“Those are crazy gifts for Valentine’s Day,” you say.
But for those who are enthusiastic about the Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) it makes a perfect sense to gift this 130-mile trial that spans from Farmersville to New Boston with these tools.
Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., February 14th a crew of fourteen volunteers chose to express their love for this old rail road bed that is being converted into a foot, bike and horse trail instead of spending the day with their loved ones. They met at the Post Office in Ben Franklin with a unified goal of loving on the NETT. These crazy trail enthusiasts came well rested, with at least one of these tools in hand and the determination to battle through down trees, shrubs and high grass to clear a path so other who pass here in the spring and summer months will be able to move through easily and swiftly.
Although the vision for the NETT has been long in the making in recent months momentum has increased by those; who in a grass roots effort, are putting a considerable amount of love into this trail with projects such as these. The mission of the Northeast Texas Coalition, which serves as an advocacy group for the NETT is; quality of life by opening the trail so the masses might enjoy the history and nature this trail has to offer, economic development as a result of trail users passing through each town and patronizing business along the trail, and lastly raising awareness of the trail to potential users and towns along the trail. It is just these types of crazy volunteers who unknowingly aid in fulfillment of this mission.
How this trail work day came about is a finger-pointing occurrence that began in social media on the NE Texas Trail FB Group page. Upon asking around as to how all this came about no one would take full credit but point at another. Although John Southerland is listed as the event host it seems this started with Eugene Mazzurana posting, that he had a three day weekend coming and said “Let’s to a work day NOW.” Wesley Marrow interpreted this to mean the next three day weekend, which with Valentines and Presidents Day being back to back would be such a weekend. Next thing you know John Southerland created an event and posted it on the NE Texas Trail Face Book Page. From there people volunteers from as far as Benbrook Texas to Paris Texas and conversed on Ben Franklin to work the trail.
There were several member of the NETT Coalition Board along with several members of the Chaparral Rails Trails Board, which over sees the southern portion of the trail starting from Paris to Farmersville. The reminder were trail enthusiast who have a passion for opening the trail so all can use this amazing resource for pleasure and quality of life.
Eugene, who was the true instigator of this event, stated when asked, why are you out here today?: “I am just having fun and goofing off.”
He worked quickly and precisely with his loppers and saw as he worked his way down the trail. Eugene got involved in the NETT last year and has participated in four work days. He came all the way from Benbrook, which is near Ft. Worth. He came with a motor home and his cute little dog.
Jerry Harp as an avid hiker and cyclist has been methodically working his way down the NETT via foot and bike over the past couple of months. He had been on a hike with his friend Robert Kindred and both joined the work party.
John Southerland, who start started this with the Face Book event, came with his bride Kathleen from Richardson Texas. As the evidence of the work parties' success became visible he had a great feeling of satisfaction and gratification as can be seen in his delightful expression pictured below.
There were three phases the volunteers hoped to tackle, whether they would get too all if it was unknown and depended on the swiftness, trail condition and equipment. Ben Franklin to the burned out bridge was the first phase and was cleared in about three hours. They cleared a path approximately eight feet wide in most places, trimming back trees that over hung the trail, lopping small trees and mowing with a tractor.
Once this section was complete and the work party continued to clear on their hike back to the parking area. Eugene quickly acceded to get his bike and take a test ride. Your humble correspondent followed suite. Eugene rode the 1.3 miles and back in giving the conditions of the trail a thumbs up. I on the other hand, could not make the entire length and found it to be quite a challenge with dips and ruts that made navigation of the trail bed heart pounding. Eugene is in masterful shape, while I on the other hand am not. It was fun however to ride and see the great potential that lies for others who will come this way.
Yes, in Delta County there seems to be some adjacent landowners who seem to claim right-of-way to a railroad bed trail and refuse yield this right-of-way. This issue is being worked through with the proper authorities and methods. Russell Strawn, of Princeton Texas, jumped ahead with his tractor and began to mow; then, the remaining work party followed. In no time he had cleared a path to the feed store in Pecan Gap.
Wesley Morrow is known to most as the consummate trail steward. He resides in Farmersville, Texas and has begun a trail steward program that employs several volunteers which oversee several sections of the trail reaching from Merit to Ladonia.
Wesley issued a challenge to all of you.
“Come use the trail from one way or the other, one time a month for three months to keep the trail beat down,” Wesley suggested.
So put on those hiking boots, grab that mountain bike or slip on your best running shoes and get out to Ben Franklin and Pecan Gap and use this newly cleared trail. The air is sweet and the scenery is lovely.
