2019-04-07 - D&R Canal Trail - Trenton to New Brunswick
4 AM. That's when I woke up—no alarm clock needed. Decision time. Should I travel down to Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, to embark on the 40 mile Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail? Just the day before, I had hiked the 23.5-mile, 6,500-plus foot elevation gain Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail Traverse. I wasn't sure how I would feel in the morning. I guess I felt okay? Screw it, let's go. A 100-km weekend or bust!
I got ready as quickly as I could. Use throne. Brush teeth. Wash feet. Dry feet. Cut tape. Wear pants. Wear shirt. Shake socks. Wear socks. Wear gaiters. Shake shoes. Wear shoes. Call Lyft. Pack everything I need: nuun, salt tablets, flashlight, hiking poles, extra socks, extra rain jacket, tape, foot cream, charger, and cable. Bring cards, wallet, cell phone, and headphones. Apply moisturizing cream. Fill up bottles with water. Car is here. Out the door into the car. Off with the shoes to apply tape, friction tape, apply lubricating foot cream. Shoes back on. Re-lace. Order train tickets. Oops, forgot my belt. Too late.
I got to the train platform at Newark Penn Station two minutes before the train would leave. I messaged Charles, the hike leader. The sky grew brighter. I arrived in Trenton at 6:40 AM. After finding and greeting Charles, I bought food. We ended up leaving a little later than Charles had planned. My bad.
Charles led our small group (me and two other walkers) on a history tour around Trenton. We talked about the battles George Washington had fought in the area, including his “ten crucial days” that turned the tide of war around. The day after crossing the Delaware River on Christmas of 1776, Washington's troops attacked the Hessians. At the cost of a few wounded men, over 900 Hessians, six cannons, and all enemy supplies were killed or captured. On January 2nd, Washington won again at the Second Battle of Trenton when his forces sneaked behind the British to attack their Rear Guard at Princeton. We walked past sculptures of Washington, a barracks, government buildings, lobbyist houses, and magnolia trees.
I got ready as quickly as I could. Use throne. Brush teeth. Wash feet. Dry feet. Cut tape. Wear pants. Wear shirt. Shake socks. Wear socks. Wear gaiters. Shake shoes. Wear shoes. Call Lyft. Pack everything I need: nuun, salt tablets, flashlight, hiking poles, extra socks, extra rain jacket, tape, foot cream, charger, and cable. Bring cards, wallet, cell phone, and headphones. Apply moisturizing cream. Fill up bottles with water. Car is here. Out the door into the car. Off with the shoes to apply tape, friction tape, apply lubricating foot cream. Shoes back on. Re-lace. Order train tickets. Oops, forgot my belt. Too late.
I got to the train platform at Newark Penn Station two minutes before the train would leave. I messaged Charles, the hike leader. The sky grew brighter. I arrived in Trenton at 6:40 AM. After finding and greeting Charles, I bought food. We ended up leaving a little later than Charles had planned. My bad.
Charles led our small group (me and two other walkers) on a history tour around Trenton. We talked about the battles George Washington had fought in the area, including his “ten crucial days” that turned the tide of war around. The day after crossing the Delaware River on Christmas of 1776, Washington's troops attacked the Hessians. At the cost of a few wounded men, over 900 Hessians, six cannons, and all enemy supplies were killed or captured. On January 2nd, Washington won again at the Second Battle of Trenton when his forces sneaked behind the British to attack their Rear Guard at Princeton. We walked past sculptures of Washington, a barracks, government buildings, lobbyist houses, and magnolia trees.
Soon after, we started on the actual Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail proper. Charles and I conversed about various topics—history, ancestry, sleepwalking, sanity, and neuroplasticity. We walked at a quick pace but Charles sped up during the last two miles to get to the area near Princeton to help set up a welcoming station for the walkers starting there. I ran a little to keep up. The canal was gorgeous and we got to the main starting location 12.5 miles into the walk at around 10:40 AM.
I greeted the familiar faces I saw and bought a discounted Freewalkers shirt and cap. About twenty of us continued from Princeton and the group soon stretched out, some walking slower and others faster. I saw a cell phone on the ground and after confirming that it did not belong to any of us, I kept it with me waiting for the owner to call. When the owner's husband called, Peter and I waited to return the phone to him. Although the waiting caused us to be behind the other walkers, we would catch up to most of them. Peter and I enjoyed talking about topics ranging from massage to religion to hiking. We were planning to lead a hike together on the Long Island Greenbelt on May 25.
I was feeling tired but still hiking the flats at a respectable speed. We did wander around a town looking for a non-existent bathroom and took a few breaks but by the time Peter and I arrived at the last rest stop, we discovered that only 3 people were ahead of us. Paula and Brian were at the rest stop and wanted to continue with us. We bid farewell to the wonderful support of Mike and Anne as we four continued on as a group.
I was feeling tired but still hiking the flats at a respectable speed. We did wander around a town looking for a non-existent bathroom and took a few breaks but by the time Peter and I arrived at the last rest stop, we discovered that only 3 people were ahead of us. Paula and Brian were at the rest stop and wanted to continue with us. We bid farewell to the wonderful support of Mike and Anne as we four continued on as a group.
We soon caught up to Miyon and Meghvogh who had passed us at the rest stop.
"Are you the famous Jack Shi?" Miyon asked me. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
Apparently Miyon had heard about me from other walkers. I told her about how I gave up a successful software development career at financial institutions in Manhattan to pursue my dream of becoming a massage therapist and leading nature hikes. I talked about my belief that money is just the means to a goal and how this is my life goal. This is what I wanted to dedicate my life to—helping others live healthier and more active lives.
I told her about how I helped heal Brian's back a little without even laying hands on him. His back had started hurting by this point and I realized it was because of a hunched posture and overly stretched lower back muscles. Tightening the abdominal muscles and keeping a straighter back helped him noticeably.
Paula, Brian, Peter, and I walked ahead and eventually reached the end of the trail. With only 1.5 miles or so of street walking left, we followed Paula's instructions to get all the way to the New Brunswick Train Station. And we made it!
"Are you the famous Jack Shi?" Miyon asked me. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
Apparently Miyon had heard about me from other walkers. I told her about how I gave up a successful software development career at financial institutions in Manhattan to pursue my dream of becoming a massage therapist and leading nature hikes. I talked about my belief that money is just the means to a goal and how this is my life goal. This is what I wanted to dedicate my life to—helping others live healthier and more active lives.
I told her about how I helped heal Brian's back a little without even laying hands on him. His back had started hurting by this point and I realized it was because of a hunched posture and overly stretched lower back muscles. Tightening the abdominal muscles and keeping a straighter back helped him noticeably.
Paula, Brian, Peter, and I walked ahead and eventually reached the end of the trail. With only 1.5 miles or so of street walking left, we followed Paula's instructions to get all the way to the New Brunswick Train Station. And we made it!
Thanks to everyone for the great company and support. I hope to see you all soon! Check out my own Meetup group here: https://www.meetup.com/EverWanderWhy/
And here is a video of us reaching the end of the actual trail section before the much more dangerous, car-dodging street walk section.
And here is a video of us reaching the end of the actual trail section before the much more dangerous, car-dodging street walk section.