Work Begins on Northern Section
Top Coated Lower Section
Sept 12 2020
   We've reported on the Upper and Middle section of ERTS over the last five months. Now, contractors are setting their sights on the Northern and Lower parts of ERTS. Here goes with what we saw and rode, on Saturday Sept 12th
  ERTS below the Hartland bridge, we're calling it, the Lower section. That Lower Section runs from Hartland down to Queen Shoals when completed.   Sometime during the week ending Sept 12th, workers managed to add the topcoat from the Hartland bridge down a little over a mile.  Riding and walking is completely doable but as of Saturday, the covering has not been completely packed down. It's a little soft for bikers. There's now plenty of parking under the Hartland bridge.
  Planning on giving it a whirl. Do it, but only on the weekends. The work continues and those big trucks would hurt if they don't see ya.


Here's a look down river of the Lower Section. That's the top coat  you're looking at


You can see the difference between the top coat (foreground) and the rock base near the top. This shot was taken just underneath where Hartland Road, above and to the right, had a big slip two years ago. Notice the solid rock base to the right. Our guess, the Hartland Road repairs, they ain't going nowhere in the near future.


Here's what may be the end of the passable Lower Section for now. Reason? Further South, there's a bunch of RR encroachment issues including structures on the Rights of Way, fences, junk cars and so forth.
   Let's switch to the Northern section of ERTS. That's the hiking, biking, horseback riding trail up river from Duck and Nottingham Store. This pic is what you see after crossing the Strange Creek bridge. Strange Creek is about 3.1 miles North of the Vandalia Bridge, Duck.


Here's the rock base applied above Nottingham Store. Trees, trash, junk are gone from this stretch and the rock base is down. For now, it is a very bumpy ride. No problem walking tho.
   Further up river is the Strange Creek Church. You can just barely see the red roof and steeple of their building. For most of that section, the brush has been removed. Progress is coming quickly due in large part because, there is little encroachment and area residents have kept the brush cut back and in many parts, the Rights of Way was even mowed down. Our guess, in less than three more weeks, the top coat will be in place for that 3+ mile section of ERTS.

AW