The sox continue to fail. The typical failure is like these where the area near the big toe fails. Possibly due to toe nail rubbing against it.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Fox River Liner Sox Update
Update to
The sox continue to fail. The typical failure is like these where the area near the big toe fails. Possibly due to toe nail rubbing against it.
Several socks have also exhibited long runs starting at the big toe area and going toward the heel. So far all that have done this have also had toe area damage first.
I am pretty much convinced all socks like this will eventually fail at the big toe. I just toss them out when they get too far gone.
The sox continue to fail. The typical failure is like these where the area near the big toe fails. Possibly due to toe nail rubbing against it.
Morraine Hills State Park 4-28-12
Fran and I happened to be in the area so we went through the park. The park is bisected by River Road. The McHenry Dam part is in the part SW of River Road. We went in there first. There are 10+ miles of trails according to the park brochure I picked up. The park brochure we picked up at the entrance is a bit old. It still lists Jim Edgar as governor. He left office in 1999. I have had in mind taking Wilma there for a nice hike some day. It is a well developed park that probably gets a lot of use in better weather. Lots of picnic and playground areas. The trails appear to be a mixture of asphalt, gravel and crushed stone. It is a little more developed than I like, so I am somewhat less inclined to go hiking there then I once was. It is a long drive to walk on a run of the mill bike path. But, you never know.
The sense I got of the park was from driving around the park road, and much of the NW side of the park is not accessible by road, so that part of the park may be more to my liking.
Incidentally, there is a paved bike path that goes along River Road from the park entrance up to Bull Valley Road (Miller Road). It does not appear on the park brochure map or the one I downloaded from the DNR web site [map from web site].
One oddity I noticed. Alcohol is banned from March 1 - May 27. No idea why it is considered especially dangerous to allow alcohol during this time of the year.
ETA 4-30-12: I was curious enough about the part time alcohol ban that I emailed the DNR about it. The reply I got back was this.
[added 5-8-12]
I scanned and extracted this trail map from the brochure I got at the park entrance. It is a little better than the one on the ILDNR web site, despite being from 1998. I was told by a park employee in an email that there is a grass trail not shown on the map.
The sense I got of the park was from driving around the park road, and much of the NW side of the park is not accessible by road, so that part of the park may be more to my liking.
Incidentally, there is a paved bike path that goes along River Road from the park entrance up to Bull Valley Road (Miller Road). It does not appear on the park brochure map or the one I downloaded from the DNR web site [map from web site].
One oddity I noticed. Alcohol is banned from March 1 - May 27. No idea why it is considered especially dangerous to allow alcohol during this time of the year.
ETA 4-30-12: I was curious enough about the part time alcohol ban that I emailed the DNR about it. The reply I got back was this.
The short answer - Partying Teenagers at the end of the school year.That was not on my list of potential reasons.
It is a detour off the Leatherleaf Bog Trail. There's a sign at both ends.
McHenry County Conservation District Unnamed Site 4-28-12
We ran across this cornfield when we were going to McHenry to visit a friend in the hospital. It appears to be a cornfield. Not sure what the MCCD means by the sign. A view of a small cornfield? Maybe there are plans in the works for something else. IIRC, it is located on route 120 just west of McHenry.
More random stuff
4-17-12 The first "l" in Logli's sign is half lit again.
They put out the stands for their spring flowers.
4-19-12 Logli plants have arrived.
4-20-12 Looks like someone lost the back of their cell phone. I came upon it while walking Wilma. I set it up on a nearby mailbox paper niche so it would not get run over.
Turkeys in and around Rock Cut State Park
4-25-12
Near from the park. The park is down the road in the background.
4-28-12
Turkey seen inside the park.
I noticed several new wood bike racks in the park today. I wonder if the park staff made them or some volunteer did. Don't see any sign on them attributing them to volunteer(s), but I was not real close.
On Harlem Road along the park.
Continuing road construction
4-25-12 Some video.
4-27-12 I noticed this directive spray painted in the gravel where a sidewalk section will one day be. There are dozens of sections not poured yet, but this is the only segment I noticed that has not been poured that is marked that way.
The crews have gone around to the storm drains and added sand bags. I guess to keep debris out of the storm sewers. The filter cloth under the grate itself is still there as well.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Diet Shasta Grape Soda
Diet Shasta Cola
Diet Shasta Ginger Ale
Vernor's Diet Ginger Soda
The first thing I noticed about this product was that the label does not call it "ginger ale" but "ginger soda". I don't know what the difference is, but taste wise it is pretty good. It seems to have a little more gas to it then most ginger ales I have tried. But nothing offensive. Just different.
