You can go home again - but it's different

Different but the same somehow.  Fall colors in northeast Illinois have been bad this year due to the lack of summer rains.  Very few vibrant reds.  Mostly dying green going to brown.

The spring rains helped with the drought, but the summer itself was pretty dry.  Today was a day for staying a little closer to home, so to speak.  Back to the horse trails in Palos Heights by the first stable were I used to ride for 7 years.  Unfortunately, for the horse people, the trails are still heavily used by mountain bikers, but now there are also more walkers and runners.

Guessing I walked about 6-7 miles total today.  I really need to get a pedometer or an app!

First stop - Forty Acre Woods & over to Swallow Cliff.

 One of the moraine hills - was a lot higher than the pictures shows.

Since I've been on these trails, the forest preserve has posted various signs, but the man on a paint said the bikers are still rude to the horses.

The old Swallow Cliff toboggan slides.  Long removed by the forest preserve due to liability reasons.  The forest preserve is slowing taking over the hill.  The only remnant left is the stairs which are used by a lot of people.  The old toboggan shack is at the top.

Finally!! Horses!!  One man on a paint actually stopped and chatted for a while.  Found out the owner from that barn, sold about 5 years ago and moved to Peotone.  And the second barn where I rode for another 7 years is now under foreclosure.  I sure hope someone buys it and keeps it a stable, there is no where to ride except for these 2 barns anymore in the southwest suburbs.

The forest isn't as thick as it used to be.  Many trees are marked to get cut down due to being an invasive species.  Signs said it's done so the oak have a better chance.  You can see how many they have culled in past years.

The bridge is new over the creek, but the guy on the paint says he still goes thru the creek.



The original trail under RT 45 has been rerouted.  The woods are taking over.

Since I took the east loop, just hopped in the car to horse tail lake.  We used to let the horses eat the grass at the far end of the lake where the west trail meets up to the lake.



Last stop of the day, the Little Red School House - which isn't red anymore!  Now an ugly shade of brown and closed, but they have built a new, large nature center with some live critters inside and story boards of the animals in the area.  They have also created trails (separate from the horse trails).  Nice for the little kids.

  

Wild Turkeys & Fall Colors at Matthiessen SP

The quiet in the dells area of Matthiessen SP was broken by the crack of rifles during the early hours of this overcast fall morning.  It's Illinois turkey season.

The fall colors in northeast Illinois are not the best this year.  Not enough rain during the summer months to really bring out the fall colors in all their brilliance and any rain at this time of year, just pushes the leaves off the trees.

Parking in the circle lot was empty when I arrived at 9 AM.  Headed down the stairs, over the first bridge and went south to more stairs, down to the lower dells area.  The waterfall wasn't running.  The trails were muddy and the fallen leaves were slippery. 

 

 

Back up the stairs and over another bridge. 

 

Stayed on the south 1 mile horse trail  towards the Vermillion River, hoping to see riders, but instead saw a flock of  about 8 - 10 wild turkeys. I wonder if they somehow knew they were in the protected area here.  If they venture further south into the woods, they would be in hunting area.

This tom was all puffed up trying to move the ladies along, a little blurry because he was quick!

Turned around for the 1 mile trip back past the starting point bridge and continued north to the lake and the giants bath tub.  Shortcut to the north horse parking lot so I could avoid the stairs back up because of my bad knee.  Still no horses, but there was an empty trailer so there are horses around somewhere. 

 

Walked the entrance road back to the parking lot.  In all probably a 4 - 5 mile hike today.  I miss the woods and the horses.  This is the time of year I really enjoyed riding, well maybe except when the bucks would follow us on trail.  They would charge if feeling threatened.

 

 

 

 

Ziplining in Marseilles

I can check zip lining off the bucket list!!

I saw an ad for zip lining in Marseilles a few weeks ago, then saw a billboard so I went to check it out.  Mentioned that I wanted to do this, and Gloria from work and her husband Brian wanted to go also, so we reserved our spots. 

We headed out to Marseilles on a overcast humid Saturday to Zip Chicago.  We only signed up for the short tour which consisted of 2 zips and 2 bridges that lasted an hour since weren't sure if we'd like it.  Now we want to go again!  A full tour is three hours for 8 zips.  The first zip starts from the second floor of the building, and then you zip through the trees from there on.

Gloria & Brian did really well.  Guess I can't steer, because I kept going backwards.

These are the two suspension bridges we had to walk across.   Twelve of us in the group walked to the platform and we all hooked up for safety.  Once we were all on the platform, we walked to the next platform for the second zip.  The entire time you are tethered to something, so very safe. I'd recommend everyone should try it.  Our group was actually very quiet - no screaming :-)

My first zip from the building into the tree canopy.

 The second bridge going to the second zip. 

 

The second zip back to the ground.



