destination: Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. We expect to arrive at our camp on December 1.
Today was beautiful, sunny, cool will little wind. We drove about 160 miles to Tomah Wi. After arriving and setting up camp we headed to Necedah WLR for birding and hiking. There were 2 Whooping Cranes still hanging around there, hope they make the journey south before it gets too cold. This is the first year that they will not be lead back to Florida by a lightweight plane.
Between 2001 – 2015, Operation Migration pilots used ultralight aircraft and played the role of surrogate parents to guide captive-hatched and imprinted Whooping cranes along a planned migration route, which began in Wisconsin and ended in Florida.
In early 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the aircraft-guided method was too “artificial” and that cranes raised by costumed handlers, missed early learning opportunities. As a result, it was speculated that they did not properly nurture or protect their chicks when they had their own offspring. It was suggested that this inattentiveness was the cause of high pre-fledge mortality at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.
Its great to be on the road again. We normally would stay in one camp for at least 2 days but this year our schedule has been considerably shortened. Plus rain in the forecast is going to keep us moving.
Oct 25 first game of world series:
Go Cubbies!!!
todays journey took us about 150 miles to
just north of Rockford, Il. Beautiful park, with a lot of hiking. The showers are old but warm and the water is still on!
Oct 26: it rained all last night and all day today. We have been watching the weather, the forecast was for rain all day, no sense in staying in Northern Illinois so we drove about 170 miles to near Champaign Illinois to a private park. Lots of rain and strong wind for our entire trip! Thunder and Lighting too! But we made it safely to The Tin Cup Campground right off of the freeway about 5 miles from Champaign.
After setting up and taking a break we went for a walk
it was pretty close to our camp. nice paved path with prairie and trees. Dinner in the town of Mahomet at JT's brew pub.
Thurs Oct 27: we left Mahomet around 9 am heading to Dam West Rec Area a COE park. They have over 100 sites, about 30 of them are not reservable, so we did not make reservations, even though we know that Halloween is a huge camping weekend. When we arrived at 1:00 pm they were totally full!!! how could that happen??? The campground had activities last weekend and again this coming weekend. We did find a place about 10 miles from there to settle for 3 nights. This is the first time we have been turned away. I did not make reservations as we were not sure when we would arrive and thought we should be able to get a spot on Thurs or early Fri morning. So much for thinking I know anything... it worked out just fine.
As usual after we got set up we headed out to explore the area. Found a nice trail to hike near the water.
Friday: We took a 50 miles drive west to
Where we got our 547th bird! A Eurasian Tree Sparrow. not an exiting bird but it is only in this area. We got the bird within 5 minutes of getting into the park.. We walked around a bit but was not able to see the entire park as duck hunting was happening and part of the park was closed.
next we headed to:
it was a very nice wetlands and good walk.
As we were driving bak to camp we passed a billboard advertising this restaurant
Foot High Pies!! we already had lunch but had to stop to check it out! Eric got the coconut cream and I the chocolate cream. they were both wonderful..
Went out for dinner at a local place, Keys in Keysport about 5 miles from our camp. They had all you can eat walleye! it was pretty good, so were the onion rings and sweet potato fries.
The weather finally warmed up! Put the flannel jeans in the wash for the year??? I hope so.
Sat Oct 29: well on Tues we woke up to 29 deg temps, today it was 61 with the bedroom window open! We are most definitely going the right direction.
we spent the day at
Illinois has some beautiful, no entrance fees State Parks. This park is also on Carlyle Lake, which is Illinois biggest lake! This campground was full also with Halloween decorations at every camp site. Although we were disappointed in not getting into the COE or State Park on Thurs, we are now happy that we ended at a private park. it has been pretty quiet, except for all of the walnuts falling out of the trees.
Sunday Oct 30: today's journey takes us to our final stop in Illinois. Metropolis, Fort Massac State Park. The trip was about 140 miles and 3 hours. Wonderful park for $20 a night. Big sites, old shower house. Of course the weather this year is phenomenal! 85 today! We went for a hike through the park, Eric found $40 on the trail!! We are here only one night, we spent some time here last year so don't need to be a tourist. Tomorrow we head to Meeman Shelby SP near Memphis.
Happy Halloween! Long drive today, and slow, mostly roads through small towns. It was a beautiful warm day for the long drive. Our campsite is in the woods! We are about 15 miles from Memphis. We stayed here 6 years ago on our first winter away from home.
A/C on for sleeping! who would have thought that would have happened.
Oct bird count: life up one to 547, year up 7 to 287 and the month comes in at 92.
Good, a nice trip.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed in Dam West three years ago. Sorry you couldn't get in. It is a nice COE park.
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