SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - By Gerry Barnes

When I graduated from East Stroudsburg State College (now East Stroudsburg University) 27 years ago, it was with a heavy heart and fond memories of the Pocono Mountains and the astonishing beauty to be found there.

In those days – before the region was “discovered” by hordes of house-hunting Gothamites – it was a tiny, tranquil, out-of-the-way hamlet where people were friendly, autumns were breathtaking, and the troubles of the world seemed a million miles away. Now, almost three decades later, all the problems of the Big Apple – gangs, graffiti and skyrocketing taxes - have hit the idyllic Pennsylvania berg with a resounding wallop - and it is not (to say the least) what it used to be.

Still, I was determined to uncover a little of the slow-paced charm and innocent fun of my college days – and accompanying me on my 80 mile/two-day journey of discovery would be my boyhood chum, Jeff Haas, and his 14 year old son, Christopher. Packing up – and gassing up – our trusty Kia Rio after filling ourselves up with coffee and donuts, we pointed the car north and congratulated ourselves on picking a glorious day to explore one of the Keystone State’s most celebrated regions.

First stop: Barley Creek Brewing Company (Sullivan Trail & Camelback Road, Tannersville; 570-629-9399) As breweries go, Barley Creek is short on size but long on hospitality. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food is reasonably priced and the beers are terrific. While I chose the palest ale (I’m a real lightweight when it comes to alcohol), Jeff opted for the Angler Black Lager – and liked it so much that we walked out with six bottles of the stuff! He also savored a complimentary pint at the bar while Christopher and I headed across the street to check out a few small lakes generously stocked with trout.

Jeff joined us just in time to see Christopher reel in two giant brook trout – which we promptly had cleaned and freeze-dried and packed into a cooler for future dining. A sizeable lunch and a multitude of beers and sodas for three people at Barley Creek came to forty-odd bucks and it was well worth it. It was a perfect start to our two-day adventure.

After checking in at the centrally located East Stroudsburg Super 8 Motel (I-80, Exit 308/Green Tree Drive: $81.62 per night, including taxes), we took a stroll around the ESU campus. There were so many new buildings that I scarcely recognized the place.

Still, it was a thrill to show Christopher my old dormitory and the fieldhouse I practically inhabited as an undergrad, and the haunted Sigma Pi fraternity house that has struck fear into the hearts of several generations of ESU students. I don’t know whether it was the rolling hills or all the Navigator Golden Ale I’d drunk, but after about an hour of hiking, I was beat. We headed back to the motel where we all crashed for a couple of hours.

Dinner was at Kasa’s (formerly Kee’s) Pizza, directly across from the ESU campus. This was another favorite hangout of mine in decades past and I was delighted to find that the pizza was still terrific and the price ($17.00 for a large pizza and drinks for three) still a bargain.

After dinner, we hit the bowling lanes where, for $30, we rented shoes and played several games. Christopher, being the youngest and by far the most physically fit of our small crew, racked up the most strikes and spares. Let’s just say that what Yours Truly lacked in bowling talent, he more than made up for in candy eating ability.

We ended the night back at the Super 8, watching video clips from the 40 Greatest Episodes of Scare Tactics. I literally laughed myself to sleep.

Next morning, we rose early and enjoyed a continental breakfast. (Actually, Jeff and Chris enjoyed a continental breakfast; all the candy I‘d eaten at the bowling alley the night before left me feeling woozy and I limited myself to orange juice and an English muffin.)

We then headed out to the Delaware Water Gap – truly one of the most awe-inspiring places I’ve ever seen. Chris found several miniature frogs along the banks of the river that reminded me of Harry Potter’s candy frogs, and I discovered several small patches of poison ivy that reminded me to bring more Caladryl next trip. (Lucky me.)

It was at Costas Family Fun Park (2111 Route 6, Hawley: 570-226-8585) that Chris really had the best time. Racing around the Go Kart track with his father (me- still woozy and now itchy – just sort of ambled around it) was great fun.

But it was at the batting cages and the driving range that the boy truly tested his mettle. Stepping into the Minor League Cage after depositing his token (10 pitches for a dollar) into the machine, he was astonished to find himself against a machine gone absolutely haywire. The pitches that came at him were fast and furious – 40…. 50 ….60 – fast balls and low balls and curve balls - the machine wouldn’t turn off!!!

And while I ran to get the attendant, Chris kept swatting and hitting the balls over the net. By the time the last pitch was thrown, the boy’s hands were swollen and blistered. His reaction? A broad smile and a “Now let’s try the driving range!” This is a hero.

The boy’s performance on the driving range was, if anything, even more impressive than in the batting cage. Virtually every golf ball he hit was driven out-of-sight. (Some I swear he hit so far and so high that they never landed!)

Only six dollars for a large bucket of golf balls, it was really a highlight of our trip to see him send those balls sailing. An elderly woman who had once been a golf pro sat watching him and finally pronounced him “terrific”. His father beamed.

We ended our afternoon by hiking the various trails around nearby Bushkill Falls, “The Niagara of Pennsylvania”. The eight spectacular waterfalls and the surrounding woodlands of Bushkill must surely be one of the loveliest spots on the Eastern seaboard. Calm, colorful and absolutely gorgeous – hands down, this was the highlight of the trip for me.

It was dinner time when we finally arrived back in East Stroudsburg – and dinner was a quick jaunt to the local Burger King followed by another quick jaunt to the swimming pool at Dansbury Park. Unfortunately, we arrived at the pool just in time to watch it close. Disappointed but not dispirited, we headed back to the Super 8.

It was at this point that Chris and I took a small tour of the old cemetery near the motel – checking out the oldest graves and the strangest monuments until the sun went down. At last, we shuffled back to our room. The Phillies game was just getting started and we all crashed out watching it.

Early next morning, after another continental breakfast (which I actually ate this time), we pointed the car toward Route 611 and enjoyed a short but scenic ride home.

The joys of a small road trip like this have for too long been ignored while American vacationers mapped out expensive excursions to more exotic destinations like Tahiti or Australia or Egypt. But there is something to be said for seeking fun in one’s own backyard – especially in these days of soaring gas prices.

I wouldn’t have traded our trip to the Poconos for a cruise down the Nile – and we certainly couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves any more. With the sure knowledge that economy vacations do not necessarily mean less fun, I have resolved to embark on many more of these mini-trips. Revisiting the scenes of one’s own past can be shocking, disappointing, revealing, intriguing – and utterly wonderful.

Because nothing in the world beats a sentimental journey.