MTBNJ Group Ride - 4/23: Hartshorne

Norm

Norm

Mayor McCheese
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Hello everyone and welcome back! See below for the details of the first open, non-race MTBNJ group ride:

Place: Hartshorne
Address: 255 Locust Ave, Middletown NJ
Date: Saturday, April 23
Time: 9:00 am
Length: About 2 hours
Pace: Beginner-friendly
Lead: @rottin'
Sweep: @Mitch
Talker: @pooriggy
RSVP: On this thread and here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10L1AomFJXCepEtMpGUNYpURoiADbMjPSORnVwTVDIZk/viewform

For those of you who did a group ride last year

This is more of the same. Casual pace meant to encourage people to get out and ride trails they may have never seen or have not seen often enough to feel comfortable going at it alone.

For those who did not

I encourage any & all people who have a mild interest in checking the park out or meeting people to join. The rides are very social and allow you to see places & meet people you will not if you stay home or go to the gym. We often have 5-10 team members here so this is your chance to get to know those of us on the board better. I did not get a single complaint about the ride series last year. Many who went to 1 came back for more.

Disclaimer

Mountain biking is a serious sport. If you go off the trails you may be subject to tiger attacks, random meteor showers, poison ivy in the crotch, or you may be subject to a hootenanny. There is some expectation that you can get yourself out alive if you get lost, but the collective group will point you in the right direction or at least throw meat in the general other direction from the tiger if you are so attacked.

It is a good idea to have the following things in your pack if you need mechanical assistance:

1. @woody

Please bring appropriate food & drink and remember, as it is before Memorial Day it is frowned upon to wear white to these social gatherings.

Hope to see you there.
 
rottin'

rottin'

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
seanrunnette said:
Can I use my TT bike? (In, btw, whate'er the answer)
Click to expand...
Better yet, do this please. ..

38db2fce40e5081b5d30e7022265b306.jpg
 
rottin'

rottin'

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Some Hartshorne Fun Facts:


Hartshorne Woods Park has the most extensive and challenging series of trails (over 14 miles) in the Park System. Hardy hikers, bicyclists, and casual walkers can all find trails to their liking. Please stay on marked trails, plan your route, take a trail map, and wear appropriate safety gear. Enter from Navesink Ave., Locust or Portland Rd., Highland

A hilly, forested 794-acre site overlooking the Navesink River, this park is among the highest elevations along the Atlantic Coast and features prominently in area history as a former coastal defense site. Known for its challenging trail system and scenic views, Hartshorne Woods is a popular park for area hikers, bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Park features: group cabin camping (by reservation), cross country ski trails, fishing in the Navesink River and trails for walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It's the perfect place to escape the sounds of suburbia.

Please be aware that NJ anglers age 16 and up are now required to register with the NJ Saltwater Angler Registry (for free) to fish in marine and fresh tidal waters of NJ. For more information regarding the registration, click here.

History
This park is named after Richard Hartshorne an English Quaker from London who settled here in 1669 and acquired more than 2,300 acres of land. By the early 1880s, some of the land was sold to private individuals and the U.S. government, but large portions remained in Hartshorne family ownership.

The Park System acquired the first 660 acres of this park in 1974. Additional land was conveyed from the government in 1984, and subsequent purchases – including the 44-acre Claypit Creek section in 2005- brought the park to its current size.

Military Installations at Rocky Point 1940's

The Hartshorne property was a desirable defense site because of its high elevation. Through the years, it hosted a number of different land and air-based military installations to defend New York Harbor and surrounding areas.

During the WWII era, batteries for heavy artillery were built on this site to modernize coastal defense efforts. These concrete and earth encasements or bunkers – considered “bomb-proof” at the time – protected personnel and equipment. These structures can still be viewed today.

With the rise of strategic air power and nuclear weapons, the reliance on artillery guns for coastal defense ended. During the Cold War Era, from the 1950s-1970s, the site served as a missile defense site and command center with radar, computers and electronic plotting devices. Structures from this era have all been removed.

