July 16th, 18th, Illinois, LaSalle and Wildcat Canyons

Thursday July 16th was with the Walker's Club.  It hasn't rained for a while, so I thought we would be alright to hike at the East end of the park into Kaskaskia, Ottawa and Illinois Canyons.  We carpooled and parked in Ottawa / Kaskaskia Canyon Parking area.  I was badly mistaken.  It was a mud pit with heavy mosquitoes.  One of our walkers fell going into Kaskaskia so I walked her back to her car.  
 

Theme photo of the hike

Beginning of the mud.  The planks laying there should have been my first clue of what was to come.

Pick a log, any log, all are slippery

Looks like the spring time shooting star.  But it is too far into the summer.  Any thoughts?

Illinois Canyon

Little frog in Illinois Canyon

Illinois Canyon - Yes that is a mosquito net on Kevin's head.  They were very plentiful

Chicory, along the road from Illinois Canyon back to Ottawa Canyon parking lot

 On my way home for the day, I stopped along the prairie entrance and took a few photos.

Purple Prairie Clover

Wild Bergamot

 On Saturday July 18th, I was the one scheduled for a guided hike.  Yes, it was hot.  Don't know the temperature but it was HOT with high HUMIDITY.  When I arrived back at the Lodge around 2:30p.m. all my clothes were drenched.  The group was from Northern Illinois University.  It was a group of students from all over the world.  In my group they were from Brazil, Taiwan, Pakistan, Ecuador, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.  Very interesting to talk with.

My group on Eagle's Cliff

View of the Dam from Eagle's Cliff

Bufferfly along the trail to Wildcat Canyon

Jessica (from Brazil).  I went to Brazil about 20 years ago with the Rotary Group Study Exchange.  Jessica and I talked quite a bit about what she misses most about Brazil and what I liked while I was visiting there.  She is studying Engineering.  Good Luck Jessica, thanks for a great hike!

The other guide for the group was Kevin.  We split the group in half.  Kevin kept his group cool with his misting fan.  We met in LaSalle Canyon at lunch time.

Many people were already in LaSalle Canyon when we arrived. 

Wildcat Canyon from the Eastern Upper overlook

Upper waterfall in Wildcat Canyon

 We also have had Bud Hainzinger here carving our latest chainsaw carving.  It is called Illinois Officials.  Come take a look.  It is near our pool patio on the West side of the Lodge.

Illinois Officials

I like it when all of the carvers sign them and put the date.  Thanks Bud! Nice Job!

It's been hot and buggy.  If you plan on hiking this summer, bring lots of water and bug spray and you will be fine.

I will leave you with this: Remember... Dreams are the seedlings of Realities.  And it is often from the fertile soil of failure that they grow.

Celebrating July 4th, 2015

Theme photo- Just starting out

Today's post isn't really a hike, it is more like an adventure.  My husband, daughter, cousins Roz, Jerry, Paul and myself decided to celebrate the 4th of July by going white water rafting on the Vermillion River.  That river was closed a few days this week and we were pleased they deemed it safe today.  I took my two kayak and we also rented a raft for 4 people.  There isn't a lot of photos.  Water and cameras don't mix, so all of the really good photos didn't get taken.

Enjoyed our day with family.  Hope you enjoy the photos.

There were 6 of us all together.  4 in the blue raft and 2 in my orange kayaks. (not the best choice).  Next year we are going to try the inflatable kayaks that they have.

Hanna took the front seat

Jerry and Randy mastering the Kayaks (for now)

Our cousin Roz

A large group was taking a break on a scenic part of the Vermillion River

This dog's owner was on the cliff, throwing things in the water for the dog to go and return

Rearranging after a kayak capsize

Paul draining the kayak.  He is laying in the raft and I am to his right holding up the other half of the kayak

This Kayak was really only built for 1.

And were off again

And he's off again (Paul)

Damselflies were everywhere.  We did see some dragonflies, but they didn't stop long for a photo.

After the Wildcat Rapids, we took turns in the kayaks.  This is Paul and Jerry

We went up the opening into Matthiessen State Park.  Early in the week someone told me that the water was high enough to go all the way to the waterfall. On Thursday I hiked the upper trail and the water was still high.  This walk bridge washed away from the other side of the concrete bridge you see in the photo.

Yes, I did make it all the way to the waterfall.

My kayak and the waterfall

Upclose waterfall.  There was quite the breeze here.  Good thing because we didn't stay long with the invasion of the mosquitoes.

All of us by the Matthiessen waterfall

One last photo before we left (check out the raft!)

We had a great day!  The hardest part of the whole day was carrying the kayak back up the hill when we got back.  We laughed so hard our cheeks and stomachs hurt.  This is the 2nd year we have done this after our July 3rd party.  Next year we are looking at renting the blowup kayaks.  We rented the raft at Vermillion River Rafting near Starved Rock.  

I will leave you with this: If you are not having a good or great day -- Go outside!!!

July 2, 2015- Matthiessen State Park, Upper trail around the dells, Annual Picnic

Theme photo

The walker's club today went to Matthiessen State Park.  This sister park is about 1 1/2 miles south on Rt. 178.  We also get together for a potluck picnic once a year and it was scheduled for today. Not as much mud as expected, but we did have a mud cake at the Potluck. (thanks to Dawn) I was off work today and my daughter,  Hanna from Montana came for a visit. We were going to go Kayaking but with the water levels as they are we decided to go hiking instead.  Good choice.

My best count today was 34 hikers and 4 dogs.

Matthiessen Lake Falls.  I take all my photos, even though this looks like a stock photo.

There is a down tree near the falls, and you have to go under.  Some decided to wait at the staircase.

Tree blockage

Giant's Bathtub Falls

Giant's Bathtub Falls

Daylillies on the bank of Matthiessen Lake

Looking down from the bridge onto Lake Falls. 

Some of the walker's club waiting for the other 1/2 to arrive.  My daughter Hanna (from Montana) came for a holiday visit.

I should have taken a closer photo to identify this one.

With all the walker's, I lost track of Hanna

Notice the feathers?  This bird didn't have a very good day!

Small waterfall at Cedar Creek

We are on the cement walkway bridge at the south rim of  the Dells area.  Notice the floating bridge?  It is on its way to the Vermillion River. 

We could not go any further for obvious reasons!  Please do not go on Closed Trails! 

Strawberry Rock

Today was our Annual Potluck Picnic.  What a table full of food.  Enjoyed by friends, new and old!  The two ladies on the left were staying at the Lodge and enjoyed the hike and lunch today. At least I think they did.

Peggy's dog Puppy, came with her husband Don for lunch.

I will leave you with this: "The outdoors teach us many things we can't learn in any school".