First of the season trail hike

The first in a series of trail walks will start the spring season on Saturday, May 10.

Hikers may assemble at the east end of Riley Road at the top of Delphi's south hill (east off of Prince William Road and east of US 421/39) at 1 p.m. The narrated walk will last about two hours.

Moderate difficulty will be encountered as this is not on a graded or paved trail. Wear durable shoes and long pants.

Beautiful scenery, valley views, the "Slate Bluffs" and Bossard's Waterfall will be on the way to finally set sights on the historic Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek.

Half way through the distance, hikers will encounter the corridor where construction of the Hoosier Heartland Highway will be built. Some recent considerations for lowering the fills across Deer Creek Valley will perhaps lessen the negative impacts on the historic valley.

A committee composed of organizations with historical interests, the City of Delphi, and County Economic Development officials have been working with INDOT. The progress lately has highlighted an opportunity to ultimately provide a separated grade interchange. A positive impact would be to place two restored historic bridges high over the Heartland corridor to create "signature bridges" for all travelers to see. The end-to-end bridges will only carry Monon Trail foot traffic and will be much like the historic iron bridges placed over the canal for the Towpath Trail.

Canal boat season opens

The Wabash and Erie Canal boat ride will open for weekend trips beginning this Saturday.

The "DELPHI," a converted pontoon boat, will run each weekend until this fall. Rides will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Canal rides are offered for no charge, but donations are accepted to help defray the cost of providing the ride. Some special canal trips that offer entertainment may have a nominal charge.

The current boat is to be replaced with a replica period canal boat to begin operation in 2009.