I would call it an "A" taste wise.
However, it is more than double the cost of other diet ginger ales so I probably won't buy it very often just for that reason.
It is a Dr. Pepper product. It does have aspartame in it if that bothers you. But it is hard to get past that these days.
I would call it an "A" taste wise.
However, it is more than double the cost of other diet ginger ales so I probably won't buy it very often just for that reason.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park 4-22-12
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park is located north of Lena, IL, north and west of Freeport, IL. There is a nice creek fed lake there and a bunch of hiking trails. I have never been there before. As far as I know, neither has Wilma. It is still cool enough for Wilma to get some hiking in so I figured we would head out there.
It is 53 miles one way from my garage to the park office. It was pretty easy to find. I just headed out west on route 20 and went north on IL 73 at Lena. There is a sign there, and several more signs along the way to the park, so it would be hard to get lost.
We parked by the park office and went in and got a park trail map. They have a more detailed version of the trail map than what is posted on the ILDNR web site. The trail map we picked up at the park office is quite detailed and matches the trail path markers in every case I noticed. There are also trail maps out on the trails, usually at trail intersections.
ETA 4-29-12: I picked up a park brochure at the office too. I just noticed that the brochure listed George Ryan as governor, with the name blacked out with a black marker. He has been in jail for several years now and has not been governor since 2003. I guess I can't blame them for blacking out his name on the brochure. He certainly blackened the name of the state. His successor is also currently in a federal penn as well. He was maybe even worse.
[scan of trail map added 4-23-12]
This is the trail map I downloaded from the web site.
This is the GPS trek, 6.4 miles according to Base Camp. We basically just walked the perimeter of the park.
We did not catch the whole length of every trail, but we did hike on all of them. They all seemed to be horse trails. We saw lots of horses while we were walking - maybe as many as 30 or 40. It was a nice day and maybe it was the first chance the horse people have had to get out and ride. We also saw a few hikers, I think six in total, and two mushroom hunters.
The trail surfaces are a mixture of grass, dirt, gravel, and crushed stone. They are in good shape and well maintained. There was only one short section of grass trail that was muddy and wet that we encountered. I noticed a number of benches along the trails. I noticed a couple downed trees across one trail. And those might have been there on purpose as they were on a fairly steep trail section. Maybe erosion control.
ETA: 4-26-12 I emailed the park super and he replied the trees were there to discourage horse riders from using that trail. Did not work too well.
I was only in one of the pit toilets. It seemed about as clean as such things get. I noticed there was water in various places, but I did not check to see if they were turned on yet. The park seems in good shape other than the park road which could use some work. Probably a casuality of the state's financial mess. I noticed a sign by the entrance asking for campground hosts and another for a concessionaire.
We drove around the lake on the park road. The lake is down in a valley and the road is several hundred feet above it most of the way. A nice view.
This is typical of the trail maps posted out on the trails. Easy to read and up to date as best I noticed.
There are bat houses along the park road on the south side of the lake.
It is 53 miles one way from my garage to the park office. It was pretty easy to find. I just headed out west on route 20 and went north on IL 73 at Lena. There is a sign there, and several more signs along the way to the park, so it would be hard to get lost.
We parked by the park office and went in and got a park trail map. They have a more detailed version of the trail map than what is posted on the ILDNR web site. The trail map we picked up at the park office is quite detailed and matches the trail path markers in every case I noticed. There are also trail maps out on the trails, usually at trail intersections.
ETA 4-29-12: I picked up a park brochure at the office too. I just noticed that the brochure listed George Ryan as governor, with the name blacked out with a black marker. He has been in jail for several years now and has not been governor since 2003. I guess I can't blame them for blacking out his name on the brochure. He certainly blackened the name of the state. His successor is also currently in a federal penn as well. He was maybe even worse.
[scan of trail map added 4-23-12]
This is the trail map I downloaded from the web site.
The trail surfaces are a mixture of grass, dirt, gravel, and crushed stone. They are in good shape and well maintained. There was only one short section of grass trail that was muddy and wet that we encountered. I noticed a number of benches along the trails. I noticed a couple downed trees across one trail. And those might have been there on purpose as they were on a fairly steep trail section. Maybe erosion control.
ETA: 4-26-12 I emailed the park super and he replied the trees were there to discourage horse riders from using that trail. Did not work too well.
