We started where we finished before on a bright crisp fall morning. As many of may have noticed I hike in shorts and a t-shirt. Its always a little cool starting off in the upper 40s low 50s but ten minutes of hiking and I warm up nicely.
As we left town the path broadened out and foliage thinned. Fields appeared reminding me of places where I used to hunt rabbit and quail with my dad and brother years ago.
Hiking like this, without significant elevation, allows for a lot of conversation and Rich and I, neither ever much at a loss for words, swapped stories in an easy manner. Along the way we found a tree with an impressive scar from a lightening strike as shown below.
I must say that it appears that manufacturing along the Illinois River seems quite vibrant. This area has phosphate mines and used to make matches.
A rare siting of water in the canal in this section
One last jaunt through some woods and we entered Marseilles and another set of locks which have been abandoned
At the end of this section we found a humorous sign
With a cup of hot coffee and a tasty breakfast taco at a cute little taqueria this day was done.
Lou Hikes? 