Busse Woods

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I drove down to Busse Woods. The other side of this lake is where I had to retreat on my last Salt Creek scouting mission. Time to enjoy the park.



The first picture is of a lovely Illinois Nature Preserve sign. Can you spot the white tail in the second picture? Hint: Its the right in the center.


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You can see this heron rookery from I-90 where tall dead trees rise up from a bog. I've always wanted to get a closer look...



...and today I did. This was the last shot before my battery died. I'll have to come back here with a full charge. This park is huge!

Bike Path at Night

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About the time I got to my favorite underpass I started getting thirsty.



I was pulled in by the glow of Lamplighters.



With a one second refreshment and a quick glass of water I was in and out.



Palatine Library.



...and home did trot.

Vernal Equinox

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A patchwork of fog blanketed the landscape as I approached Lind Center.



Sun rise over Waupaca County on the frist full day of Spring.



My dad and I enjoying last night's fresh snow.



Signs of Spring.



Ray, Dave, and Charles down by the creek.





Time for a ride. This time I had my bike so I could do a better job keeping up with my dad's Rukus.



Snow melt in the pasture. Today warmed up nicely.



We discovered an artesian well on Pufahl Road.



Look closely and you can see another artesian well we passed on County Highway X.



Brids. The first two are Sandhill Cranes which do live here; at least durring the warm months. The third is some kind of Hawk.



Back at Lind Center.

Salt Creek Scouting Mission #02

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I jogged across Twin Lakes Park and under 53 again to get to where I left off. Only this time I was on the other side of the Union Pacific Northwest Railway.



Right where the creek comes out from under 14 and the tracks there is hole in the fence and another hobo camp similar to the one just upstream. For this stretch the creek flows through the grounds of Arlington Park horse racing track. It comes out of the park at Euclid Ave. It would take a tricky portage to get under Euclid in a canoe.



From Euclid, the creek meanders along a few nice parks in Rolling Meadows. There is a great bike path underpass a Kirchoff Road. The world needs more of these.



A sled hill!



Two major branches of the Salt Creek join back behind the track at Rolling Meadows High School. From here there is considerably more water.



Nature in the 'burbs.



I finally made it to where the Salt Creek runs under I90 and into Ned Brown/Busse Forest Preserve.



I heard the unmistakable call of Sandhill Cranes. These birds do not live in this area. They are just migrating overhead. Sorry about the blurry picture but they were way up there.



My goal was to make it to Higgins Road but I was surrounded by wetland. If I could have only made it to these nearby trees I would have been on higher ground and able to continue south. I had to turn around.



I ran far enough. My beautiful wife gave me a lift out of there.