OAK SAVANNAH TRAIL

Yesterday I had a button appointment in a yarn shop a few miles past the Illinois border in Indiana. The appointment was set for noon. I woke up early, dressed in my hiking clothes, packed a set of street clothes and drove one hour to a OAK RIDGE PRAIRIE PARK just two miles from my appointment. I parked my car and mostly hiked along the OAK SAVANNAH TRAIL. When I completed my morning hike, I had logged twelve miles. I quickly changed into appropriate street clothes and drove two miles to my appointment and sold some buttons. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Butter Flavored Grits	600	126	6	12	2,040	6
	600	126	6	12	2,040	6
L U N C H
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Fried Chicken Tender	300	17	20	14	766	2
Creamy Mushroom Grits	200	12	14	8	1,164	1
Hershey's - mint fudge bon bon bells	400	44	24	6	0	0
	1,090	123	59	29	1,934	41
D I N N E R
Sushi - Salmon Avocado 1 Roll	400	55	11	17	0	0
Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews	400	40	28	4	50	26
	800	95	39	21	50	26
S N A C K S
Safeway - Honey Nut Toasted Oats	480	96	4	8	760	44
	480	96	4	8	760	44
Totals	2,970	440	108	70	4,784	117
Your Daily Goal	5,309	663	177	266	2,300	199
Remaining	2,339	223	69	196	-2,484	82
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,379 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
12 MILE INDIANA HIKE	163	2,272
6 MILE NIGHTTIME URBAN HIKE CHICAGO	71	1,107
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	234 / 30	3,379 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	439 / 210	5,490 / 4,130

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from TrailLink.com

The Oak Savannah Trail takes its name from the unique ecosystem that it runs through. Once pervasive throughout northern Indiana, the oak savannah is a transitional zone between forest and prairie, with grassland marked by a smattering of oak trees. Unfortunately, development, drought and the suppression of natural fire cycles (which allow other species to dominate) have all contributed to the massive decline of the oak savannah ecosystem. The fact that this prairie environment is now endangered makes this an important trail to visit.

Built in 1893 this corridor served the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railroad, whose track made a semicircle around Chicago to avoid the congestion of the city's rail yards. Because of this shape, it became known as the "J" line. In its prime, the trains carried grain, meat, fruit, vegetables and coal.

Beginning in Hobart, the well-maintained, asphalt trail very quickly takes you to the edge of Lake George—an excellent spot for fishing bass, crappie and other species. The lake is also home to a permanent population of geese, ducks and ring-billed gulls. From the trail bridge, you can walk onto platforms overlooking the lily-pad-covered neck of the lake between the lake's larger main bodies.

The next few miles of trail beyond the lake travel west through excellent representations of an oak savannah ecosystem. Shortly, you emerge along another lake at John Robinson Park (parking), where you may want to take a rest in the small field of grass along the lakefront.

At the tunnel beneath Interstate 65, the trail enters a more urban setting with a variety of road crossings; a new tunnel under busy Broadway in Gary makes this crossing much easier.

After Broadway, you soon return to the quiet forest and prairie that dominates the trail. After passing a large private fishing club, you will see the end of the county airport runway, just west of the corridor. Here, just past mile 5.5, a very dense forest marks the entrance of Oak Ridge Prairie Park. A wonderful yet short stretch of the trail winds through the woods to the Griffith trailhead in the park's parking lot. If you want to linger, explore Oak Ridge Prairie Park, where a trout-stocked fishing lake, picnic areas and a large playground provide activities for all ages.