A Walk on the Railroad Tracks, It’s Still Winter Out Here.

We had a bitterly cold and snowy Winter here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I was glad for the  return of the sunshine and warmer temperatures this past week. A lot of snow melted on the streets, sidewalks and yards.

Well I decided to hike out the railroad tracks near my house and found that there sure is a lot of snow still on the ground in the woods and shaded areas. I felt like I was walking back into January. The railroad tracks were clear for a couple of miles, until I walked out to what we called Pine Valley. The tracks are on the north side of a ridge and get little sun. So  there sure was a lot of snow. I wasn’t in the mood to trudge through it so decided to turn back.

It still was nice hiking on the rails. Have been doing it all of my life. My grandfather had me on the railroad  tracks when he took me, without my parent’s knowledge, huckleberry picking when I was two years old. Love to imagine the folks who walked before me, and the hoboes and  railroad men who road the trains on these same track for the past 150 years., These tracks  were first  laid down in this area to transport coal to the Philadelphia and New York markets. Often think what they were thinking as they passed through here. Reminds me of this song, which I often  hear  in my head as I walk along the tracks. .  I found this haunting version preformed by a very young Joan Baez.  It is beautiful and worth a listen.  Joan Baez 500 Miles

Was a nice hike, but will be honest and say I much prefer walking them on a hazy, hot and humid Summer day. Won’t be long, but for now, just a little more Winter to deal with. Here is the link to some more photos I took on the hike. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-5/nggallery/blog-photos/railroad-tracks-greenridge-3-14-2015#gallery/78d256b1aa6c5b5c6fc5f4b7e848ee34/1075