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Sunday, April 11, 2010

A Lovely Spring Stroll

Friday Mr. Taleteller took the day off and joined Blueberry, Bunny and me for a hike on the I&M Canal Trail.  Our walk was a delightful Spring walk filled with things the girls enjoyed sniffing and lots of sights to see.  It's got some neat history to it.

The I&M Canal was created as a thoroughfare from Chicago to downstate Illinois.  It was somewhat prosperous until the railroads were built across the country and made travel and commerce much easier.  The railroads pretty much shut down the canals.  The boats that were used were somewhat flat bottomed and had no sails, motors or paddlewheels.  Instead they were pulled along by mules.


Last year they reopened the canal with a boat that volunteers made as a reproduction of the ones that used to travel the canal.  Mr. Taleteller and I rode on the boat last year with my sister, dad and stepmom.  It was really educational and interesting.  They still pull the boat with mules, too.  The reproduction is named The Volunteer.  People in period dress tell different facts about the boats and canal as you ride up to the lock.  The trail winds along beside the canal and offers wonderful biking and walking.  It was a very nice day to be out and we're looking forward to heading back at some point. 







Blueberry Types for the Blog

19 comments:

  1. Yep, we have one here too (Ohio-Erie canal)! Went for a walkie on it yesterday, saw lots of turtles just like you did! We're posting about it later :)

    Snorts-
    Brutus the Frenchie

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  2. Woof! Woof! What a pretty place ... Glad you had a FUn enjoyable Spring Day. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  3. I'm in Ohio too. About 30 miles from my house is a section of the E.C. where you can ride one of the flat boats.
    Your walkie was just beautiful!! Grrrreat pics of a happy family time.

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  4. What a pawesome and snooterrifikh day!

    Thanks fur sharing!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  5. Very interesting! And what a gorgeous day too!
    I think old man winter is finally gone. I sure hope so.

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

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  6. That was a most excellent walkie. Sorry I have been MIA for a while, but the Mango is back.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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  7. What a fun walk!

    Great pix and beautiful area!

    Chasing my tale...
    Addie, Lucie and Hailey

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  8. Wow...that was so very much interesting. Do you haves any pictures of the mules pulling the boat. I can hardly even imagines it!

    It looks like it was a Most Beautiful day for a walk!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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  9. Wow, that is fascinating. Always love learning historical information like that.

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  10. that is a super cool place to go walkies!! my big sis asa totally loved the history of it, too. she's such a nerd. i kid! i thought it was pretty interesting, too! :)
    *woof*
    the booker man

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  11. meow..meow..
    What a lovely walk you had
    mmeeooww.....
    Hugs Kareltje =^.^=

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  12. Very beautiful weather over here too(: Nice pictures

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  13. How fun! It looks so pretty out and the dogs even look interested! Amazing that they've set it up for mules to pull, too - that's really the old-fashioned way!
    Hugs xo
    Sammie

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  14. Looked like a great trip! Reminds me of our Erie canal.

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  15. What a great post!! Thanks for all the great info!!

    Not to mention the great photos.


    Smileys!
    Dory

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  16. You had a very nice walkie!
    Thanks for sharing all the info about that pawesome place!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  17. Thank you for a lovely stroll and introduction to the canal, but mostly thank you for the beautiful pictures of my furiends. I had missed them and this was a feast for my sore eyes. xoxoxo
    Twinkie

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  18. What a beautiful spot for a romp. Looks like you had the right kind of Sunday!

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  19. Looks like a great spot -- reminds me of the Erie Canal back in New York!

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