Wharton State Forest, 7/15-17/2005

I arrived at the Buttonwood Hill Campsite in Wharton State Forest at 11:30 PM on Friday night. Seven people were already there and one more joined us on Saturday. As I unloaded my car, Frank and Sarah returned from a late night swim in the Mullica River. The rest of the troop were sitting around the campfire.

After breakfast, Frank went to the outhouse to take care of some business and was stung by a hornet. Sarah then drove the park office to complain, and a truck arrived at our campsite 15 minutes later. The rangers sprayed some RAID and then dismantled the nest with tools. Most of us used the bathrooms at Crowley’s Landing across the road for the rest of the trip.

On Saturday, we rented kayaks and canoes and floated down the Mullica River from the Pleasant Mills put-in to Crowley’s Landing. Ken used his own kayak. The river was narrow and the current swift until the Mullica and Batsto Rivers joined. From there on, we actually had to row.

It rained lightly while we were on the river. We heard thunder in the distance but never saw lightning. In past years, I had seen egrets while floating down the Mullica. Today, I only saw geese.

Before dusk, I took a walk down the sand road leading away from the site with a bowl. When I returned, the bowl was half-full with wild blueberries which I shared with my fellow campers.

Saturday night was noisy. The Sweetwater Casino on the other side of the Mullica River played 60s and 70s music until 10:30 PM or so. And some bikers nearby (probably at Crowley’s Landing) shot off fireworks. The nearby road (NJ Route 542) was also busier than last year.

Frank and Sarah went for another late night swim, and Ken and I walked over to Crowley’s Landing and listened to the staff of the Sweetwater Casino clean up. It’s amazing how well sound carries over a flat body of water.

I had to leave early on Sunday morning, so I don’t know what everyone else did that day. It rained in northern New Jersey as I was driving home.

David Levner