Apple River Fort and Apple Canyon SP

Up north and west towards Elizabeth, Galena and Apple Canyon State Park today while the weather is still good.

First stop, Elizabeth to see the Apple River Fort.  The fort was quite small, 50 x 70.  It was built quickly for a shelter from attacks.  I seem to be learning a lot about Blackhawk this summer in my travels.

According to a women at the interpretive site, scouts rode from Fort Dearborn back to Apple River to warn that Blackhawk was on the way.  When the attack occurred, there were 70 people at the fort, mostly women and children, but with the women and children reloading the rifles for the men, Blackhawk thought there were more soldiers and withdrew.

The fort is gone, but has been rebuilt in the same footprint of the original.

On the way to Apple Canyon state park, I stopped at the scenic overlook.  Always a pretty site no matter what time of year.

 All those little black dots - my daily cow! :-)

On to Galena to walk the Galena River Trail and see the West Street Sculpture Park. Galena was crazy.  Everyone had the same idea to get out while the weather was good.  Finally thru the traffic and found the Galena River Trail, then realized I walked the trail a few years ago when I went to President Ulysses Grant home.  Oh well.  On to the sculpture park.  No where to park and it look like an overgrown mess.  I did see some "sculptures" but they looked more like junk.  Didn't bother with main street Galena. Too many people and I've been there before.

Back tracked to Apply Canyon State Park.  Just a couple quick 1 mile loops.  I hate that it's starting to get dark so early, and with a 3 hour ride back home, had to make it a quick stop.

  

Way past the fall colors in northwest Illinois.  Catch and release trout stream. Quite shallow.