Why Don't You Go Take A .............

   Two of my grand kids and I got a step
ahead of today's "holiday." Literally!
   We took a hike yesterday!
   We headed out on the river front trail
in Pittston I wrote about some time ago.
It takes you to the site of the old Eagle
Air Shaft where more than 20 miners
escaped from the Knox Coal Mine when
the Susquehanna River Broke through in
1959. A dozen never made it out!
    My grandson kept looking for a hole
to see if he could look into the mines. I
suspect if he combed the rock ledge along
the river hard enough he'd probably find a
crevice that still leads into those underground
tunnels!
    The kids were sad to hear the story of the
 miners that lost their lives that day.
    But it wasn't the only thing that dimmed
their spirits. Vandals have left piles of litter
along the relatively new trail. And the fence
that protects walkers from the railroad line
has been damaged in several places.
   Some folks claim this "Hike day" was
originally conceived as "Tell your boss to
take a hike day." That's what I'd hike to tell
those who have defaced this beautiful walking
trail.
   Well at least my grand kids came away with
some exercise and two good lessons. One in
local history and another in environmental
preservation!
    No offense readers.....but...Take A Hike! And
 may all your NEWS be good!