I recently acquired a new goal: make a pilgramage to all the woods, savannas, glens, marshes and groves that are found in Lake County, Illinois. I have always found Lions Woods to be a sanctuary for my soul and have taken in quite a bit of the trails at Illinois Beach Park. Yet I haven’t been to very many other woods and preserved natural areas in this area. I drive past them a lot in my home care job and I feel the lure and tug to go on in but I would eventually forget about it. So this is the year of going to all of them in Lake County. I acquired a map and am going to put the date next to each one I visit. And I am going to enjoy this immensely.
This past Sunday, after a long day of work, I quickly dropped off my nursing equipment and exchanged it for Judy’s comfy bike and escaped to Van Patten Woods. It is the most northern wooded area before you reach the Wisconsin border. It was a perfect autumn day and I just relished every moment of it. I think the highlight for me was watching people horseback riding through the yellow, orange and copper leafed woods. It was so picture perfect. I decided I need a horse and that horseback riding is the preferred way of traversing a wood. Not on foot, not on a bike. One must be on a horse.
Up next: the Wadsworth Savanna.
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Where have you visited?