Singing Hills FP to Lakewood FP and back.

The gates to the Singing Hills FP are supposed to open at 6:30am, but were still closed when I arrived at 7:45am to begin my southerly walk on the Millennium Trail in Lake county .

There was nothing for to but to drive to the end of today’s section at Lakewood FP – Fairfield Road is under major reconstruction – and start from there and walk north to Singing Hills FP.

The trail starts out through the Fairfield Road Underpass and heads north across open restored prairie . It was another great fall day to walk with the welcome companion of my shadow to keep me company in the bright sunshine .

At Bonner Road some old Burr Oaks make an appearance and the trail begins to meander through the outskirts of Wauconda . Each of the subdivisions has its own water retention pond – I think that the developers are now required to provide these for water remediation – and they make for pleasant wetlands .

Between Gilmer Road and Goessel Road there are a series of natural looking wetlands and I was fortunate enough to see a pair of Great Blue Herons in one of the patches of open water.

I was at Singing Hills FP in time for a leisurely lunch and relieved to find that the gate had finally been unlocked. It was such a pleasant spot that I took off my boots and socks and stretched out on the grass near the picnic table to enjoy a short post-lunch snooze with my hat over my eyes to keep the warm sun off.

An enjoyable walk back in a golden autumnal afternoon, passing an equestrian also enjoying the unexpected warm spell . The milkweed pods have burst open with the flossed seeds riding the afternoon breeze to new prairie homes .

Thought for Today:

“Life is but a Walking Shadow”

- Sun Dial at Salisbury Cathedral -