Wednesday, November 23, 2016

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:

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:

Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned
12 MILE INDIANA HIKE
163 2,272
  6 MILE NIGHTTIME URBAN HIKE CHICAGO
71 1,107
Add Exercise
   
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.

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