Lock Tender's House

Vacated decades ago, the Lock 20 lock tender's house remains standing along the Hennepin Canal near Wyanet, Illinois. While the canal didn't recieve the traffic it was meant to handle, it was historically significant. At over 100 miles in length, it was the first canal in America built of concrete - quite an undertaking for such a large scale project. The concrete locks still stand today, and all but one are visible (lock 1 is sometimes under water). A few of the lock tender's homes remain, most in need of significant repair. This one, according to locals, is said to be haunted. I've met some people who spend time on the grounds next to the home on nights with a full moon, hoping to see something supernatural. Last year, they pointed out something interesting. It was late afternoon, and temperatures were in the mid 80's all day. I expected the boarded up home to be very hot inside. They pointed out an eight inch hole in the siding. While peering inside, very cold air was rushing out - an interesting occurence on such a warm day. Sounds like a great place to spend Halloween night.

Red Covered Bridge

The late afternoon sun bathes the Princeton Red Covered Bridge on a beautiful Autumn day. Built in 1863, at a cost of just over $3,000 the bridge has a 149 foot span over Bureau Creek, and is one of only five covered bridges in Illinois. Once part of the Peoria-Galena Trail, the bridge is now on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is still open to traffic.

Color on the Hennepin Canal

Couldn't ask for a better Fall day for a hike, and we took advantage of it Sunday afternoon. Being a holiday weekend, I tried to find a remote place to enjoy an afternoon. About 30 miles past the tourist laden state parks, was a familiar place for me: The Hennepin Canal. One mile outside of the small town of Wyanet, Illinois, the lazy, quiet waterway was the perfect spot to spend a few hours away from crowds. At over 100 miles in length, this linear park was created after the Hennepin Canal closed. The canal linked the Mississippi River with the Illinois River, providing transportation for goods and industry from the Gulf of Mexico to Illinois. Add the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and access increased across the state to Lake Michigan, and ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean.

Colorful Walk

Can't argue with the weather we had on this Fall afternoon. High 70's, and partly sunny, a perfect day for a walk through Sawmill Creek at the Waterfall Glen forest preserve. The trees were just beginning to show signs of Fall color as wel walked through the water, upstream toward the waterfall. Peak color should arrive within the next two weeks.

Fall

An early Fall afternoon at the fall of Sawmill Creek in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. The colors of Autumn were just beginning to appear on this unseasonably warm Fall day. Colors should peak within the next two weeks or so. As we hiked back to the trail head, clouds gathered in the southwestern sky. Less than a mile down the road toward home, and the skies opened up with heavy downpours - perfect timing, yet again.

Wavy Skyline

Not only was it a wavy day on Lake Michigan, but the atmosphere made the Chicago skyline wavy as well. Approximately 30 miles across the lake from Boater's Beach- the beach one hikes to from the Cowles Bog loop- Chicago is clearly visible, yet a bit distorted by the distance. The 2.5 mile hike through Cowles Bog to the beach ends with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, and a wide, soft, sandy beach. Due to the distance from the parking lot, this beach is mostly populated by boaters and residents of nearby Dune Acres. The beach for us is the halfway point of our hike, and a great resting spot. Of course, we need to hike back as well.

Green Valley

The sunlight filtered through the trees onto the green undergrowth, making it glow against the shaded tree trunks. A vibrant landscape to walk through at this time of year, and the 2.5 mile walk allows plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings - and so does the 2.5 mile hike back! Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Low Ceiling, High Waves

A float plane surprises us on our hike, as it takes a low altitude flight along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and Cowles Bog. As we aimed our cameras at the plane, we were even more surprised to find two others close by. Flying low over the waves must be exhilarating; it's something I see quite often while hiking here.

Slope

The reward following a 2.5 mile hike is a climb up, over, and down the foredune of Cowles Bog. Lake Michigan is a few yards away, but the view of the wooded foredunes is worth the hike. From this point, the dunes appear to go on forever, at least all the way to the horizon. After a walk along the beach, we take another trail back up the dune and into the woods, a two mile hike back to the tiny, secluded parking area. The parking area has been a bit more crowded lately. I remember just a while back where I would be lucky to see another person on the trail; now it seems more people are visiting. I wonder if it has anything to do with the August issue of Backpacker Magazine's article on Cowles Bog (featuring one of my photos)?

