December

December has arrived...



and it feels like winter.


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Sandhill Cranes migrated right over my head today.



Winter is my favorite season to be outside...



especially when I can find time during the limited day light hours.

Baldwin Creek Scouting Mission

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Today's mission was to follow Baldwin Creek from it's mouth to the bike path underpass along the creek at Hicks Road.



Baldwin Creek flows into the Arlington Heights Branch of Salt Creek at Maple Park in Palatine.



There is a nice path in the woods along the creek at Oak Park and some interesting ornamentation on the bridge at Rohlwing Road.



I guess I wasn't the only one blogging in Locust Park today.



There is a great place to cross the creek in the woods at Willowwood Park.



A excellent view from Willowwood Road looking West.



Good day sunshine.

Open Blogging Season

I hit the road early and made it up to Waupaca just after sunrise.



I made it up a little late for the prime foilage but the apples were ripe for the picking.



Birds! Sandhill Cranes, a crow, and a seagul.



More Sandhill Cranes.



Keeping it real.







I drove past a large wind farm just south of Fond Du Lac on the way home.

Bike Ride

I spun over to the Elk Grove Village Community Bridge today.


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I followed the Salt Creek down to Busse Woods/Ned Brown Forest Preserve. What do sun dogs, deer, and jets leaving O'hare have in common?



They can all been seen from one of my favorite spots on the banks of the Salt Creek.

Here is my route.


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Itasca.



Schaumburg.



The sun set and the moon hovered as I rode back home.

Watering Hole

Mike Kruse made an appearance in Palatine.





We took a seat on the banks of Lake Victoria/Louise/Heatherstone.



Mike wearing a willow tree hat. We were getting thirsty so we headed down to Durty Nellie's


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Those beverages look delicious. Summer nights are grand.

Northern Solstice

I started out at the parking garage in downtown Platine and followed the Bike Route to the biggest hill in town.



This is the view from the summit looking over Riemer Reseroir with some Schaumberg buildings on the horizon.



Looking back at the hill. If this hill isn't man made it could be the inspiration for the nameing of the town after Palatine Hill.


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I zipped by Peregrine Lake on my way to...





... Haper College.



The southside of Palatine is fairly hilly.



I rolled back past the Metra station and to my vehicle.

West Northwest

I started out at Harper College again and headed West Northwest along Algonquin Road.


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These flowers were right on the border of Hoffman Estates.



I was looking for a route south of the bike path to explore Paul Douglas Forest Preserve. The vegetation was thick with a lot of wet spots.



Still no place to enter the park.



It was a warm one.





Paul Douglas will be better explored in the winter months. Too much undergrowth, too few paths.