Yes my friends, spring is here. Which means you should get off your butts, stop reading this blog, and go outside.
That’s exactly what I and my friend Aran did yesterday. The park is just outside of Utica, Illinois, and about a two hour drive from where I live. Believe me, Starved Rock was worth the four hours on the road. I was a bit wary when we first got there since the parking lot was packed. It almost felt like an amusement park, there were so many families and kids. Especially at the park entrance. Luckily, the herd thinned quite a bit as we trekked further east.
All together, Aran and I hiked about six miles along the river. This isn’t sissy hiking, either; there are a lot of places where a stupid person can put to proof Darwin’s theories.
It felt really good to be there yesterday. Parts of the park had an air of Tolkien about them. A lot of magic and life.
I’m definitely going again this year.
-Russ
Of course I took pictures :)
View from Starved Rock
Bluff
A very Shire-like scene
The Diving Tree
Pool at the base of La Salle Canyon…
…and the waterfall feeding it.
It’s not the destination that matters…
PS: Many heart-felt thanks to the radiant Mythezza for suggesting I go. Good luck with your finals!
