**PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION INCLUDING THE MODIFIED RSVP PROCESS - CASUAL CLICKERS NEED NOT RSVP** Join your fellow Shorewalkers for a special day in Newark where you will get two (yes, 2) tours for the price of one. Moderate pace, total 7 miles.
**LEADER**: Cameron Smith, camerons1006@gmail.com; 908-672-9250 **CO-LEAD:** Ellen Fleishman, 917-734-7813
**WALK DETAILS:** Shortly after meeting at the Newark Penn Station, we will commence a tour of downtown Newark visiting historical sites as well as some of the newest developments taking in stunning architecture, sculpture, and other objects of interest.
The downtown walk will cover about 3.5 miles and last a couple of hours, including a brief snack/lunch/bathroom stop at Whole Foods, after which we will board the light rail from Military Park to Branch Brook Park, which was designed by Olmsted, and has more cherry blossom trees than Washington DC.
When we get to Branch Brook Park, we will visit a few interesting stops while walking about 3.5 miles thru the park, make a slight detour to Cathedral Basilica on the edge of the park, and continue back to the light rail station to return to downtown Newark. You will have the option of going directly back to Newark Penn Station or getting off at the Military Park station for a short walk to Newark Local Beer (microbrewery with lots of space located 15 min walk from Newark Penn Station - you may bring food in from outside), where we will celebrate the end of a great day.
**MEET:** Newark Penn Station (can be reached by PATH or NJ Transit from Manhattan) at 11:45AM at the Information Booth in the main lobby. If you are running late, we will be leaving promptly at Noon from the McDonalds in Penn Station which is right next to the entrance to the Light Rail station.
**BRING:** Credit card or cash (change given) for the light rail up to Branch Brook Park (One-way fare is 1.80 or .85 if 62+). If you use the NJTransit app, you can purchase the light rail ticket on your smartphone. There will be a brief lunch/bathroom stop at Whole Foods across from Military Park so bring light lunch/snack and water too.
**BUY:** Plan on purchasing your one-way light rail ticket in advance at the light rail station in Newark Penn Station BEFORE we depart at Noon. Our crack advance team discovered a bottleneck at the Military Park Light Rail station, only one Ticket Vending Machine (TVM), and want to make sure we avoid long line there when we take light rail to Branch Brook Park. NOTE: We will all board the first train there regardless of whether you have purchased ticket or not. There is no need to buy a roundtrip or 2 tickets.
**GUESTS:** *If you plan to bring a guest, please forward them this guest waiver and make sure they sign it before coming to the walk:* [http://bit.ly/4hI8VB5](http://bit.ly/4hI8VB5)
**MODIFIED RSVP PROCESS:** In order to minimize the aggravation caused by casual clickers (those who change their mind at last minute so others can't take their spot), I will initially cap RSVPs at 40 and then only take additional motivated members from the Waitlist who text me (908-672-9250) that they really want to attend this event. Just to be clear, **NO TEXT, NO GO,** I will require everyone including the president (I mean *He Who Must Not Be Named*, not Pam) who wants to join us from the Waitlist to text me (908-672-9250). Preference will be given to regulars on previous hikes and/or members who indicate they are highly motivated members (will also join us to socialize at Newark Local Beer at end of our walk). Members who are paying attention here will realize that no-one should be left on the Waitlist other than casual clickers (folks who don't pay attention to directions).
Please do not post any comments/questions prior to the hike, instead contact Cameron (leader) at 908-672-9250 or camerons1006@gmail.com .
