Backpedaling to Hope

I spent the day Tuesday on the road and in the woods. That was pretty awesome. Thanks, Barb, for the push out the door.

You see, I've been having computer troubles and had intended to stay in out of the heat to work on my laptop. In hindsight, it would have been a frustratingly miserable day spent that way. But when I awoke mid-morning on my leisurely day off, I had a text from my friend Barb, to the effect of: "Put yourself out in the universe today, Mr. Buck. Do something you don't usually do."

Barb's been following that advice for a while now, making excursions to wilderness areas and state parks in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Sometimes she goes alone, sometimes she asks a friend to tag along. That I did a few weeks ago when she decided to visit nearby Argyle Lake State Park near Colchester. One of her first solo adventures was a day hike through Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve southeast of Alexis.

It seemed the best way to really make it an adventure would be to bike to the wooded prairie northwest of town. I was pretty sure I knew how to get there, but I stopped at the newspaper office to double check a county map. Yep, Angling Road is reached via South Lake Storey Road. Well, as is my habit lately, I didn't read closely enough. Should have made note of just where that turnoff is.

Is that a blackthorn? Fits the name anyway.

As it turned out, my initial hunch was correct — turn north at Hope Cemetery, just west of Lake Storey. But I don't always follow my hunches. I thought perhaps it was a little farther along County Highway 31, so I kept on pedaling. Then I passed another cemetery and I began to think maybe I was wrong. When finally I hit 130th Street (Warren County Road 1300E), and nothing but cornfield stretched into the distance all around — most notably to the northwest where Blackthorn Hill should lie — my idiocy was confirmed.

I paused at the intersection, standing beside my Schwinn World in the blazing sun, and texted Barb.

"Pretty sure the turn for Angling Road is at Hope Cemetery. I'm at 130th Street. Do I need to go back?"

Four minutes and no reply. I knew the answer already. I returned to Hope Cemetery. Stopping to check for confirmation from Barb on my directions, I indeed received the text I was hoping for. North I rode.

Soon I was there. I locked my bike to a sign, swigged some water and wandered around the entrance area, checking out the water spigot and the welcome/sign-in kiosk. Then I hit the trail. It felt a little like being back at Fellheimer Scout Reservation, the former Prairie Council BSA camp near Gilson now the Seventh Day Adventists's Camp Akita. 

The entrance is near a residence and an unimproved road leads to a clearing with a picnic shelter and cinder-block bathrooms and eventually the trailhead. The shelter is nicely outfitted with wooden chairs and table/benches that were built by Samuel C. Johnson, Troop 4242, Abingdon, for his 2012 Eagle Scout project. Given that it was an Eagle project, Sam undoubtedly didn't perform all the labor himself. It's a nice, useful project.

If memory serves, Blackthorn Hill is the brainchild of Opal Murray, who now serves on the board of Western Illinois Nature Group, the outfit that oversees the preserve. My recollection is that Opal led the charge to find an alternative camping spot for local Girl Scouts when the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council closed whatever official camp was nearby. Thus Blackthorn was born. And WING came about as a means of stewardship for the property. At least that's how I think it happened.

I had no idea how it's developed over the years. There are bunkhouses and the aforementioned cinder-block outhouse. Rain barrels are located at the bunkhouses and the picnic shelter, which is pretty clever. 

Anyway, I wandered the trails and admired nature. I was treated to a brief glimpse of a pair of turkeys as I rounded a bend and looked down the trail, and when I finally found a stream with water in it I was awed to see two turkey vultures fly over it from opposite directions.

Then I got lost. Not terribly and not for long, and I wasn't exactly alarmed. But I did manage to freak myself out for a short time when I started hearing twig-snaps and leaf-rustles that seemed disconnected from any obvious animals. My mind wandered to Stephen King and "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon." Good God, what unseen, otherworldly demon is stalking me?

I headed uphill from the stream until I found a faint trail that was soon confirmed by the appearance of a green-and-yellow-topped 2-by-4 stud pounded into the ground. After 90 minutes of meandering I decided it was time to head home. Daughter Amanda, a junior at Monmouth College, had a tennis meet at 4 against rival Knox College and I wasn't really sure how long the ride home would take — especially since I did a few extra miles on the outbound trip.

I did find a race or car show T-shirt along the road on the return trip, but after a couple minutes of picking burrs off it I saw there were some holes in the front that would render it unwearable. I left it in the grass and gravel and continued home. After a cold sweet tea and a couple of cookies at McDonald's I continued to Knox to catch some tennis. Wrapped it all up with a few hours in the company of my youngest daughter, who did her match homework while I battled the laptop and then practiced her saxophone for a few minutes before it was time for her to go home.

All in all, a pretty good day.

Today’s Stats (Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013)
Temp: Hot (high of 94, but there was a nice breeze)
Distance: 30 miles

iPod Playlist (Shuffle - Listened only on the ride to Blackthorn Hill)
The Stranger – Billy Joel
Shoot To Thrill – AC/DC
Long Day – Matchbox Twenty
Rest Stop – Matchbox Twenty
When I Get Home – The Beatles
When You Got A Good Thing – Lady Antebellum
Out Here In The Middle – James McMurtry
Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
I’m Goin’ Down – Bruce Springsteen
I Will – Matchbox Twenty
Into The Fire – Bruce Springsteen
Tom Jimmy – Van Halen
Split Screen Sadness – John Mayer
Migra – Santana
Live Happy – C+C Music Factory
Ungodly Hour – The Fray
Running To Stand Still – U2
Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon

How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox Twenty
The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
Passenger Seat – Death Cab For Cutie
Wind Snacks (chatter) – Ryan Adams
Facts of Life – Billy Squier
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
Werewolves Of London (live) – Warren Zevon
The Man Who Couldn’t Cry – Louden Wainwright III
Speak To Me – Pink Floyd
Love Bites – Def Leppard
You’re The Inspiration – Chicago
Clocks – Coldplay
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Piano Man – Billy Joel
I Wanna Be A Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry
Rock The Boat – Hues Corporation (Must see! Check out the groovy outfits and smooth dancing.)
Sleeping At The Wheel – Matchbox Twenty
All Your Reasons – Matchbox Twenty
Runnin’ With the Devil – Van Halen
Tender Is The Night – Jackson Browne
There Goes The Fear – Doves
The Night Is Still Young – Billy Joel
Searching For A Heart (live) – Warren Zevon

From Monday's Run
Today's Stats (Monday, Sept. 9, 2013)
Temp: 72-78 degrees F
Distance: 3.91 miles
Weekly Total: 3.91 miles
Treasure: 1 penny; 1 white wash cloth; 1 GM hubcap (Oldsmobile); 13 cans.

iPod Playlist (Shuffle):
Seven Bridges Road – The Eagles
Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
Cinema – Yes
Superman – Five For Fighting
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) – Stevie Wonder
Girls On Film – Duran Duran
Roland Chorale (live) – Warren Zevon
Downbound Train – Bruce Springsteen
The Long And Winding Road – The Beatles
Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
Little Wing – Sting
Rhinestone Cowboy –Glen Campbell
Two Steps Behind (Acoustic Version) – Def Leppard