Summer Around the Lake

By E. Muller

“Little darlin’, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter. Little darlin’, it feels like years since it’s been here. Here comes the sun...” -- George Harrison It really was a loooong cold lonely winter. Luckily, summer’s here! Let’s see what’s going on in Northeast Pennsylvania. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, Soarin’ Eagle Railbike Tours will offer guided rail rides in Hawley all summer until Labor Day. The bikes are made to fit on the railroad tracks for a smooth, easy ride. Two-seater and four-seater bikes will be available so that friends and family in the same “covid bubble” can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Lackawaxen River while keeping socially distant from other groups. The rides are timed so that you don’t have to worry about running into the train. The ride is six miles long and takes approximately two hours to complete. Bring water, insect repellent, a snack or two, a camera or smartphone, and be sure to wear appropriate clothing and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. For more information, visit soarineagle.com, or call 631 278 9285. You may also email any questions you have to info@soarineagle.com. The Settler’s Inn, Hawley, also has a bike share program you may want to take advantage of. The Inn participates in the Hawley Bike Share Program and you can borrow a bicycle from the front porch and enjoy a beautiful ride along the Lackawaxen River. Beginning in June, The Settler’s Inn will host its ‘Jazz on the Deck’ series through September 1st from 6 pm to 9 pm. And on June 20th, The Settler’s Inn is open for a Father’s Day Brunch with live music from 11:30 – 2:30. Visit them at thesettlersinn.com or call them at 570 226 2993 to learn more about their upcoming events. The following is a list of events at Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg (taken from their website):

Historic Farm Tour 2021

June 19, 2021 through September 6, 2021 Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am to 5pm and Sundays noon to 5:00pm; closed Mondays except Labor Day Admission – $12 Adults, $6 Ages 3-12 Tours will take place with some COVID -19 adjustments. Masks required. Come and experience farm life on a traditional 1800s homestead. Interpreters dressed in historic clothing portray the members of the Pennsylvania German family who lived at this site in the 18th and 19th centuries. Interpreters will share with you typical farm tasks such as spinning and weaving in the cabin, hearth cooking and food preservation in the farmhouse and animal husbandry in the barn. Learn interesting facts about the animals that live here, what crops are raised, how a bake oven works, what is used to make candles, how cloth was made, and much more. Enjoy optional activities such as a wagon ride through our covered bridge to see our heritage apple orchard and pond (small additional fee), a tour of the traditional kitchen garden or a visit to the one room school. Each week features different demonstrations of heritage crafts or historic trade skills called Summer Highlights that are included in the tour admission. Every Wednesday our quilters are in the Open Barn weather permitting and every Saturday our outdoor Bake Oven is in operation and is where folks can enjoy a sample of homemade bread. Fun for the whole family!

JUNE

Summer Garden Party – June 19, 2021 from 10am to 4pm Come enjoy a day dedicatedto the art of gardening. Learn about heirloom vegetables,cooking with herbs,and tour our extensive kitchen garden. At the bake oven try some fresh baked herb breads. Adults and children will have fun as they create garden-inspired art, and/or craft projects. (Summer Garden Party is included in historic farm tour admission; Rain or shine; 10:00am to 4:00pm) Children’s Day– June 26 – 10am to 4pm A day of fun on the farm for the young folk. Various “chores”, crafts, and games will be taking place. There is no additional charge for Children’s Day activities.

JULY

5k Rooster Run/Walk – July 10, 2021 – 9am Tour the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm property over hill and dale past the farm ponds, pastures, apple orchards, historical buildings and over a covered bridge. Course has varying surfaces including grass, dirt, gravel and paved roads. Covid Precautions?We are hopeful that this race can be run in a normal manner by mid-July, but we will follow any guidelines that PA or the CDC have in place on the day of the race. This may include wearing masks, social distancing and limiting crowd size. We reserve the right to change to a social distanced start held in waves if necessary. Online registration is open and will close on Friday July 9 at 8:00 PM. Race day registration and bib pickup will begin at 7:30 AM at the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Rd, Stroudsburg, PA. Registration closes 15 minutes before the event starts, please be considerate of others and register on time. Music in the Valley –July 17, 2021 – 10am to 5pm Music in the Valley features various groups performing traditional music at different locations on the farm. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak to the musicians and learn about folk instruments and the traditional music of the 19th century. Enjoy this special day of wonderful, old-fashion entertainment. The event will be held under tents, rain or shine. The day ends with a jam session around 3:30pm. (Music in the Valley is included in historic farm tour admission; Rain or shine; 10:00am to 5:00pm) Visit quietvalley.org or call 570 992 6161 for more information.

