It's amazing that I live so close to the Wissahickon Valley and I don't use it more often. Located in Fairmount Park it is one of the more beautiful and serene places to walk, jog, bike, ride horseback in the city. I entered Forbidden Drive from Northwestern Avenue at the city limit. Forbidden Drive follows the Wissahickon Creek to Lincoln Drive a total of about 5 miles. You can continue on the path along Lincoln Drive until it intersects Ridge Avenue. At that point you can either travel east, along a bike path, into Center City or west to Valley Forge.
On my walk yesterday I met Pat who is retired. He grew up in Chestnut Hill but lives in another part of the city now. He comes to Forbidden Drive 2 or 3 times a week to take pictures. Hopefully he'll join Flickr so I can see some of his photos. We talk about what a treasure it is to have such a sanctuary located within the city limits. We wonder if people really appreciate all that Fairmount Park has to offer.
Anyone who lives in this part of the city knows that there are problems with the number of deer that often roam the streets in Roxborough, Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy. I find a dead deer lying on the side of the path. Don't know how he met his end there were no visible marks. People do sometime hunt illegally in the park.
As I walk I pass a red, covered bridge. According to the information posted, the Thomas Mill Road Bridge, is the only covered bridge located within the limits of a major city. A little further down the road you'll see a plaque on the creek side with information about the statue of Tedyuscung. The statue is located on the east side of the creek. It's one of my favorite staues in the city, probably becasue of it's location hidden on a hillside in the park. I can remember seeing it for the first time as a teenager but never remembering exactly where it was located. Then finding it again when I moved up here.
I end my walk at the Valley Green Inn, turn around and head back. I think I'll do this again tomorrow.
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