Trip Reports for the Champaign Ski and Adventure Club Continuing June 2026 Part 4

[Mike Metz]

To All,   On Thurs. June 18th about 8 of us arrived at Illini St. Park in Marseilles a day early for our weekend trip. Due to big thunderstorms earlier that week, some campsites were wet and a couple were flooded and people had to move. The main campground near the Illinois River was in good shape. Us early birds lazily set up camp and enjoyed bumming around and checking out town.  On Friday morning 10 of us decided to ride our bikes on the Illinois Michigan Canal Trail  to Seneca, IL. the next town east. The trail hasn't had any major up keep for over twenty years, so every year we see a little less crushed limestone on the ground and a little more dirt. Still it was a pleasant ride and we stopped at an old local favorite bar and grill called " the Third Bar " ?   Is this the third bar ever built here? We don't know, but last year we stopped here and enjoyed the beer garden and a good home cooked breakfast. This year we were there around lunch. The gray haired owner smiled when we told him who we were and that we were there a year ago. He pointed to some wooden posts where we left a chalked  " Champaign Ski and Adventure Club " from last year. He really did remember. But then, how could he forget. Last year we were playing with an old and metal Tonka toy truck in the beer garden.   After we rode back to Marseilles, Anja and I stopped by our favorite bar and grill called " Snug Harbor " on the river. We were disappointed to hear that their cook was sick and the wouldn't be cooking out at their Tiki Bar. Bummer!!   So later about fifteen of us sat outside on Main St. and had fish and other good food at the Illini Inn. One server waited on all of us somehow and did a great job. Some of us went back to Snug Harbor and had a beer.  On Saturday morning at 9AM, 8 of us gathered for the long drive [ 45 miles ] to Princeton,IL., home of my favorite canoe trip, 13 miles on Big Bureau Creek.  The creek was at a nice depth, and altho the covered bridge there was damaged by a truck, we managed to get in on the other side. It was a banner day on Big Bureau. A nice fast  current, some obstacles but not hard ones except one tree we had to portage for. It is very scenic. It has high banks filled with swallow nests, and we saw nearly every bird in the area including eagles, hawks, orioles, blue herons, we even saw a green heron. It was a very fun trip and we were very happy to not find any obstacles at the take out. About four years ago the locals were feuding over who owned the river and some tried to block us with gravel piles and downed trees. This year the take out was open and there was a clear path off the river. Thank you residents of Princeton for letting us enjoy your jewel of a creek. We had a fire on Sat. night, and Sun. morn we all hurried to pack up and leave before more rain came. It was a great trip and those of us who came a day early were glad as it made up for Sunday.             On Sun. June 28th 12 of us paddled 13 miles on the Middle Fork River from Higginsville Bridge to Kickapoo State Park. The river was at about the highest I ever run it, and we made great time enjoying the scenery and the birds and animals. There were many fun rapids but no tip overs. At the take out many of us paddled faster as there were many float toy groups and we didn't want to tangle with them at the takeout. We passed them all but we all had to deal with the muddy mess at the takeout ramp. Oh Well >  Really not much to complain about considering the fun. If any of this sounds like fun, please join us next time.           Mike & Anja Metz