Throughout summer Sundays, Glass Restaurant at the Hawley Silk Mill is hosting “Blues, Brews and BBQ” at 6:00 pm with live music featuring local bands, craft beer, and outdoor dining overlooking the beautiful waterfalls that run alongside the mill. Call 570 226 1337 and visit the website at ledgeshotel.com/ glass-wine-bar-kitchen to find out more and to make reservations. Glass offers outdoor dining on their tiered decks where you can enjoy both the food and the views.

Other restaurants with outdoor dining in our area are The Dock on Lake Wallenpaupack (570 226 2124 in Hawley), Cocoon Coffeehouse (570 226 6130 in Hawley), The Boathouse (570 226 5027 in Hawley), Wallenpaupack Brewing Company (570 390 7933 in Hawley) and Overboards Restaurant in Greentown (570 857 1776). On the Green at Paupack Hills, right here in TLCA (570 857 0231). There is nothing better than a fresh, ripe tomato or a sweet, juicy summer peach. You can find peaches, tomatoes and more at the Hawley Farmer’s Market on Fridays from 2 pm – 5 pm. The market is located in Bingham Park, across from The Settler’s Inn. Bring the whole family (there is a beautiful playground right next door to the farm stands) and enjoy some ice cream while you choose from a variety of fresh produce and baked goods, honey, farm-raised meats, eggs, poultry and dairy products, and shop local crafts and plants. The farmer’s market is on Facebook, and you can reach them by calling 570 226 7490. Fireworks will be on display this year in Honesdale and in Hawley. In Honesdale, Fireworks in the Park will be held on July 2 at 8:45 pm in Central Park. The Wayne County Creative Arts Alliance will hold a concert with vendors and food beginning at 6 pm. To learn more, call 570 253 5492 or look them up at visithonesdalepa.com or on Facebook. Fireworks over Lake Wallenpaupack will begin at 9:15 pm on July 4th, weather permitting. Parking and seating will be available at the Wallenpaupack High School. Come and enjoy the awesome display as the fireworks are reflected in the lake while listening to patriotic music, courtesy of Classic Hits 105.3. Get there early to get a good seat! Call 570 226 3191 for information.

If you have some pent-up energy you’d like to burn off, consider going on a hike along trails with views of the tallest waterfalls in PA. Raymondskill Falls offers miles of trails for you to discover. The Cliff Trail meanders along the Delaware River Valley all the way to Milford. The valley features beautiful vistas, and at the turn of the 20th century, the area was used in films featuring Mary Pickford, among other stars of the time. There are over eight miles of hiking trails stemming from Raymondskill Falls, ranging from easy to difficult, with everything from wildlife, ponds, rivers, and waterfalls for you to enjoy. Another hiking trail in our area is Dingmans Falls. A boardwalk weaves through hemlock trees and brings you to Silverthread Falls, a slender 80 foot waterfall. The boardwalk continues through rhododendrons and hemlocks. The boardwalk ends at the bottom of the second highest waterfall in Pennsylvania, Dingmans Falls. The last stretch of the trail consists of steps leading to a spectacular view from the upper falls. Try to get there early as the parking lots tend to fill up quickly! Wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water and insect repellent, and be sure to dress appropriately. Visit nps.gov or call 570 426 2452 to learn more.

From a fellow TLCA resident and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Steve Ruelke: I’ll be leading forest therapy walks as part of Promised Land State Park’s summer schedule on Wednesdays July 14 & 28thand August 11thand 25thfrom 10 a.m. to noon.PLSP has a rich program schedule. Check out dcnr. pa.gov or call 570 676 3428 if you’d like to find out more. I’m planning on doing regular forest therapy walks on Wednesday mornings [save for those at PLSP] at the Briarwood park for my own well-being and will welcome 4-6 folks who’d like to join me. I’m working on a website [ReWildPA.com] which I hope to launch by early June. I’ll post events and other happenings there. In the meantime, folks curious/interested can drop me an email atsteve@ steveruelke.com.

Get outside, drink in the sunshine, and have fun!