7/11/15 - Montague, NJ

We drove along the Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River today from Port Jervis N.Y. to Narrowsburg, N.Y.  There were a lot of people floating down the river on rafts, canoes, and kayaks.  We stopped along the way at Roebling’s Aqueduct.  This is the oldest wire suspension bridge in the U.S.  It was built in 1849 as an aqueduct for barge traffic linking two canals over the Delaware River.  It has since been converted for automobiles and pedestrians.

Next was a stop at Zane Grey’s house and his grave.  He was an author of many popular adventure novels.  His most famous book was “Riders of the Purple Sage”. 

We had lunch at the Battle of Minisink battleground site.  There was a bloody battle here in 1779.  Joseph Brandt, a Mohawk chief and Captain in the British Army and his Brant’s Volunteers decisively defeated an inexperienced colonial militia force.  On the way back to camp we got caught up in a parade in Port Jervis.  This is a parade that has been held for 165 years.  It was the Inspection of the Fire Trucks Parade and they come from all the surrounding cities to be inspected and win trophies.  After regrouping at camp we went back into Port Jervis to the Erie Turntable.  This is the largest one still in working order and it was built in 1854.  There was a roundhouse here but it was burned by an arsonist.

Jim found VFW Post 161 and we went to have a beer.  These are the friendliest VFWs we have been to.  Most of the ones we have been to on this trip have given us a beer on the house because we are from a visiting post and from so far away.  There are two VFWs in town.  VFW Post 161 was for the Army.  Then there was another one, VFW Post 7241 Tri-States Naval Ship.  It was for the Navy and Marines.  Any service can go to either one. The Navy VFW gave us a t-shirt and a license plate placard. This is the only Navy VFW left.  There was one more in California but it merged with the regular VFW there.