Dec. 10, 2015 Starved Rock, French, Wildcat and Pontiac Canyons

Photo of the day

 
Today's walkers went to the top of Starved Rock, French, Pontiac and Wildcat Canyons.  Today was also our Christmas Party.  After the hike, we went to the Main Dining Room of the Lodge for Lunch. We also hosted a cookie exchange, where if you brought dozen cookies, we would mix them up and you would go home with a mixture of 2 doz cookies. 

43 walkers today.  The weather was about 52 and windy.  

View of Lover's Leap from Starved Rock

We were lucky enough to see 2 eagles flying while we were at the top of Starved Rock

Lock and Dam

Windy flags at the top of Starved Rock

View of the Lodge from the West side of Starved Rock

Take out what you bring in.  This is the last can, just like the sign says.

Going into French

Almost there

Joe is telling the story of how French Canyon got its name.

My friend Jennifer on the left with her friend Sheryl (now my friend also), celebrating Jennifer's birthday with us today.  Happy Birthday !!!

Coming out of French, be careful of these steps in the winter when the ice forms. Last year it was a very slippery ice slide.  If you slid in, you had a very tough time getting out. 

We couldn't decide if something had a fight here, a dog was brushed here or Santa trimmed his beard.

52 degrees was pretty toasty for Gary

Pontiac Canyon

I'm on the East overlook, taking a photo of the West overlook

Wildcat Canyon, looking good!!!!

Move em out!!! It's time for lunch!!!  How many people does this platform hold????

We took an additional walk on the flat trail coming from the overflow parking area.  The biggest burl in the park is located here.

They brought their cookies in the morning.  While we were all hiking, my office mixed them up and repackaged them.  We even had a few that didn't make it in the packages, those were great for dessert.

Some walkers had their spouses meet them for lunch.  48 enjoyed lunch.  We also took up a collection for the local homeless shelter (IV PADS) $330.00.  This was a great day.  How many times does one person get to be in a room filled with their friends?  I am totally blessed and grateful to be able spend my Thursdays with this group of people. 

I will leave you with this: For one minute, walk outside, stand there, in silence, look up at the sky, and contemplate, how amazing life is!

November 19, 2015 - St. Louis, Sac, Kickapoo and Aurora Canyon

Waterfall in Sac Canyon

 Today's hike began in the Lodge's Lobby with 37 hikers and 4 dogs.  We were scheduled to go to a Nature Preserve, however with the recent rains, we switched to St. Louis, Sac, Kickapoo and Aurora Canyons.  We left the Lodge and headed West on the Bluff trail to St. Louis Canyon. We then went out the West end and over the entrance road and down into the picnic area.  Took the trail to the BEST canyon, Aurora!  And up the nearby staircase back to the Lodge.  Great to see the sun.

The Lodge is being decorated for Christmas this week

Waterfall at the top of Aurora

Sac Canyon waterfall was so fabulous, I even took a video.

View of Unimin from the West Bluff trail

St Louis Canyon Waterfall

St. Louis Canyon.  This sand slide happened in June 2002

 

Sandstone photo coming out of St. Louis Canyon

A picturesque pine cone

Up and over --  Going up and over the road.....

And down we go.

This path is an old road on the West end of the park

When the trail ends there is a bridge we take to the picnic area.  The nature preserve continues to the Illinois River.

Walking through the picnic area on our way to Aurora Canyon we saw this Juvenile eagle.

On our way into Aurora Canyon

Small but great canyon, Aurora. A couple from Rock Island joined us for the tour today.

My friend Lori

View looking up out of Aurora Canyon

The Glassinator was really spinning today

The Cafe posts inspirational sayings a few times a week.  Well worth reading.

I will leave you with this: " Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.  Autograph your work with excellence".

Nov. 12, 2015 Illinois & Michigan Canal - Section of Buffalo Rock to Ottawa

Old Railroad Bridge

We changed the schedule a little bit for today's hike.  With the weather being as blustery as it was, we thought that a nice hike with the wind to our backs would be great.  The walker's drove their cars to the Illinois Michigan Canal parking lot off of Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa and I picked them up in the trolley and dropped them off at the Buffalo Rock I & M Canal Access.  We all walked back to the cars.  It was a nice change.  Most of us have not done this section of the Canal.  And the wind was to our back.  What is the saying..... Something about the wind at your back??? more later....

All 17 hikers and 1 dog, (Cocoa) just got dropped off from the trolley and we are heading out for a windy 3 mile hike.

3 miles to Ottawa

Only one tree across the path

.6 miles to what is left of Lock 12

This is what is left of the old railroad bridge.  They used this bridge when transporting coal when mining what is now part of Buffalo Rock State Park

Catalpa tree seed pods.  Sometimes called the Indian Bean tree or Cigar tree

Lock 12

There was actually quite a bit of beaver damage on the canal

Along the canal are these signs that tell visitors about the life on the Canal

Behind the Pampas Grass is U.S. Silica.  There really is a huge pile of sand back there that blends into the clouds.

What is left of Lock 11

Distances along the Canal

Since the trolley was still at the Buffalo Rock entrance, I had a choice of walking back (into the wind) (that wasn't happening) or catch a ride with someone going back to the Lodge.

I will leave you with this: May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.  May the sunshine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.