Goose Lake Prairie Natural Area

Another beautiful fall day in northeast Illinois.  Too nice to do yard work, which will always be there.  Did a couple of local walks.  If you consider a local walk in the next county.

Started at Goose Lake Prairie State Natural area.  Saw evidence of deer and raccoons on the short 1/2 mile trail.  Also found a few butterflies.

I found this guy hanging out by the visitor center.  "You looking at me?"

The saying is that if the bees all die, so will mankind.  Nice to see our pollinators are still hard at work.

This nature area has a nice little visitor center to learn about the prairie.  According to signs, this is the largest natural prairie east of the Mississippi. 

An egret in the marsh

Sandstone bedrock found when the pond was enlarged

I saw these two pheasants on the road behind me.  They stayed on the road just long enough for a quick picture

On the way out, stopped at Heidecke Fish & Wildlife Area. 

Then back to Plainfield for a stop at Lake Renwick Preserve.  This is a heron rookery and reserve.  I've ridden my bike there before, but always when most of the rookery trails are closed. At this time of year, all trails are open.

 

The Metamorphosis Has Begun

Sometime, for some reason, at some point, everyone thinks about retirement.  My retirement travel bug started about 10 years ago when a coworker started planning to retire at age 55 and knew exactly what she wanted, which was to move to Colorado to be near family.  Six years later, she retired and followed her path.
 
I, on the other hand, had no clue, and believed I would just work till I dropped.  Somewhere, the seed was planted, or should I say the egg was laid for my butterfly travel bug.  So far, it looks like I am following the life cycle of my travel bug (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). 
 
My egg stage was basically the decision stage.  What do I want to do?  Work until I drop? Go back to school?  Take hobby classes?  Live somewhere really cheap so I can get back into the horse life? 
 
Somewhere between discovering the Motion TV show on the Livewell network, and the release of the movie The Bucket List (2007), I soon realized how much I wanted to see all of the beautiful places in our country and began my own bucket list.  From there it was a sort leap from how to do this, to the point of get an RV and go in any direction the wind blows.
 
Right now I’m somewhere in the larva, or caterpillar stage, but instead of eating and eating and eating; I’m researching and researching and researching. 

After going to the 2013 Chicago RV show, the first bit of research and decision was what kind of RV do I want?  An RV to drive or an RV to pull with another vehicle?  Driving an RV meant possibly having to tow another vehicle like a car or SUV (which I’ve come to learn is called a dingy or toad (so much lingo!) and having two vehicles to insure.  But pulling an RV (more lingo – a travel trailer or TT) gives you a vehicle for use when the RV is parked.
 
Then the online research began.  Finding RV websites, watching RV videos, trying to find people that RV, joining an RV forum run by and for women, and going to more RV shows and dealers. 
 
A decision has been made!  Drumroll please ~~~ buy an RV I can drive!  For my needs, to travel and not stay in one spot makes sense.  Plus if a runaround car is needed for any extended period of time, I’ve learned some people just rent a car in those cases.  Makes sense to me.  Later I can always decide to pull a dingy, but first things first. 

"Now what?” turned into going to more RV shows and RV dealers to determine what floor plan and amenities I’d want to have.  At first I thought, the smallest for the cheapest price, but soon realized that if the RV were to become my home (no more sticks and bricks for me), I’d want a little more room and a few more luxuries.  Okay, I’ll do without the ceiling fans, fireplaces, and washer and dryer because I’m not rich, but something homey.
 
Decision made (kind of)!  Sounds easy right?  NO! For something so small compared to a house, there are so many that are similar but different in layout.  A or C class?  How many slides?  What size are the slides? Where is the bed located, how is the kitchen laid out, how much kitchen storage and counter space? Does it have a couch?  Should eating area be a dinette, or U-shape or table?  How many does it sleep?  Where is the shower?  Are there electric steps or a step well?  Is an over cockpit bed needed or should it be an entertainment center?  Is there pass through basement storage?  Is there under bed storage?  Then there are the mechanical aspects to learn.  Black water tank, grey water tank, generator, inverter, batteries, emergency battery start capabilities, self leveling, rear view and optional side view cameras. What constitutes a four season rig?  Outside TV? (Really?  If I’m watching TV, the weather is bad so doubt I’d be outside).  Most of these decisions mean a longer and longer RV.

So, after 2 trips to Rockford, and other trips to Pontiac, Peoria, Orland Park, and Barrington, IL plus Indiana (twice) and an overnight trip to Forest City, IA to the Winnebago factory, if I were to buy today, the winner is an Itasca Cambria 30J. 

Fingers crossed the floor plans and amenities don’t change too much before I’m ready to buy.  If they do, at least, I’ll have a good idea of what I’d like.  Hopefully, I can get an RV, practice and learn (Aha! The cocoon (pupa) stage) for a few years before the final metamorphosis into my butterfly travel bug and retirement!  

