May Prairie State Natural Area, a woods walk wedged between fields, airport, and automobile scrapyard, provides shady respite from the highway and strip malls.
2.
The Little Duck River Greenway bustled with walkers, children, and folks just out to enjoy the beautiful weather. A beautiful stroll along the "river," which to me seems more like a wide creek, teemed with Stream Bluets, both emerging and mating, so many that every shore plant hosted them, along with Fragile Forktails and one Ebony Jewelwing.
3.
A Shell station coupled with an Indian restaurant. Who knew?
4.
Turn left on the first road after the entrance to Old Stone Fort, the walker at the Greenway told me. "Go to the end. There's an old golf course, not used any more, and you can walk down to the river." I did, and found a ranger's house, a river (Little Duck?), and beautiful fields covered with grasses and thistle.
5.
At Old Fort State Park's boat launch, where I've not been before, a family from Kansas City fished. They had spent the night and will spend this one in the park before heading on to the world of Disney in Orlando tomorrow. "What are you photographing?" she asked. When I answered, she said, "Oh! On our hike this morning, we saw these wonderful black dragonflies!" "Yes," I said, "Ebony Jewelwing damselflies. See?" And she smiled.
6.
Sometimes an "off-island" wander without certain destination offers unexpected pleasures.
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