It was a perfect Fall day for the SR Walkers visit to Buffalo Rock State Park. (48 walkers, 2 dogs). 

 I caught Holly as she was leaving her shed for some

 sun bathing.

 Pebbles mother, Holly, passed a few weeks ago. 

She is now awaiting a new companion.

The oak trees in the park are majestic.

 What you cannot see here are the mosquitoes

because there are none!

 The Walkers gearing up in the Parking lot.

 This pair was among the first time walkers.

 You may want to adjust your walking schedule to this sign at the beginning of the Effigy Tumuli Trail.

 The trail meanders through an old strip mine that was reclaimed some thirty years ago.

 Hard to believe we played "Moon Explorers" here in the 1960's when it was grey mounds of mine waste totally devoid of plant life!

 I had to scale the head of the catfish effigy to get this pic of the group pausing at a river overlook.

 There is a single file path through the prairie 

out to the catfish.

 Most of the group thought is was a perfect day 

to summit the catfish!

No switchbacks up this summit!

 Hydration break at the turnaround point at the west edge of the Park.

 The return trail leaves the tumuli prairie

for the shaded forest.

Last stop on the overlook platform just below 

the picnic area. A great way to begin autumn!

 Charles Dickens once said:

"The sum of the whole is this:

walk and be happy;

walk and be healthy.

The best way to lengthen our days

is to walk steadily and with a purpose."

 

The Starved Rock Walkers Club (+1 dog) drove to the east end of the Park to see Council Overhang, Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons. Then they hiked the trail connecting two parking lots (the Swamp Trail) to go in and out of Illinois canyon. A nice late summer sojourn!

Walkers on the hardly muddy trail to Council Overhang.

 Forty-some walkers had plenty of room in the native American "man cave" named Council Overhang.

 Leaving the Overhang and entering Ottawa Canyon.

This is Jeremiah. He's a good friend of mine!

 Lobelia loves the damp parts of the Park like here along Kaskaskia Creek.

 A brief pause here at the headwall of Kaskaskia Canyon.

Exiting the mouth of Kaskaskia Canyon headed 

for Illinois Canyon.

 No, we are not reporting the broken "blarney stone" in the canyon! ;)

 A September view up Illinois Creek.

 "Touch-me-not" pods in front of a jewel weed blossom. Both parts of the same plant.

 A line of "fun guys" on a trail step-over.

 Yes, the trails are gathering a leaf carpet.

 We thought we were crossing a creek, but it might well be a summer/fall boundary.

 A forest growing on a canyon floor has to get its branches straight up into the sunlight as quickly as possible.

 A quiet pool along Illinois Creek.

 Just finished the last of six stream crossings on the canyon floor. Always best to walk this at dry times.

 In September many Park trails are bordered by yellow blossomed jewel weed hedges.

Some September vegetation reminds us who was

 on the trail first!

We found a trail-side group of "fun guys" having

 a real high time!

"Now shall I walk or shall I ride?"

"Ride," Pleasure said:

"Walk," Joy replied.

-W.H.Davies 

Thirty many Starved Rock Walkers and three dogs drove into Utica and walked the tow path west to Split Rock and back again.

A great day to be Outside!

Walkers gather at the trailhead near the Utica sky scrapers.

Yes, the I & M Canal State Trail is the official name

for the tow path.

 From the start it was obvious that this would be a 

fifty shades of green hike!

The railroad bridge over Peccumsagen Creek beyond which is located the Blackball Mines Nature Preserve, a bat sanctuary.

 The mouth of the old train tunnel that still goes through

 north Split Rock.

 North Split Rock is one of the best exposures of the west-dipping sandstone strata of the LaSalle Anticline. Yes, geology students statewide come to see this outcrop!

Time to play "Spot the Turtles". Here are four of them.

One Splash later and only two are left. The empty spaces are to the right of those two.

 Some walkers were already prepped for tonight's Bears/Packers game. There were no Green Bay jerseys present on this hike!

 The new rental bikes between Utica & LaSalle have brought white pea gravel fill into the more jarring tow path potholes.

 Who knew teenage boys could swear, fight, & gamble! Mule driver was one of Wild Bill's many short-term employments.

Three turtles - Four - no - Five! Thank you for playing!Always a bonus when a geologist spots some coral fossils in a kiosk paver.

This walk was all of 5 miles. 

To quote Ellen Degeneres,

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was sixty.

She's ninety-seven today and we don't know where 

the heck she is!"