgomery Friends of Open Space.—Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8

Discovering Happiness

Bhavna and I took our toddlers, Shaan and Kiran, for a stroll along the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park Trail.

Bhavna and I took a leisurely stroll along the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park Trail with our young ones, Shaan and Kiran, in tow. Setting off from the Rocky Hill trailhead, we headed northward toward Griggstown.

Shaan was fully engrossed in his little adventure as we walked, darting around to collect leaves and charming pebbles that always capture children's attention. At that moment, my worries about my recent unemployment, which came shortly after we purchased our home in September, seemed to fade into the background.

That September is etched in memory, overshadowed by the tragic terrorist attacks that shook the entire nation. The ripple effects of those events reached Wall Street and the local job market, prompting many businesses to adopt a more cautious approach to hiring.

Financial anxiety weighed heavily on my mind. We had closed on our new home just a week after 9⁄11, and shortly after that, my contract with a client was terminated. With high closing costs and dwindling savings, the situation felt unsettling.

Bhavna and I strategised on how to navigate through this challenging period. We knew family vacations were out of the question until I could secure employment and rebuild our savings. Instead, we brainstormed inexpensive activities to entertain the kids and provide a temporary escape from the stress at home.

Our walk along the canal offered a brief reprieve from the daily anxiety of job hunting. It allowed me to momentarily set aside the responsibilities of adulthood and immerse myself in the carefree world of my young children.

D&R Canal State Park Trail
D&R Canal State Park Trail | Monday 22 October, 2001 | Sony CYBERSHOT | 13.9 mm | 1⁄70 sec at f/4.0 | ISO 100