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Monday, December 27, 2021

Buckeye Blue - Day 27

  Today I joined the Buckeye Trail/NCT, and began returning westward toward Defiance, Ohio. This is on the towpath of the Miami-Wabash-Erie Canal that ran along the northwest edge of Ohio, parallel to the Maumee River. It was a drizzly, foggy morning. The large island visible is one of the "Missionary Islands" that supposedly have Native American sites to see. I'll have to come back! Maumee River

Bill hiked with me again. This picture is taken at Providence Metropark where, in summer, there is a canal boat to ride where they put you through a lock, and the Ludwig Mill to visit that uses the power of falling water from a canal overflow. When it's operating, it's one of the coolest places on the trail. I love the canal history! hikers

Buckeye Blue is not the same color as NCT blue. So for the next 800 miles, I'll be looking for these blazes. This one is on a honey locust - not the friendliest tree in the forest! blue blaze on a honey locust

Speaking of trees, here's another species that mostly grows a little south of where I live. This is hackberry. When it is mature, the bark is really funky! hackberry bark

I love, love, LOVE all the canal history in Ohio. This is a watered section of the canal with a wider towpath, so it looks very much as it might have in 1850, for example. Miami Wabash and Erie Canal

Here are the remains of Lock 43. I must have hundreds of pictures of old canal locks, but I never seem to get tired of taking more. lock 43 Miami Wabash & Erie Canal

After Providence, there are more places where the towpath remnant is a narrow corridor in the former right of way and the canal profile only looks like a ditch (on the right). Of course, there would not have been any trees between the canal and the path or the tow ropes couldn't have been used. towpath trail

This is very cool! This double stone culvert under the road was built in 1842 by James Durbin (he was head engineer). As you can see, it's still in great condition and in use. Sorry about the wet hazy conditions, but you wanted to come along with me. James Durbin Culvert

The fog increased as the day went on. Finally, we could not tell the river from the sky, and this log floating in the river just seemed lost in space. log in fog

Miles today: 16.7 (not sure it felt like that, but that's what the map says). Total so far: 388.2

See Oak Openings

7 comments:

Fosta said...

Thank you for sharing. I look forward to joining you on this journey through your writing and pics. Very inspirational!

Ann said...

Love all the photos. What a nice area.

Sue Teeters said...

Thanks, Joan, for all your great and informative posts and pictures. I love your spirit of adventure and discovery! God bless.

Kas said...

Enjoyed following your adventure, reading your story and seeing your photos, very inspiring. Thanks for sharing, I will continue to follow you on your journey ♡ Happy Trails!♡

Kristie R said...

Wow! I read your story on Mlive! What an inspiration and adventure! I’m looking forward to following along!

Fruitport said...

I am enjoying following you on your journey. Stay Safe! Thank you for all the history you are teaching us along your way!

Emily Kinsell said...

Thank you for sharing your notes from the trail. Enjoy your time and keep trekking. Cheers!