This series of pictures focuses on the connection between leisure travel and the ocean in New England.
in Newport RI
Category Archives: Travel
To the Sea
in Newport RI
Filed under Photography, sea, Travel
The Green Mountains
A favorite escape from the heat during the blazing summers.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
Wrapping up a Quest
I have been on a mission to visit every state park site in Missouri. This weekend I wrapped up the quest with my final two locations: Dillard Mill and Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead state historic sites. These are both lovely locations worth a visit.
Filed under American History, Photography, Travel
The Ice of Starved Rock
The CCC lodge and trails along with the eroded ruggedness of the landscape make Starved Rock State Park one of the best public lands in the USA.
When temperature drops below freezing for winter, time stops.
The lodge and cabins provide a rustic atmosphere oozing with history, nature, and peace.
Filed under Photography, Travel
Deep History in Illinois
Illinois was first colonized by the French on the Mississippi River. The Kaskaskia area contains the secrets of that time period.
Fort de Chartres provided a staging area for the French communities in the area: Prairie du Rocher and even Ste Genevieve in Missouri.
Fort Kaskaskia down the river didn’t fare as well.
The only way to get to the old city of Kaskaskia Illinois is to cross the Mississippi River and drive through Missouri. This is the only section of Illinois west of the Mississippi River.
Kaskaskia was the most populous city when Illinois became a state, and it served as the capital for a few years.
Ste. Genevieve, MO is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Missouri. Kaskaskia and Ste Genevieve are in the same area.
In 1881 a major flood wrecked the area and the Mississippi River took over the Kaskaskia river channel. This is how this section of Illinois ended up on the “wrong” side of the river. In the map, the Mississippi is in the background. But in 1881 the mighty Mississippi took over the river in the foreground.
Filed under National Parks, Photography, Travel
Coddiwompling in Illinois
Since the Covid shut down all my vacations in 2020 I have been heading out on short trips to see parks, small towns, geological formations, and wildlife. On Halloween, I visited some of the most rural areas in the Midwest – central western Illinois. You can’t find any coffee shops, there aren’t any museums, there are barely any people. The land is glaciated and generally flat. There is lots of corn. And of course, colorful trees.
After the Mexican war and Blackhawk war soldiers were given land in Illinois. One gentleman, George Meyer, was given a beautiful piece of property in western Illinois near the Illinois River. This land had a spring and a small town grew up around it. The man lived to be 104 years old, so everyone believed the water was healing. After George passed on, a real estate man got his hands on it and sold the water for decades. Later this area became Siloam Springs State Park. This history is hidden among the picnic pavilions and hiking trails.
We left Siloam Springs for the biggest town in the region – Jacksonville: the county seat of Morgan county. When we arrived, it too was a ghost town.
Or…
I don’t know if the coffee shop was really closed today or everyday. I don’t know how it could survive with no people. I walked into the bakery to see if I could find a doughnut. The door was open but nobody was inside. I could see cakes and cupcakes – but no doughnuts. And no people.
We wandered to another remote state park – Beaver Dam State Park. We heard there was people there.
So we headed home.
Filed under American History, Art, Photography, Travel
A Glimpse of Autumn
We drove across Illinois on one of the United State’s oldest highways – US 50. Enjoy a snapshot of fall in the Midwest.
Filed under Art, National Parks, Photography, Travel, wildlife
The Ghost of GnomePa on the Lincoln Trail
In 2016, Grandma died.
In 2017, Grandpa took off with me to visit all the state parks in Illinois. We left on our first trip two days after Christmas in the winter of that year. The temperature was -2 F. When we reached Starved Rock State Park, he pulled out his CAT orange stocking hat and immediately transformed into Gnomepa. We only made it on two trips. In the fall of 2018, Gnomepa succumbed to illness. His last words to me: “I wish we were at the Ice.”
The mission continues…
August 2020, during this journey my cousin and I visit parks #21-24 out of 72. Fox Ridge, Eagle Creek, Wolf Creek, and Ramsey Lake State Park. Plus we added on State Historic Sites: Lincoln Cabin, Monroe House, and Vandalia First State Capitol.
GnomePa in the Ice
Careful Communion in the Time of Covid
On the Lincoln Trail in Charleston Illinois
Illinois treats Lincoln Well
Like Living in the 1850’s
GnomePa would have said “This is Cool!”
Eastern Illinois Pioneers
A working farm
White Oaks of Some Sort
Grandpa loved the woods
And trails to the river
And Sandbars
August was kind to us
living creatures of all kinds
The Monarch still rules
Ramsey Lake
Filed under American History, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
Becoming a Voyageur
I ran into an off duty park ranger at the historic Kettle Falls Lodge in Voyageurs National Park. After we exchanged pleasantries, discovering we were both from a St Louis county in two different states, and joking about the St Louis Arch becoming a National Park, he asked, “Why did you come to up here? Let me guess – you have a list?” He continued to complain to me that the people of the lists just stop at the visitor centers and get “passport” stamps and never really see Voyageurs. He shook his head slowly.
Of course I have a list. This is my 50th National Park out of the current number of 62. My group had rented a boat and were seeing the park. I don’t think the ranger noticed. He may have just wanted to preach a bit. He finally sped away in his speedboat equipped with dual 150HP motors leaving us to slowly explore the park in our 50 HP powered, dinted pontoon boat. 
Pre-Cambrian rocks 2.8 Billion years old
Sunset in northern Minnesota. 48.6 degrees north latitude.
Time to “wake” up
Bracket Fungi
The Precambrian spine of North America
Voyageurs from St Louis MO to St Louis MN
Kettle Falls Beauty
Voyageurs met at this portage site for hundreds of years
Gulls stand like sentinels – no wake please
Filed under Art, National Parks, Photography, Travel
For the Love of Kansas
I am from Missouri, and I had no idea how much there is to appreciate about my neighbor state Kansas. With the Covid-19 running rampant my wife and I explored central Kansas. And it was lovely.
The Capitol Shines
The Keeper of the Plains
The Solstice Eye – Meet Me On The Equinox
Just A Simple Old Cow Town – Wichita
Filed under American History, Art, Photography, Travel
Freshly "Pic'ed" 