Liquid Mountain Range

Once again, Lake Michigan flexes her muscles, turning the sometimes glassy-smooth lake into a choppy liquid mountain range. Nonetheless, a couple enjoys an afternoon walk along the shore, undoubtedly overloading their senses with sites and sounds more common to oceans. This is only a few miles from the southernmost point of Lake Michigan, where Indiana meets Illinois, evidenced by the steel mills on the horizon. This area was once industrial as well, but is now part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Solitary

An unusual morning at Kintzele Ditch - the stream was not flowing into Lake Michigan. Apparently the high waves of the previous day built up the beach so high, it dammed the stream. We watched as the edge of the water moved slowly across the sand, at the rate of about an inch every 20 seconds, looking for a way to the lake. The edge of the water appeared to breathe, as it moved back and forth.

I imagine by the early afternoon, the stream found the lowest point in the sand, and finally made it to Lake Michigan. First a trickle, then after eroding a path, a steady flow of water.

Geographic construction in progress, right before our eyes.

Cove

The bright morning sun casts long shadows on the dunes, as beach-goers arrive at Central Beach for a late summer day of fun. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Valley of Shadows

Certain times of the year, the morning sun casts shadows onto the steep angle of the dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan, causing the shadows to grow many times their normal length. The patterns that result often create surreal backgrounds to those visiting the beach. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Bean Field

A field of soybeans turns yellow, right before drying out, signalling harvest is near. Luckily, this field was next to a small rural road with very little traffic. I was able to stop for quite some time to compose this image, without ever seeing another car. LaPorte County, Indiana.

Delta

Technically, this may not be a true delta, but Kintzele Ditch deposits sediments on the shore of Lake Michigan every day, and on this particular day, the running water created fan-like fingers that reached into Lake Michigan. Unusually wide and shallow, the "delta" was an interesting place to investigate - numerous rocks, minerals, tiny fossils, and aquatic life filled the area.

Confluence

The sand dunes between Central Beach and Mt. Baldy are divided by a small stream that cuts its way through the shifting sands to Lake Michigan. While this stream often changes course from the dune to the lake, it's not often that it appears to enter Lake Michigan at two points. This confluence provides an interesting place to explore, as well as a great environment for wildlife.

Updated Classic

The Lemont Legends Car Show takes place (weather permitting) every Wednesday evening during the summer. Classic cars of all types line up on Main Street, and several adjacent streets to give people a glimpse into automotive history. From perfectly restored classics, to rat-rods, almost everything is represented. This classic Impala was lovingly restored, and updated just a bit to make it interesting.

Running in the Rays

Nothing beats cooling off on a hot summer day, and these boys found relief in the cool waters of Lake Michigan. Chasing each other in the water, they hardly noticed the patterns in the clouds that created some interesting rays on the horizon.

From Indian Head

A panoramic view of the Mississippi River following a climb to the top of Indian Head, a large rock formation at the Mississippi River Palisades State Park. Resembling the head of a Native American, this formation towers over the river below, and seems to peer out from the dense trees of the cliffs. Approaching from the top, the formation is eight or ten feet away from the rest of the cliff - apparently it has pulled away over time - creating a steep, crevasse that must be crossed to reach the top of the "head." Looking around, one can see several bolts drilled into the cliffs, these are anchors for rock climbing. This area seems to be full of great places to climb. As I stood on the top of Indian Head photographing the landscape and searching for bald eagles, I watched several buzzards fly below me. Perhaps a warning of what could happen with one slip of a foot.

Meandering

The boys walk through Kintzele Ditch, a small stream that flows between two sand dunes, and into Lake Michigan.  The waves and wind constantly change the path the stream takes to the Lake, at times, by hundreds if not thousands of feet. Like us, it meanders along the shoreline. Often, this stream flows directly perpendicular into the lake, but following stormy or windy weather, the sand is piled up by strong waves, so the stream must meander along the shore until it finds a point to enter the lake.



This changing shoreline offers so many new things to explore each time we visit.  Last week, the stream flowed in a different direction, depositing mud onto the beach.  Once the water changed direction, the mud began to dry in the sun, forming familiar cracks in the mud.  However, at only 1/4 inch thick, the mud began to curl as it dried, revealing the sand beneath, creating an unusual pattern on the beach, reminding me of chocolate nonpareils.