 

Last Day of Summer 2013

It's the last day of summer 2013, weather is a beautiful 65 and sunny.  Since I didn't get too far in Kankakee with Zorro yesterday, decided to go to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve after meeting Dad out in Elwood for breakfast. 

This preserve surrounds Argonne National Lab.  I've known about this preserve since I was a teenager.  Some people from the old stable hauled horses there for the trails.  Only saw 2 horses in a side parking lot.  Since I know by heart the Palos FP trails from 15 years of riding horses on them, I figured it was time to see Waterfall Glen from outside of a car. 

Argonne has a herd of white deer, but in (mumble mumble) years of driving thru and past  the preserve, I've never seen any, but they are still there.

Took the wrong way off the trail head so ended up on the north side of the loop.  I really need to read trail maps better.  This side of the trail was pretty boring.  Nothing to look at, the trees are right up to the path.  Walked about 4 1/2 miles round trip from the trail head to Westgate Road.  After this walk, drove around the area to refresh my memory of other parking areas.  If there is a next time, I think I'll get there early (very little parking there) and park by the outdoor education area.  From there the south loop would be a short walk towards the waterfall.

The preserve has well maintained gravel/limestone paths that are easily walkable.  The nice weather today brought out walkers, bikers, a couple of running groups and families with strollers.  No major hills, but just enough of a incline is some spots, to stress out the bad knee, which in turn, causes the bad back to act up, and then caused some funny walking.  Didn't get any blisters with the new hiking shoes, but felt one would start.  Good thing I turned around when I did instead of doing the entire loop.

This section of the loop was pretty peaceful, enough to be alone and gather my thoughts and look for wildlife.  One lone squirrel and 3 robins.  With the gravel path, the only noise heard was the  trail traffic coming or going, and basically white noise from I-55.

 Tear Thumb Marsh

Kankakee River State Park

Living in what is affectionately (?) called by me JoShoreField (Joliet utilities, thisclose to Shorewood, and a Plainfield address), is the close proximity to I-80, I-55 and I-57.  Today was a quick one hour ride to Kankakee River State Park.

I haven't been there is 25-30 years, so it was time to take another trip.  Took Zorro, aka Tubby, with me.  He hasn't been out with me for a few years, since Molly had her knee surgery in March 2011, so it ended up being two 1-mile walks, not a longer hike.

The park itself is quiet and not as crowded as Starved Rock, for example.  Lots of different named areas, all with easy access to the bike trail.  The paths are paved, so it's a good place to bike.  hmmm, maybe another trip is in order with the bike instead with Zorro.  There is a campground, but I didn't inspect it.  Reservations can be booked thru Reserve America.

     Map of the bike trail

 

The first walk was from the river bluffs area to the trail head.  The second walk was from the suspension bridge over Rock Creek to the pedestal.  Being a typical male, Zorro thought he had to stop at every tree, every branch, every weed, etc, but finally got into the idea of walking, not stopping.  The walks themselves were a good start to breaking in the new hiking shoes.

 

According to the park's pamphlet, there are 10.5 miles of biking trails, a 3 mile hike on Rock Creek leads to a waterfall and canyons (thanks to Tubby, didn't make it that far), as well as snowmobile trails, 15 miles of cross country trails, and a 12 mile equestrian trail (or as we call them, bridle paths).  Another bucket list item, whenever I retire, get back into horse back riding, maybe renting livery thru the national parks.

 

     Looking east up the river

     Looking west down the river

      Walking / bike path 

      One of the resting spots

      Still too early for fall colors.  Maybe another 3-4 weeks according to the TV weatherman.

   The Rock Creek path

 

A little Zorro history ~~~ not quite sure how old Zorro is, maybe 12 at this point.  Adopted him from Chicago Animal Control when, they thought, he was about 1 1/2 years old.  He was a stray that they knew about, but couldn't catch for 6 months.  Saw him at a pet expo at Navy Pier and with so many people and other dogs, he was as calm as could be, the perfect opposite for Molly who always wanted to play and be busy.  Dad always says "he's a good dog for an old guy".  Nothing bothers Zorro, not fireworks, thunderstorms, etc.  He does however, not seem to like German Shepherds for whatever reason.  I think he may have tangled with one when he was a stray.  He's got a round scar on his nose that looks like a bite mark. 

 

Anyway, during the walks at Kankakee today, he was a perfect gentleman whenever any other dogs went by, including a little dog in a bike basket that threw a fit when it passed.  A gentleman that is, until 2 German Shepherds walked past.  Zorro was ready to go at them.  Hair up on his back included.  Sure wish he could tell me what happened when he was a stray.  It's his only odd flaw.  Well that and his weak belly.  No table scraps for him.