JK Knives
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- Joined
- Mar 6, 2001
- Messages
- 28,225
Well it stopped raining (it poured all night), so yesterday we decided to go with our plan of hiking and a picnic. We started to make some sandwiches and pack the cooler. First mistake, no cooler! We have two, but did not realize that our oldest daughter had borrowed them last 4th of July, and never returned them! Well instead of going 25 miles out of our way to get them, we decided we would grab lunch someplace after our hike. We drove to Mathieson State Park and started to head for the trail, when a conservation officer pulls up. He said there will be a helicopter flying over in a little while spraying for wasps. No worry he said, it`s not supposed to be harmfull to humans, but it might damage the finish on your car. Hmmm, not harmfull, but might eat paint? We got out of there, and drove back 2 miles to Starved Rock, to be met by flooded, muddy trails. We went on a short walk (notice I said walk, not hike), on some paved walkways around the lodge, just to stretch our legs. Here is a photo looking across the valley.
Here is one looking across at the Rock itself.
This last one shows a neat little shelter with a stone fireplace.
We left shortly after, and instead of taking I-80 home, we drove down old Rte 6, through the small towns. We ended up in Morris, and took a 3 mile hike along the I&M Canal, one of the oldest manmade waterways in Illinois. This trail is gravel, so no problem! Here`s a few pics from the trail.
A "natural" bridge across the canal (no I did not cross it
)
Some flowering bushes.
A look down the canal at the old railroad trestle.
Here`s the best part of the trip. We stopped at a little antique/junk shop in Ottawa, and I bought these 2 old Plumb hatchets, the small one is an "Official Boy Scout" model. The bottom one shows how my old Collins is coming along. Paid $10 for the pair.
So at least there was a happy ending!
Here is one looking across at the Rock itself.
This last one shows a neat little shelter with a stone fireplace.
We left shortly after, and instead of taking I-80 home, we drove down old Rte 6, through the small towns. We ended up in Morris, and took a 3 mile hike along the I&M Canal, one of the oldest manmade waterways in Illinois. This trail is gravel, so no problem! Here`s a few pics from the trail.
A "natural" bridge across the canal (no I did not cross it
)
Some flowering bushes.
A look down the canal at the old railroad trestle.
Here`s the best part of the trip. We stopped at a little antique/junk shop in Ottawa, and I bought these 2 old Plumb hatchets, the small one is an "Official Boy Scout" model. The bottom one shows how my old Collins is coming along. Paid $10 for the pair.
So at least there was a happy ending!
