Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Beautiful day for a 5 mile walk around the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  Temps in the low 70's and a strong breeze.  Being a prairie, and there being minimal shade, the day was perfect.
 
Information found is that it's the first tallgrass prairie established in 1996 and 19,165 acres of land in Illinois, donated from the U.S. Army to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.  Midewin was formerly the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant or Joliet Arsenal as it was known more recently.

This lovely little fellow set me on my way from the trail head. 



 

 Prairie wild flowers

My daily cow :-)

View of the prairie heading to the iron bridge.

 

 

Busy taking a pic of deer prints, when I looked up, too late, a doe was heading into the tree line.

 

 

Actually already at 2+ miles, this is a prairie trail I just left.

 Through the gate to the west bunker field

Back view of the west bunkers.  Skipped walking all the way to them, there are open bunkers for exploring on the way back to the trail head.

 Looks like some deer slept here recently

The main trail is gravel

 

This is a prairie trail I took to get off the gravel and continue on to the west bunkers.  Cut but overgrown prairie.

Only people  saw on the entire trail.  These ladies hauled in the horses.

The iron bridge (looks like an old train trestle)

Same cow herd on the way back.  They were closer to the fence now, an were very interested in watching me watching them.

Even the babies were curious

 

 

 

Number 13 here was sniffing the air a lot to get my scent.

 

 

My own private cattle drive.  They followed me for a bit along the fence line. 
(Videos may not work on iPads or android devices)

This little herd gives you an idea of how the prairie used to be.

Mom and calf outside of the fence.  I didn't see any broken fence line, so no idea how they got out.

Some of the bunkers on the east side.

Have to explore!

No idea how they made cement in the early 1900's, but I didn't see one crack.  This is what I'd call the perfect tornado shelter.  Underground and all cement.

 

 

 

RV Ladies GTGs 2 and 3

It was another driving weekend.  One short trip on Saturday to Illini SP in Marseilles, IL  for a few hours to visit with Kathy from the RV ladies forum and her friend Carrie.  I met them both a month or so ago, and this weekend they were camping.  They are longtime friends and camping buddies.  Sometimes, hubbies just don't want to camp.

Here is the site they had tucked into the woods.  Quiet loop for this weekend, just a handful of other campers.  There are also sites right on the Illinois River, but I'd bet those sites reserve quickly.

Kathy didn't want her picture taken, but she waved to the other ladies on the forum ;-)

 Ah she relented and let me take a picture.

Sunday was another trip west on I-80 to Bishop Hill, IL.  Sandi, another RV lady from California, was passing through to see the house in another close by town where her mother lived. 

Since my little buddy Zorro decided 4 AM was the time to get up today, I had plenty of time to do the drive, so, a little off the beaten path I went.  First stop, Ottawa, IL to Farm & Fleet.  God I love that store, they've got everything, including some of the same brand name apparel and housewares that you find in the big mall stores, but a lot cheaper.

Then on towards Kewanee, figuring I could spend a while wandering thru Good's Furniture (they carry all brands and have a wine cellar and restaurant), but didn't make it that far.  Quick left to...

LOVE this part of the campground with the large pines but for people that don't like trees (or want satellite available) there is another loop that has minimal trees.  Lots of room between the sites. Looked like all sites had electric hookup

 

 

 Round barn that can be rented.

 Section marked as the bird viewing area.

This is the second Illinois SP / recreation area that I've found that has a restaurant.  Shabonna SP also has one.

 Next to the restaurant is a boat launch.

After checking out the majority of Sauk Trail, it was on to Bishop Hill to meet Sandi,  but not before checking out a historical marker.

 

Bishop Hill is one of those small little towns that you could sneeze and miss it, but there is a museum, an antique store, and an eatery / bakery.  We were supposed to meet at the bakery, but the town was so small I actually found her in the museum.  Had to be her, it was the only Itasca Navion with California plates!  After lunch was the chance to meet her traveling companions, Krissi & Abby.

Unfortunately didn't get to spend a lot of time with Sandi & the pups because she's on the road heading south & west.

One more look see and a mini-hike (more of a walk around a park).  The Hennepin Canal is a sister to the I&M (Illinois & Michigan) canal from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi.  Unfortunately the visitor center was closed today.

 Learn something new everyday.  Had to look up the American Discovery Trail.