On October 13, 2015, the Navesink Military Reservation Historic District – all 224 acres of the former military base – was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gun Barrel Delivery
The Monmouth County Park System is pleased to announce that a historic World War II naval gun from the Battleship New Jersey has arrived at Battery Lewis in Hartshorne Woods Park. It will be on permanent display as part of the Battery Lewis restoration. The gun barrel, which is 68 feet long and weighs 120 tons, is almost identical to the 16-inch guns on Battery Lewis during World War II.

Originally on the USS New Jersey and donated by the U.S. Navy to the Monmouth County Park System, the gun barrel travelled by rail from Norfolk, Virginia to Red Bank and then by truck to Hartshorne Woods Park. It is in a temporary position next to Battery Lewis. Once restoration of the gun barrel is completed and a pedestal is constructed, it will then be moved to its permanent location in the battery casemate. Learn more about this project. | Visit our Facebook page to see photos of the delivery.


http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/documents/130/Hartshorne_map.pdf








 
Last edited:
rottin'

rottin'

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
...and in case we roll over to Huber Woods as well...

Nestled on a hill overlooking the Navesink River, the park was established in 1974 with a 118-acre gift of land from the Huber Family and the J.M. Huber Corporation. With continued acquisitions, additional land donations and the help of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Huber Woods Park has grown to 375 acres of permanently preserved open space.

Besides forests and meadows, the site also features over 8 miles of multi-use trails and an Environmental Center. A visit to Huber Woods Park is the perfect opportunity to appreciate the facets of nature that are often taken for granted. While there, take a moment amid the scenic beauty and panoramic views to observe small things - sounds, smells, light and shadow, subtle hints of seasonal change. Relax in a meadow or take a walk along a wooded trail. Each experience will enhance your appreciation of the fascinating natural world around you.

huber_walkers.jpg


History
Hans Huber was the eldest son of Joseph M. Huber, who came to America in 1883 to develop new markets for the dry colors (pigments used to produce inks) that his family manufactured in Germany. Within a few years Joseph Huber had established a dry color business of his own in New York. Joseph and his wife Anna began to spend their summer vacations in this area about 1905, renting an old farmhouse on the Andrew Brown property. The Hubers fell in love with the farm’s hilly pastures, peach orchards and river views, and eventually purchased it. The house they built still stands at the foot of Brown’s Dock Road on the Navesink River.


Hans and Catherine Huber chose the farm’s hilltop for their home. Designed by New York architect Edwin L. Howard, the large half-timbered house with a distinctive terra cotta roof is inspired by the old-country style of the Alpine region and reflects the cultural background of the Hubers. Deciding that they wanted to see the woods of the Huber estate permanently preserved, Hans and Catherine donated 103 acres to the Monmouth County Park System in 1974. In 1984, the J.M. Huber Corporation donated another 48 acres of the Huber estate, and the house, to the Park System.

huber_home_historic(1).jpg




Trails
Walkers, and equestrians all have favorite trails at Huber Woods. Short or long loops, steep inclines, and gentle grades offer something for everyone. (8.5 miles of trails)

https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/AgencyImages/130/huber_map_oct_2013.jpg
 
giff06

giff06

Well-Known Member
If you are on the fence about joining in on one of these rides do yourself a favor and don't hesitate. Pat and I joined the Nassau Trails group last season on the tandem and were made to feel welcome and had a blast doing the ride. Nassau was a trail system we had wanted to explore but it was a fair distance from home so it was great riding with people who knew the trails. Even though there was probably 30 years age difference between us and most of the others we were made to feel very comfortable and encouraged. Unfortunately we can't be at Hartshorne (its one of our favorite parks) as its my birthday and we have a family obligation. Again thanks to Norm and Team MTBNJ for doing these rides and hope to be on the next one.

Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem
 
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