Saturday, June 22, 2019

Middletown Rocky Run Trail Parts I & II (6/21-22/2019)

Friday, June 21, 2019
We are starting small, with a hike along a "run" before we tackle a hike along a creek!
We find we actually live in Middletown Township of Delaware County (PA), and there are several trails in the area. Rocky Run Trail is quite close, passing next to Granite Farms Estates and even through the grounds of Lima Estates.
Sign for Rocky Run Trail at its one parking lot
Plaque on Rocky Run Bridge (1995) of Valley Road
Rocky Run at Valley Road
We crossed the street from the parking lot on Valley Road,
to head to the left around the Wawa milk plant sewage processing area
Yes, we were on the right trail,
slogging through tall grasses
Mariner East II Pipeline, with Granite Farms Estates in the background
Here, Rocky Run is just an erosion
Landscape of hills and land going back to nature
A bridge over Rocky Run at an intersection;
here we turned back to the parking lot

Saturday, June 22, 2019
This time we walked from Granite Farms over to the Rocky Run YMCA to find the connecting trail to the Rocky Run Trail.
Granite Farms Estates as seen from the lower parking lot at the YMCA
Public cornhole arena?
Using an old foundation to create a picnic shelter?
YMCA Challenge Course
We did not try to swing on any vines
And here we are at that bridge at which
we turned around in our hike yesterday
Continuing on, then climbing a hill, we arrived
at Delaware County Administration buildings; here are the offices
of the County Medical Examiner and the Library Archives
Ended up passing through Fair Acres Geriatric Complex,
the county's Skilled Nursing Facility for about 900 residents
Fair Acres is also a gated community!
In the background is one of the resident care buildings,
which is across the street from Lima Estates
We exited the Fair Acres grounds, and turned left on
Old Forge Road to head back on Rocky Run Trail
The trail runs along the road, then up a far driveway of Fair Acres
to find the signboard and markers for the trail heading into the woods
Saw a couple of the Odocoileus virginianus/
Northern White-tailed Deer (KSS)
We also saw a groundhog and chipmunks, as well as an unidentified frog.
Kent at Rocky Run
Looking back along Rocky Run; there is
an arched stone bridge back there (KSS)
Tamiko negotiating one of many flooded areas (KSS)
Muddy splashed feet
Next: Rocky Run Trail Parts III & IV.

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