3-27-2014 Hike - Illinois & Michigan Canal

 
Today started out being a little on the wet side.  I didn't think there would be many hikers today. Well we had 13 hardy hikers and CoCoa.  We were scheduled to go to Council Overhang and Ottawa Canyon, but switched the hike with the one that was scheduled a few weeks ago.  Looking back, it was a good choice.  I apologize but after the group photo all the other photos were taken with my phone and a little on the blurry side. (learned from that mistake.)

13 HARDY Hikers and Cocoa

I know it looks like bad weather, but it really was a nice hike. When we started out it was raining a bit and then it stopped for most of the hike and resumed for the end.

Ducks resting

We saw ducks along the way.

Beaver

We saw quite a bit of beaver damage along the way. 

There are informational signs all along the Canal.  They tell historical information and also the distance to the next point of interest. Today this one tells us we have 1.2 miles to go yet before we turn around and head back.

The Junction of the Pecumsaugen Creek

Tunnel across the Canal

This is where some of us turned around.  Split Rock Area.  There are also some informational boards here and a small resting area that was built by an eagle scout troop.

Plaque on small shelter

 Mile marker on the way back.

Helmet of some kind

We often find things on our hikes.  Today Peggy found this helmet of some kind on the canal.  Not sure what she is going to do with it. 

It had seventeen locks and four aqueducts to cover the 140-foot (43 m) height difference between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. From 1848 to 1852 the canal was a popular passenger route, but this ended in 1853 with the opening of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad that ran parallel to the canal. The canal had its peak shipping year in 1882 and remained in use until 1933. It was replaced in 1900 by the larger Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which remains in use.


Very interesting hike today.  We had 3 new hikers and saw some things we didn't see before.  We saw and heard a pair of eagles overhead which was awesome.  Great hike.

I will leave you with this: Wherever you may hike or walk, just put one foot in front of the other.  It's all about the experience not the destination.