Country Roads, Cows and Currents

White Pines Forest State Park is a lovely state park with short & easy trails to medium trails. According to the IL DNR site, this state park is the "south boundary of the old Chicago-Iowa Trail and lies in the heart of Black Hawk Indian country and is rich in historic accounts of the warriors who resisted the efforts of settlers to drive them from the beloved Rock River valley. Eventually, however, the Black Hawk War forced them out and Warrior Black Hawk himself was sent into exile in the custody of his rival, Keokuk."

How odd - a fire hydrant in the middle of a closed trail.

An observation platform on the red trail (1/2 mile - easy)

This handsome fellow was looking for food. Saw him fly to a nest and feed babies, but could not get a picture of the nest. Looked like there were maybe 3 babies that I saw.

There are also cabins that can be rented. Talked to a women from Crest Hill, IL (the next town over - small world). There is a restaurant by the cabins and also a small dinner theatre with family friendly plays. This was a quad cabin - probably good for family reunions and a large fire ring.

Row of single and double cabins.

Building that houses the restaurant, playhouse & gift shop. The tent is for outdoor events like wedding receptions, etc.

Since this area of northwest Illinois was Black Hawk Indian country, many areas have teepees (actually know as tipis). Nearby Oregon, Illinois has a Trail of Tipis.

After White Pines, headed to Mississippi Palisades SP located in Savanna, IL. An hour drive farther north and west to the Mississippi River along country roads. Obviously farm country, saw a John Deere dealership in the middle of nowhere. Remember the song John Deere Green? Sung by Joe Diffie and released in 1993.

Stopped to see this historical marker on the side of the road on the way to Savanna.

Made it!

Smokey Bear (not Smokey the Bear) is officially 70 years old this year. Most people know this mascot is based on a real bear, who at 4 months old survived a forest fire. His original motto "Only you can prevent forest fires" has been recently updated to "Only you can prevent wild fires".

In case this is hear to read, it states that this area of the Mississippi is a driftless area that was not covered by rocks, sediment and debris (drift) left behind by the last glaciers.

This area of the Mississippi is also know for bald eagles in the winter. There are large raptors here, but could not see them well enough to determine if they were brown / golden eagles that may make their home here in the summer months.