Local bridges

OK, today's a drive report, 6 deg F and snowing so it's off to the parks

Matthiessen State Park
10- 27- 18



1 - 26 - 19



A Bison at Buffalo Rock, oh the irony

The 3 days I worked this week were below 0 , way below, I took Monday off for snow removal and Friday because it was a nice day
Saturday we almost hit 40 F it's warmer than that on Super bowl Sunday so we just went Eagle watching .
The ice is flowing good in the rivers so far.







Illinois River Ottawa IL


Fox River near home
Friday


Sunday

Beautiful Jack. I don't miss the winter weather though. I started shivering just looking at some of those pictures. Staying home inside doing a puzzle and not having to go anywhere are my best memories of winters up there, LOL. Still, very beautiful after it snows. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Joe, I still dig the 4 seasons but Spring is my least favorite because of all the mud.
We had a 100 deg temperature swing in 5 days if you include the wind chill factor and we do.
It's 50 F out now all the snow has melted and the rivers are up!

bluej58 wrote: Thanks Joe, I still dig the 4 seasons but Spring is my least favorite because of all the mud.
We had a 100 deg temperature swing in 5 days if you include the wind chill factor and we do.
It's 50 F out now all the snow has melted and the rivers are up!

Wednesday was brutal! We went for a hike across a frozen pond to test out some gear. That -50F wind felt every bit as powerful as advertised. The gear worked out fine but my cheeks and nose were really stinging from the wind after about 20 minutes. With some face gear, we would have been fine. I really thought we would last longer, but that was it.

Those are some amazing photos of Mathiessen! We love that place along with Starved Rock. I've never been to Buffalo Rock... it's on the list.

Thanks for posting those... my buddy at work recognized it right away...will show the wife.

I carry a neoprene face mask but with the fuzz on my face I haven't needed it lately, the Mrs uses something she calls a cowl, plus when it is super cold we go to Mathiessen because it is out of the wind.
Freezing rain expected tonight and I'm working 87 miles from home, should be fun tomorrow :whistle:

Hey Lou I don't know if you were ever at Duffy's in Utica but they are closing their doors after St Pat's , it's going to be a sports bar now
Last chance to get a Irish Sweepstakes Burger


The later shots were from Staved Rock , St. Louis canyon.

More shots of St Louis canyon

My buddy used to go to Duffy's on occasion. I've driven past it a few times, but I never made it in.. That was one area I thought wouldn't really change much due to tourism, but even there...

We rely heavily on tourism a round here and that's OK, most folks just come out for the weekend and we stay away from the parks , it's a big boost for the economy.

Mix's trading post in Utica is now a trendy biker bar and not to be out done Stonehead Leather across the street is putting up a huge biker bar too , maybe I should start drinking again :laugh:

Our former Gov. Bruce Rauner spear headed the buying of an additional 2600 acres that use to be a concrete gravel pit and is now going to be part of the park system between SR and Mathiessen, more camping space, trails and fishing lakes, I'm actually excited to see what happens.

I hope our town of Marseilles can figure out how to jump on the band wagon, we could use a boost

It's sad that our peace and quiet is slipping away but peace and quiet wasn't paying the bills....

I guess I worded that vaguely. I thought the tourism would keep it the same. Its the reason why people go there.

Happy new year!
Last weekend , Lock 17 on the Hennepin Canal

Some bridges from my archive...

Winter



Spring



Summer



Autumn

Great shots Nazar!
Our landscapes look very similar, same with the seasons

Smokey Mountains 2015