We used two cars parking one at the furthest point north we planned to hike. The original place did not have parking so we had top go up a further two miles than we planned. So we drove back to our starting point and started hiking. The trail is mostly gravel without much elevation.
Yes, a bunny rabbit crossing the trail
By the time we passed over on the Lake-Cook Road bridge and got into the woods we realized our first mistake. The bugs were all over us and we brought no bug repellent of any kind. Opps - a feast day for mosquitos! We longed for those open places in the sun for relief. Stopping to do anything, we were in a mass of bugs.
Then we ran into several detours, one that we estimate added another mile to our hike. A large property blocked the path so we hike out to Milwaukee Road around the property. We stopped at a convenience store hoping for bug spray, but no such luck.
We would have been fine at ten miles and doing ok at twelve miles....but we found fifteen a bit long.
Rest break and still happy at 12 miles!
The last three miles was drudgery and difficult. About a mile out from our car we ran out of water. So we did make fifteen miles which we are proud. But we learned several things, plan better for the mileage, bring bug repellent, rest more often (which without bug spray we could not do), make sure about water and water resupply and make a good stop for lunch.
It was difficult walking the next day, but this morning we did our usual three mile morning walk with our packs. This is one learning experience with many more to come.
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