Nippersink

I love this one! I've always thought the name was cute. I wonder where it comes from. If you know, let me know.

This preserve is small, so I wasn't expecting much. Even on the trail map it doesn't look like much. It's located right on 120, the trail is only about 1 mile around a couple of small lakes. I was kind of expecting something similar to Lake Carina.

I was wrong. This little forest preserve really has a lot to see and do. The trail goes around the two lakes with the wider loop going around them both. I did the outside loop.

When I first got on the trail there was a slight breeze. Since it was hot, the breeze felt good. I kept smelling a sweet fragrance, almost like honeysuckle, but not quite. But couldn't see anything that it could be. But the view was great. As usual I could hear many different types of birds-robins, red wing black birds, and a couple more I'm not sure of  yet.

They were doing some fishing camp this morning.
I saw him practicing casting.

Most of the trail is open, so I was glad the sun wasn't full force. it's hot today and that would have been too much. But, about half way around there is a "grove" of oak trees.

The oak passage. What a relief.

It was neat, the end of the walk was a little hilly. After being in Colorado, I liked that.

The view from the top of the little hill.

I went over a little walk walk way (I love those) that was over  the marshy part of the lake, near the one end. And just took everything in. It was beautiful.

Then, just before I got back to my car, I found it. The source for the wonderful sweet smell. It was so delightful-light, sweet, warm. I wish they had a smell attachment so you could enjoy it too.

If you know what kind of flower this is,
let me know!

So as I said before - Nippersink has a lot to offer: a good trail flat and some hills, fishing, shady picnic spots, biking trail. A lot packed into this small site.


Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend.

And enjoy the outdoors!

Half Day Forest Preserve

Half Day Forest Preserve is easy to find - right off of Milwaukee Rd, just after Vernon Hills. I liked this one. I remember coming to it just after it opened. At that time it was a strip along Milwaukee Road far enough back so you didn't get the noise from the road. At that time it was a couple of clearings for tables or picnics and I think a small pond.

Now there are foot paths connecting it to Des Plains river Tail and all the way to Daniel Right Woods. You can really explore the forest there. At the same time, it offers a lot in the fishing pond and picnic areas.

I went for a quick walk while my daughter, Christine and her husband, Evan relaxed at one of the picnic sites. I got a great picture of them here.

I really liked this preserve. For being so small, it's very well connected, giving it far more than you might think when you first drive in. 

Since this one is close to my work. we just might have to have a picnic dinner here some time.

Enjoy the outdoors! 

Happy Fourth of July!!

Happy Fourth of July! I love this holiday. It celebrates the beginning of the greatest country on earth and I bless those who persevered to birth it.

It's a cookout and fireworks for us. Got the syrup made for the lemon aide, everything bought for a cookout, ready to head out for a new forest preserve. I think I'll go to Nippersink. I've never been to that one, so I'm looking forward to it!

Earlier this week I visited Half Day Forest Preserve on Milwaukee Road, just south of Vernon Hills. I'll blog more about those later today. But I just wanted to wish everyone happy Fourth of July!

Enjoy this video to start it off.

Claire

Home Again- A Wonderful Trip

Colorado is beautiful and good to be around family. My sister spent days running us around everywhere to be sure we got as much in as possible of both family and Colorado. She succeeded!

The first day included Red Rocks, Buffalo Bills grave, and a tour of Coors. The second day, an awesome trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. If you ever get out to CO, make sure you go to the Rocky Mountain Natl Park. It's 250,000 acres designated as wilderness.  I really want to go back and hike some of its trails. But, this trip, the ride up and back down was more than enough to take it all in. And the weather couldn't have been more perfect for it all.

On our way up Trail Ridge. I love these flowers. They're very common in Colorado
and grow on the side of the road like this. I used to go for walks when I lived there in Denver and
come home with a handful!

Our outings included so much wildlife-everything from chipmunks and marmots to elk and red tail hawks.

A visiting marmot up on top of Rocky Mountain Natl Park, elevation 14,259 feet.
This little guy was in a group of three. He's the only one who stayed to pose for picture
for the tourists.

Elk at Rock Mountain Natl Park. There were three grazing by a small stream
right on the side of the road. They are used to people, so you could get very close
to them. We all kept our distance, though to respect their space as they ate. 

The snow still left on the mountains. They are planning to keep the ski resorts
open two more weekends. So skiing Fourth of July weekend is an option!

