So, as we start today’s missive, I would like to encourage you to read and think about the above statement as I think it truly embodies what Rich and I recently accomplished. So often, and I include myself in this, during many treks, particularly the Caminos, individuals are so intent on getting to the next albergue for a good bed or the next town because they are on a tight schedule that a trek in some ways begins to resemble a forced march. While I am truly impressed with those individuals who can hike 20 to 30 miles daily, if I had wanted to do that I would have enlisted in the light infantry a long time ago LOL. So, I guess I just wanted to take this moment and remind everyone that to get out of life what life has to give sometimes one has to saunter rather than sprint. And now back to our regularly scheduled broadcast LOL.
So, as I mentioned in my last entry, Rich and I called an audible and decided to forego the hike from Ottawa to N. Utica and have our drive take us directly to that evenings lodgings “Great Bear Resort” (looks like a wonderful place for families but its season was winding down so was just so so for a couple of old guys LOL) which is just a short distance from the entrance to Starved Rock State Park. Our reason for this was twofold: 1. We thought we would see more interesting views from Starved Rock given that most of the canal was filled in and overgrown and 2. The new IL178 bridge crossing the Illinois River was not yet finished and I had no desire to walk over the metal grating along the shoulder on the old bridge.
So rather than hike from a little west of Ottawa to Starved Rock crossing the IL river at IL178 we chose to ride over instead. We were six days early! The new bridge opened yesterday 10/7. Honestly it was done enough that if we were younger I might have went for it but the temperance of wisdom, gained with age, won the day.
As we entered the park we encountered the following sign:
We hiked on to the visitor’s center, about a half mile, and then onto the Starved Rock pinnacle.
So, there is the legend of Starved Rock and the actual story of Starved Rock as related to me by Rich, who is a voracious reader. In the legend of Starved Rock a band of Illini Indians were being chased by two rival groups of of Native Americans of the Potawatomi and Peoria tribes. The Illini took refuge at the top of Starved rock while the other two bands laid siege, ultimately starving out the Illini………from an archaeological standpoint no proof has ever been discovered which would support this narrative. The closest tale which seems to align with the legend is that there were three tribes and two of them were chasing the other because they thought the other had taken some of their brethren hostages . The group being chased did take refuge on the pinnacle. But, then subsequently sent a delegation down to discuss the grievances with the other tribes upon realizing that there were no hostages everyone simply went home. However, when one is selling real estate in the early 1800’s why sell the story when you can sell the legend? Yes! the legend of Starved Rock is an early example of what is known in the Real Estate industry as puffery LOL. The views are just as beautiful regardless of the legend.
We then hiked through the woods for a little lunch at the lodge. Most of the trails are actually board walks with stairs due to the massive amount of traffic the park endures but we found a couple of spots of actual trail.
This day was a little airish as we say down south due to the fact that it was a bit cool and we did a lot of stopping and starting so the old bod really never got to operating temperature but the hike to the lodge took us past a fairly impressive canyon for central Illinois.
The fireplace in the lodge reminded me of the fire place at Pierre Marquette State Park down state near Alton where I grew up.
Both parks were CCC projects built in the 30’s but I think the Marquette lodge, and definitely the fireplace are larger.
Finally, the next morning Rich and I went over to Lock and Dam 6 which you saw in the above pictures. There we found out that all of the locks and dams along the Illinois have been closed simultaneously to allow for extensive maintenance on the entire lock and dam system to occur concurrently. Though the museum was closed the construction made for some interesting photos.
Well this concludes this journey. Thanks for joining me. I hope you enjoyed the tale. I will be making one more entry with all of the details of the trip, stagings, lodging and transfers for those that may be interested. To all: Be Well, Stay Safe.
Lou Hikes? 