Delaware Gap

On Tuesday morning, we said farewell to our NY family and went to the Delaware Gap in Pennsylvania.   The Delaware River runs along the border between PA and NJ forming the Delaware Gap.  We drove too quickly for photos through the scenic area heading for our campsite in a commercial campground (no beautiful scenery but we had water and power).

We came here to do the Tannersville Bog Walk in the Stuart M. Stein Preserve.  It was led by a volunteer from the Nature Conservancy.  Our 2 ½ hour walk along the boardwalk took us deep into the bog.  Our excellent guide explained the characteristics of a bog:

    It has no inlets or outlets and receives water only from rain or snow
    It has no oxygen
    It is highly acidic
    It is nutrient deficient

This bog was formed by glaciers 15,000 years ago and is 58 feet deep.  The major plant growing in this bog is sphagnum moss, but there are also mushrooms, 150-year-old trees with three-inch trunks, pitcher plants and more we cannot name.

Our guide told us a delightful tale about lichen.  In summary Allie Algae and Freddy Fungus met, took a “lichen” to each other and have been consuming the rocks ever since.

The bog is a great environmental cleaner of air and water.  Artificial bogs are being used to filter the toxic drainage of old mines.  This walk was an educational experience we all enjoyed.

Bennett was too young for the bog walk but enjoyed his time in the campground taking care of his father, chasing Bubbie (Anna Lee), or helping Zaidy (Jerry) drain the RV tanks (sorry no photos).