Saturday May 3, 2025 - Train Ride to Philadelphia - Penn's Landing Tour

Saturday May 3, 2025 – TRAIN RIDE TO PHILADELPHIA – PENN’S LANDING TOUR – 5+ miles

Enjoy a train ride from the Norristown Transit Center into the “City of Brotherly Love” with an enjoyable walking tour of Penn’s Landing and Head House Square. Our walk will take us from the Jefferson Train Station to Penn’s Landing to check out the various activities that the seaport has to offer. Plenty of places to see and things to do such as the Independence Seaport Museum, USS Olympia, a submarine, River Ferry Links to New Jersey and others. 

Be aware admission fee is required for Seaport Museum ($20.00 – includes museum, tour of battleship, submarine Becuna may be separate fee), and other things to see are free. Eateries are at some spots along Penn’s Landing and the nearby Head House Square area. Dress in comfortable clothes and very comfortable shoes for walking on pavements. Bring sunscreen since we’ll be by the water. This trip is rain or shine, so bring rain gear if the weather forecast is drops! There are options for things to see if the weather is rainy or extremely hot.

COSTS: $8.00 each way on SEPTA Regional Rail from Norristown Saturday fare for SEPTA train ride; pay for ride on train (price subject to change) if obtained day of trip. Cost may be involved for other attractions such as Seaport Museum.

Meeting place: 7:00 am, Boscov’s East Parking lot (east end of lot), Bus. Rt. 422 East, Exeter Twp, where we will car-pool to the Norristown Transit Center to take the train. We will meet around 4:30 pm to take the train back to Norristown unless another time is decided by the group on the day of the trip. Driving directions to the train station, maps of Philadelphia and the schedule of train departures and arrivals will be provided on the day of the trip.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BUS TRIP - WE WILL BE CARPOOLING AS A CLUB EVENT

GPS: Boscov’s East 4500 Perkiomen Ave, Reading [40.30877, -75.86749] 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-823-9023

Saturday April 26, 2025 - North Lake Loop

Approximately 7 hilly miles

This is a hike at the North Lake Loop of Blue Marsh – There may be a possibility for a shorter hike option on the day of the hike if it’s possible as an in-out hike. After we that we will continue into some hills and do the loop. 

NOTE: Lunch is optional afterwards.

Meeting place: 9:30 am 

 

Directions:  Take Route 183 North. Pass the Blue Marsh Restaurant. In about 2.5 miles -Turn Left onto Old Church Road. Parking lot is on the left.

GPS:   Blue Marsh Old Church Road Parking Lot [40.40739, -76.07904]

NOTE: Heavy rain will cancel

For more information or further directions, contact: 484-557-7854 with questions 

Saturday April 19, 2025 - Gravity Trail

4-5 moderate miles

Leader will take hikers on the Gravity Trail, Antietam Lake to Egelmans Park. There will be rocky hills at beginning, and then will be mostly flat. Hopefully filled with beginning of spring blooms, walking through a light green haze. NOTE: Rainy horrible forecast will cancel hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the large Antietam Lake Park parking area – on the horseshoe bend in sight of the lake at Angora Rd.

Directions: From Business 422 going East from Reading – Turn left at traffic light from Perkiomen Ave. in Mt. Penn to North 23 rd St./Carsonia Ave. Follow Carsonia Ave. 3.5 miles. Turn left at intersection at end of Carsonia onto Antietam Road. Make first left onto Angora Road. Follow road and make left onto large parking lot at horseshoe curve.

From Business 422 going West from Exeter – Go right from Perkiomen Ave onto North 23 rd St./ Carsonia Ave. Follow Carsonia Ave. 3.5 miles. Turn left at intersection at end of Ave. onto Antietam Road. Make first left onto Angora Road. Follow road and make left onto large parking lot at horseshoe curve.

GPS: 230 Angora Rd. [40.35637, -7587406 parking lot coordinates]

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-505-9397

Saturday April 12, 2025 - Leaser Lake Hike

Approx. 5 moderate miles

We will hike around the perimeter trail of Leaser Lake, just over the northern Berks line in Lehigh County. The terrain will vary from open fields to deep woods and marshy areas. This hike is especially well-suited for spotting many different bird and wildflower species. Lunch will be up to the hikers present. As C J Hummels is now closed for lunches, other choices would be The Westy in Hamburg, or Fiore’s in Shoemakersville. Call if weather is questionable.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot at end of Pleasure Court (south parking area and boat launch) 

Directions: Take Rte 143 north out of Lenhartsville. Drive about 8 miles, make a left turn onto Pleasure Court, just before the large stone church in Jacksonville (about a mile past Wanamaker’s General Store).

GPS: Pleasure Court, Kempton [40.671195 - 75.832145]

For more information or further directions, contact:  610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 morning of the hike.

Saturday April 5, 2025 - Roads of Amityville

5 miles of easy to moderate difficulty

We will start by hiking the paved paths of Amity Township Community Park. Then branch into the scenic roads of Amityville. Eventually making our way back to the Amity Township Community Park.  Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Bring water.

Meeting place:   9:30 am at the Amity Township Community Park parking lot. 

Directions from Reading: Take US-422 east to the Amity Township (about 15 miles). Turn left onto the PA-662/Old Swede Rd. After 3 miles, make a slight left onto the Weavertown Rd. After 0.3 of a mile you will pass the St Paul’s United Church of Christ.  Make the next right into the parking lot of Amity Township Community Park.

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels the hike.

GPS:  1891 Weavertown Road, Douglassville, PA [40.299812, -75.739017]

For more information and further directions, contact: 484-467-8976

Saturday March 29, 2025 - Kaercher Creek Dam & Vicinity

 Approx. 4 moderate miles

We will hike some of the old trails in the now closed Kaercher Creek County Park. We will see some remnants of the graded but never finished Allentown and Auburn railroad from 1875, as well as a nice blend of woods, town roads, cemetery, and fields. If we are lucky, the Siberian Squill will be in bloom.

There are multiple options for lunch afterwards - group choice.

Meeting place: 9 :30 am at Kaercher Creek boat launch parking area.

Directions: Take Rt. 61 to Hamburg. Bear right onto 4th Street. At third traffic light turn right onto State Street (old route 22 ). Proceed about one mile and turn right on the driveway into the old park, opposite the old Hamburg Center. Look for the red and white   for the Hamburg Soccer Association.

GPS: Kaercher Creek Park, Hamburg, 19526   40.5617372,-75.9693197 - approx GPS for 3401 Old Route 22 in Hamburg.

For more information & further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 on the day of the hike.

Saturday March 22, 2025 - Lenhartsville Loop

Approx. 5 easy miles

Join in on our traditional hike along the Maiden Creek and country roads in the hills near Lenhartsville. This is an easy road hike with some nice views of the Maiden Creek and the hill country south of town. We will also pass the remains of the 19th century Maiden Creek Iron Furnace. Late lunch or early dinner afterwards at CJ Hummel’s Restaurant.

Meeting place: 2:00 pm (note the late start time) at the rear of the side parking lot of CJ Hummel’s, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville

GPS: 18 Willow St., Lenhartsville, 19534 (40.5739846,-75.8924487)

For more information or further directions, contact: 619-921-3252 or 610 -451-5380 on the day of the hike.