Friends Gary Clark and Eddie Hughes II from McHenry County, Illinois began their journey on October 5th, accepting a challenge from the Rock River Trail Initiative to paddle the entire 320-mile distance. They anticipated the trip would take two weeks, but good weather and a higher-than-expected water level put them several days ahead of schedule.
The paddlers secured their canoes in Prophetstown State Park Wednesday and headed to the local Prophet Family Restaurant for a rarity – a meal they hadn’t carried with them.
The Rock River challenge is not the duo’s first adventure. Together, they’ve canoed the Fox River and the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. For the past two years, Eddie joined Gary on the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Retired from jobs in the construction industry, the pair said they believe staying physically active is important.
Gary is the trip organizer. He studies and plans the route, provides the gear and chooses overnight locations. The men look for good camping spots on riverbanks preferring to avoid residential or commercial sites which can come with unwelcome noise. He said so far, they’ve had an easy paddle although he noted the portages could be improved, additional mile markers would be helpful, and some informational signs are faded and difficult to read. He said it is a good thing that the water is high. Their light Kevlar canoes are easier to portage but are subject to scratching from rocky river bottoms.
What’s next for the duo? While acknowledging the challenges, Gary said he’d like to tackle the length of the Mississippi.
The Rock River Trail is a National Water Trail traveling 320 miles from its headwaters above the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in south central Wisconsin to the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. The Rock River Trail Initiative established a 320-Mile Award for individuals who reach the goal of traveling the entire 320-miles of the Rock River Trail whether hiking, biking, paddling or driving. Those who complete the challenge are recognized on the 320-mile Wall of Fame and awarded the Rock River Trail patch. For more information about the Rock River Trail Initiative check out the website at www.rockrivertrail.com.
The canoeists in Prophetstown on Wednesday morning
Photos by Sally Heffernan
