Saturday April 25, 2026 - TRAIN RIDE TO PHILLY -HISTORIC HIKE WITH POSSIBLE ITALIAN MARKET VISIT

5+ miles

Enjoy a train ride from the Norristown Transit Center into the “City of Brotherly Love” with an enjoyable walking tour of Historic Areas of Philadelphia and an optional side walk to parts of the Italian Market in South Philly. Dress in comfortable clothes and very comfortable shoes for walking on pavements. This trip is rain or shine, so bring rain gear if the weather forecast is drops! There may be things you may want to purchase in the Italian Market & bring something portable to carry them in. (collapsible bags that fit in your purse work great) We’ll eat lunch somewhere in Center City, possibly EMei on Arch Street.

COSTS: $11.00 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. You can use contactless payment with a credit card. If you have a SEPTA Key Card, it is 8.00 each way. You need a SEPTA Senior Card for free fare on SEPTA. Parking in Regional Rail Outside Parking Lot at Station should be free on Saturday unless SEPTA changes their policy. High rise parking lot charges fee.

MEET & TIME: 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 -5 pm to take the train back to Norristown unless another time is decided by the group on the day of the trip.  

DIRECTIONS: 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 at Boscov's meeting spot. 

GPS: Boscov’s East 4500 Perkiomen Ave, Reading [40.30877, -75.86749]                                       Norristown Transit Center Parking Lot [40.11254, -75.34446]

LEADER: Contact 610-823-9023 for questions & further directions

Saturday April 18, 2025 - POTSVILLE"S FAMOUS YUENGLING TOUR & HIKE

4-mile town hike, easy

Join leader for a free tour of the Yuengling Brewery followed by a hike in Pottsville. We will pass by the famous Yuengling Mansion. The brewery also has a nice gift shop for those doing memento shopping. We will also go to the tasting room to sample some of the beers! (may be a small cost) This hike is always a relaxing change of scenery. Dress appropriately for the weather – layered. We will have lunch afterwards traveling back to Berks, possibly at Carmello’s Italian Delight in Orwigsburg .

1st MEET & TIME: 10:00 AM - Redner’s Warehouse Market Leesport, Rt. 61N.  Leesport (Recommended Meet up)                                                                                                                   

Leesport Redner’s GPS: [40.44374, -75.95128] (5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport)

2nd MEET & TIME: 10:45 AM - Pottsville’s Yuengling Brewery - 5TH & Mahantongo Sts., Pottsville Meet near gift shop entrance so we go in together for the tour.

Yuengling GPS: [40.68309, -76.19780] (GPS address of Yuengling Gift Shop at 420 Mahantongo St.) 

DIRECTIONS: RECOMMEND TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM REDNER’s TO YUENGLING’S:    From Redner’s Warehouse Market Leesport, Follow 61 North for 26.6 miles

In Pottsville from 61 North: Take a Left onto E. Union St., then take a Right on S. Centre St., make a Left on Mahantongo St., make a Right onto 5th St., go past brewery’s gift shop building and make a Right into the free brewery tour parking lot that is on 5th St. just past W. Norwegian St.

HIKE LEADER: Contact 610-223-6952 for questions & further directions

Saturday April 11, 2026 - BLUE MARSH FROM CHURCH ROAD TO MT PLEASANT

6 miles in & out

The trail has several open fields and several hills.  It will take us to a bridge on Route 183.

MEET & TIME: 9:30 AM at Blue Marsh Lake Old Church Road Trailhead 

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

GPS:   Blue Marsh Lake Old Church Road Trailhead

NOTE: Heavy snow or rain will cancel this hike.  Wear orange during hunting season.

HIKE LEADER: Contact 484-557-7854 with questions & further directions

Saturday April 4, 2026 - MUHLENBERG RAIL TRAIL

 Approx. 4 easy miles 

We will start at the southern terminus of the trail for this out and back hike. Lunch afterwards at Pizza Como. 

MEET & TIME: 10:00 AM Trailhead parking lot across from 3137 Montrose Ave. 

DIRECTIONS: From 5th Street Highway/Business 222 in Muhlenberg turn onto Elizabeth Ave, after crossing Kutztown Rd., continue following Elizabeth Ave until it intersects with Montrose Ave. Turn right and go approximately 0.3 mile. Parking is on the right. 

HIKE LEADERS: Contact (610) 334-2299 for questions & further directions. 

Thursday April 2, 2026 - Thursday Wanderers - ONTELAUNEE LAKE

 Leader #1 will lead a 4-5 mile road hike near Ontelaunee Lake. This hike begins at Kindt's Corner, takes the road to the graffiti bridge, crosses it, and continues on the road till we turn around and retrace our steps. We will have many views of the lake. This is a flat hike on roads, no need for poles.

Leader #2 will lead a shortened version of this hike with the aim of starting with and ending with those doing the longer hike.

MEET: 10 AM Kindt's Corner GPS: [40.461733, -75.932224]

DIRECTIONS: Taking Route 61 north, pass Route 73, turn right at the Sheetz onto Ashley Way. Go to the Stop sign at Ontelaunee Drive, turn left. Take the first right onto Kindt's Corner Rd. Continue about 2/3 mile to the parking area on the right. Shoemakersville Rd is to the left.

HIKE LEADER: Contact Leader #1 610-850-1855 or Leader #2 484-877-3340 for questions