A Successful Reinvention

Change.
You can't have life without it.
Surviving change calls for effectively adapting.
In some cases, that can mean a reinvention.

re·in·vent
to change (something) so much that it appears to be entirely new.

Enter: Bethlehem Steel.



You can probably picture it in your head.
Smoking stacks
Blasts of heat
Holes of fire
Whistles, Alarms, Shouting Men
That was then,
when Bethlehem Steel helped build the America we know.
Today, Bethlehem Steel stands silent.

But that is not the end of the story.  

The legacy lives on through such structures as the 

Golden Gate Bridge 

Alcatraz Island 

Hoover Dam 

George Washington Bridge
Madison Square Garden 

While silent, Bethlehem Steel is not forgotten. 

There is a vision.



Bethlehem Steel has survived,
and not just in the memories of those who once worked here.

The Hoover Mason Trestle
was once a rail path along the blast furnaces.
Today it is a footpath
providing visitors with an open air museum-like experience.

Around these old blast furnaces
the reinvention continues.



The site surrounding the furnaces
is dedicated to arts, culture, celebrations and entertainment.
Annually this new venue (opened 2011) offers 1,000 concerts and 8 large festivals.


Steel Stacks from the Hoover-Mason Trestle 

Funded by tax grants, corporate and private donors
the Steel Stacks looks to a promising future.



Although I find it rather poignant
that where men labored 12 hrs a day, 7 days a week,
with over 400 deaths by accidents,
we are able to find frolic and fun.


View from the Trestle 

Let's call it a
Happy Ending
and a
New Beginning.



Bethlehem Steel Stacks
101 Founder's Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015

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Suburban Girl Hits the Trails...Again

Suburban Girl has been sitting on the soccer sidelines for too long:
Fall season, spring season, year after year.
Now that Soccer Boy is heading off to college,
it's time for Suburban Girl to
to shed a few pounds
and up the cardio.

Suburban Girl and Mr. Engineer used
to hike and bike quite frequently.
Then came the little ankle biters
and we tried to make hikers and bikers out of them too.
Not successfully.
(Ask me about the Mountain Fairy sometime.)
This fall there will be no soccer games to attend.
So it is back to the trails for us.

The first bike trip we've taken together in a while is a keeper.
I love a bike trip that involves a destination,
something to do,
some good scenes.
interesting rest stops.
This trip had it all.
I am going to document it for others
because there is little directional signage.

Easton to Bethlehem via the DandL Trail, Lehigh Canal South
Round trip 30 miles


Delaware Canal State Park 

We drove about an hour to Easton, PA in Northampton County
to the Delaware Canal State Park
at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers.
210 S. Delaware Drive, Easton, PA 18042
There is free parking here.
From the lot, facing the rivers and Phillipsburg,
take the trail to the LEFT along the Lehigh River.

Stay on the paved trail.


S. 25th Street Bridge 

When you get to the bridge at 2.3 mi,
cross over it and pick up the trail across the street.



At 2.9mi pass through Riverview Park.
(If there is a ball game the restrooms and snack bar may be open.)


Riverview Park 

At 3.3mi you'll see the Chain Dam to the left.


Chain Dam 

 At 5mi when you see a boat ramp on the left
keep to the gravel road - the trail looked pretty rough.

Boat Launch

The gravel road will end at a T and STOP sign at Hope Road.


Hope Road 

Turn left, go under the arched bridge and approach the yacht club gate.


Arched Bridge 

At 7.4mi facing the front of the gate, the trail continues to your right.


Yacht Club


Trail at Yacht Club 

This gravel trail will take through the Freemansburg canal area at 8.6mi.
This is a great rest stop with picnic tables.


Locktender's House at Lock #44 

From Freemansburg continue on the trail bearing left.
At 12.5mi pass under Minsi Trail Bridge
which is accessible via steps if you are so inclined.


Gravel Trail 

Keep on the gravel trail to Sand Island Park.
At 13.6mi, Sand Island Park, cross the second pedestrian bridge on your left
and turn RIGHT onto River St.
Turn RIGHT onto Main St.
This takes you to Old Bethlehem towards your left
which offers plenty to do.

Or, you can continue on to the the Bethlehem Steel Stacks
by turning RIGHT onto W. Lehigh St.
turn RIGHT at 14.1mi and cross the bridge over the river.
Turn LEFT onto Columbia St.
LEFT onto Polk
RIGHT onto 1st or 2nd.
Either street will take you to the steel stacks at ~15mi.
There are food and restrooms here.


The Steel Stacks

What is cool about this destination
is the old steel stacks
which can be viewed up close
by the Hoover Mason Trestle, a walkway.
After taking in the steel stacks,
we returned the way we came.

I'll post about the Hoover Mason Trestle and Steel Stacks shortly. 

Suburban Girl recommends this trail because
it is mostly level,
it runs along a river and/or canal,
you'll pass by occasional ruins,
the trail is mostly shaded,
there is wildlife to see,
Riverview Park and Freemansburg provide rest areas,
there is plenty to do at your destination.

The Party's Here! Where I am linking these days.

            

 My blog posts to my facebook page:  

All images by Rebecca Haegele have been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Click on any image to go to its gallery for purchasing information.

An Appearance of the Caped Crusader

Little Brother in the Air 

When your kid plays on the same soccer team for years,
both spring and fall seasons,
you get to know the other parents pretty well.


Batman Watches the Game 

This Sunday's game was unlike any other:
Batman appeared.
I think it was the most fun we parents
had at any game, ever!



The comments were hilarious
as you can imagine.



The kids,
they just kept playing,
with a little snickering thrown in.

Have you had any unusual sightings lately?

Come along....The Party's Here! 

And be sure to Get Social.  I love bumping into my friends in cyberspace too!