Before setting out on a trail or making your way around a new amusement park or shopping mall there’s something so comforting about seeking out then seeing that little circle on a map with the words You are here. It helps you figure out where you are, plan where you’re heading, and if you get lost on the way, where to return.
Today I took our dog for a walk at James Andrews Memorial County Park part of the trail system in our town. Although I walk there often I paused at the trail head to look at the guide map and felt that peace of mind when I saw that circle. This section with parking and an entrance off Millbrook Avenue across from the middle school is for hiking and biking. It’s aggregate, mostly gravel with some loose rocks that might prove too bumpy for a stroller or mobility device. When you’ve had mobility issues in the past your eyes are used to glancing downward and if there’s an uneven walking path they focus not just where you’re about to step but on the ground ahead to avoid any potential obstacles. Frequently when I hike my eyes glance up to the top of the trees and the light peeking through, or to just above my head keeping an eye out for trail markers painted on the trees. Today’s bumpiness had me looking down more than usual, and time after time I noticed really cool tree roots, some determinedly twisting over and under rocks, some tangled with a newer tree growing almost right on top of each other. Each set seemed dug in firmly like a circle on a map. You are here. There are some sections that are so steep that there are signs to walk your bike. At almost 590 acres it’s a large area, nice for a quiet walk in the woods with a small brook with trout. No benches or facilities although the entrance is next to the municipal building and there are public restrooms inside. There are four trail heads, in Freedom Park on Millbrook Avenue, alongside Town Hall on Millbrook Avenue, through Hidden Valley Park on Everdale Road, and on Radtke Road.
James Andrews County Park
Millbrook Avenue Randolph, NJ
