“True places are never on an app (map).” -Herman Melville
Once there was a Forest Preserve. You’ve never heard of it. Plug “NE corner of No-Where County, just north of Super Unknown Town” into your GPS. You just might find it. Or take a drive. Wander north or east from the interstate. Eventually you’ll reach the one lane roads that don’t have names, just numbers. When you’ve driven in a straight line for what feels like years instead of hours, you’ll have reached “the curve.” At this point you aren’t far from the forest preserve entrance.
Wait. Turn west on an unmarked road. It will feel like you are falling off the edge of the banked curve.
Bump along the pot holes for a half mile to an nondescript parking lot.
Park. Soak in the silence.
Notice the mown trail in the unexplored prairie.
Stroll. Touch the tall grass ghosts and watch the forgotten dance of the pollinators.
See the labor of love put forth by forest preserve staff.
Mourn, because they’ll never receive the awards they deserve for this restoration work.
Realize they didn’t do it for the accolades, but rather because it was the right thing to do.
For you. For life. For nature. For the future.
Once there was Middle Fork River Forest Preserve. You’ve never heard of it, but it’s really not that hard to find. Wander north of Penfield, Illinois and east of Rantoul, Illinois to the banks of the wild and scenic Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. It is home to Point Pleasant wetland, a unique bird migration nesting & resting ground; so special that the endangered Whooping Cranes have visited on their seasonal travels. Surrounding the wetland is a restored prairie that rivals any fireworks display when in bloom. Otters play in the river in winter and Bald Eagles nest on its shores. The preserve’s 1700 acres of forest land have so little light pollution that it will possibly receive International Dark Sky status in the near future. Just don’t camp there. The sites are so large, clean, and secluded and the visitors are so nice, that they’d rather you not add to their numbers and ruin their experience.
Visit: Middle Fork River Forest Preserve | Penfield, IL
http://www.ccfpd.org/forest-preserve/middle-fork-river-champaign-county
Consider: The Humble Hog in Paxton, IL. Who wouldn’t want great barbecue after a day of adventuring?!?!
Enjoy!