The end of the trip I stayed with my brother in Longmont and did bike riding and walks on the trail behind their house. More wonderful photo ops!

Honey bees.

On my Sunday morning walk.

The view from the trail. 

I enjoyed my walks on the trail, always something neat to see. Open fields, views of the front range, and even a little creek that ran by the trail. In one place there was a rope hanging from a tree by the creek. What the heck, I took a run for it and swung out over the water. It was a great view, but I didn't want to risk dropping my phone in; so, no pictures! 

The sites were definitely wonderful, but what I really noticed was the smells. It was a wonderful smell of clean air, green grass and earth. You could pick out fragrances of flowering bushes and trees and just take it all in.

So that was my trip to Colorado. Now back to the trails at home.

Enjoy the outdoors!

Full two days

Not much time before heading out today, but wanted to get this first round of pix in before we leave.

It's been a full two days here in Colorado. The weather is beautiful - sunny and in the 80s. Perfect for exploring and getting out.

Red Rocks and Lookout Mountain the first day and the top of the world (or so it seemed) the second day. What a wonderful state. So beautiful - open and big. I love how close the clouds are here!

They were getting ready for movie night at Red Rocks so
we couldn't get down on stage.
A night of a local band playing and then watching
A Fish Called Wanda. Fun.

People actually can run up here! The altitude
always gets me!

Heading up to Trail Ridge.

The top of the world.

There was still about 20 feet of snow is some spots (yes, 20 FEET). It was so beautiful. This is the land.

I'll post some of the wild life in my next post.

Sorry so short, but enjoy!

Venturing Out

This weeks, I have ventured out of Lake County to visit my family in Colorful Colorado!

Driving out we survived the tornados on I80 in NE! We caught the front end of the storms and saw some heavy weather! We didn't see any of the tornadoes, but there were some that touched down right after we went through.

Now that we arrived safely, thanks to my son-in-law's good driving, and we are all rested, we're looking forward to Red Rocks, Lookout Mountain, Estes Park, Thompson Pass. . . Everything. I grew up and really miss the wonder of it all!

This week, I'll try to post a couple of times to share the wonders of the trip.

Enjoy the outdoors!
Claire

Daniel Right Woods

One of my friends decided to join me on my walk this morning, so I let her pick. 

It was a sunny, hot morning - 80° at 8:00 am. It was going to be a hot one for sure. I was expecting a morning thunderstorm I saw on the weather the day before, but nope. Just straight sunshine. Even though it was hot, the sun was very welcome.

My friend opted for Daniel Right Woods, one of my favorites. I've always loved Daniel Right Woods. It's at the end of two roads, St Mary's and Everett. I wonder if they know each other  ;) 

I used to drive past it every morning on my way to work and I would regularly stop and walk the .5 mile path around the little pond (even in the winter). The trees seemed very protective and the pond was always still and calm. It was very peaceful. That hasn't changed. 

Even the approach to the park sets the quiet mood, the road has woods on both sides and the entrance is canopied with trees. The hot sun is blocked, the trees muffle the sounds, birds sing. Aaahh, I can feel the blood pressure lowering.

The small pond with a 1/2 mile trail around it.

The fishing point.

Near the back of the pond is a place the water runs off.
It is quiet back there. In the summer the water lilies will have
filled this place. The path continues into a short area of woods.
In the early morning the sun streams through the
trees and it is glorious.

There aren't a lot of shelters, but a great fishing pond and a I like the gravel trails to walk. Since my friend's back was hurting, we just walked around the pond, stopping to take a lot of pictures. There were some flowers blooming and the smell was clean and fresh. 

Finally, we're getting on with spring/summer here.
We had such a cold spring, they say we're about
two weeks behind with our blooms. 

Hope you can see him. A little chipmunk perched on a log (just left
of center). He was barking (or chirping, or calling.
Whatever chipmunks do). He sure was cute though.

We stopped and sat on a bench by the water and just talked and watched the birds. This was the view from the bench. Turn up the sound if you want to hear the birds!

 

I wish I knew my birds more. I know there were robins and red winged black birds. We saw a few more that I didn't know. After sitting a while, we walked again, up the path leading into the woods. This path connects to other paths, so your walk can be as long as you want. It was so nice, no mosquitoes yet and it was cool in the tree's shelter. More flowers and a place that was perfect for the frogs to sing.

The frog pond.

All in all a very satisfying morning. Two long time friends - Daniel Right Woods and Franci! Thanks, Franci for picking this one. It was perfect.