I was only in one of the pit toilets. It seemed about as clean as such things get. I noticed there was water in various places, but I did not check to see if they were turned on yet. The park seems in good shape other than the park road which could use some work. Probably a casuality of the state's financial mess. I noticed a sign by the entrance asking for campground hosts and another for a concessionaire.
We drove around the lake on the park road. The lake is down in a valley and the road is several hundred feet above it most of the way. A nice view.
This is typical of the trail maps posted out on the trails. Easy to read and up to date as best I noticed.
Plenty of photo ops. The scenery is pretty impressive, especially along the creek. Several caves and undercut ledges.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sumner Park, Pecatonica Prairie Path, Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve 04-21-12
Wilma and I have been here before. Last time we went to the east side of the FP that is south of the river abutting the Pecatonica Praire Path (PPP). This time we went to the west side. This part of the FP is only accessible on foot via the PPP. It is a mile and a quarter to get from the closest parking (Pecatonica's Sumner Park) to the east entrance and about half a mile farther to get to the west entrance. So it does not get a lot of traffic, despite the very nice trails on both sides. I don't recall seeing a single piece of litter on either side. In fact, the only piece of litter I recall on the PPP, was one someone deliberately placed there to mark a large hole in the surface.
The trail system on the west side is longer than on the east side and is more open. It appears to me the west side was largely once a pasture, so there are fewer trees, although along the creek there are a lot of trees, but there are large open grassy areas as well.
No easy way to get across the creek here either, although there are a couple of places where you might be able to make it, but I did not try. But, it might be fun to come back later in the summer when the water is even lower and go across the creek and explore the island that is cut off by the river and the creek. I bet even fewer people have done that. Or maybe come back in the winter when the creek is frozen over.
Plenty of creek access for Wilma. She had a great time playing in the water and the mud. We even saw and got video of three deer running along the main trail, and saw a great blue heron, but was not able to get his picture.
The trail map accurately depicts the trails, at least on the side of the creek we were able to get to. There are trail markers, but the trail is a mowed grass path so they really don't add a whole lot.
Base Camp said it was 6.5 miles. About 3.5 miles of that is just walking to the entrance from Sumner Park and back where we parked.
There is a big hole in the surface of the PPP that someone has kindly marked with this coffee cup to warn horseback riders. It is perhaps a quarter of a mile west of the fairgrounds.
The entrance to this part of the preserve had a chain across it but it was easy to duck under it.
A well fed coyote must have been using the trail as well.
The three deer are at 8:38 in the video.
The trail system on the west side is longer than on the east side and is more open. It appears to me the west side was largely once a pasture, so there are fewer trees, although along the creek there are a lot of trees, but there are large open grassy areas as well.
No easy way to get across the creek here either, although there are a couple of places where you might be able to make it, but I did not try. But, it might be fun to come back later in the summer when the water is even lower and go across the creek and explore the island that is cut off by the river and the creek. I bet even fewer people have done that. Or maybe come back in the winter when the creek is frozen over.
Plenty of creek access for Wilma. She had a great time playing in the water and the mud. We even saw and got video of three deer running along the main trail, and saw a great blue heron, but was not able to get his picture.
The trail map accurately depicts the trails, at least on the side of the creek we were able to get to. There are trail markers, but the trail is a mowed grass path so they really don't add a whole lot.
There is a big hole in the surface of the PPP that someone has kindly marked with this coffee cup to warn horseback riders. It is perhaps a quarter of a mile west of the fairgrounds.
The entrance to this part of the preserve had a chain across it but it was easy to duck under it.
A well fed coyote must have been using the trail as well.
The three deer are at 8:38 in the video.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Swedish Heritage Park
ETA 4-20-12: I sent an email to the Park District asking if the fenced in area was going to be a dog park as it appeared it might be. They replied confirming it will be a dog park projected to open in June of 2012.
Its a new facility of the Rockford Park District located south of Harlem Road across from the Harlem Road entrance to Rock Cut State Park. I have been wondering what it was going to be and recently the sign out by the entrance appeared.
It does not appear to be actually open yet. A fair amount of work yet to be done.
Fran and Wilma and I went thru it earlier today, just to take a look.
Its a new facility of the Rockford Park District located south of Harlem Road across from the Harlem Road entrance to Rock Cut State Park. I have been wondering what it was going to be and recently the sign out by the entrance appeared.
It does not appear to be actually open yet. A fair amount of work yet to be done.
Fran and Wilma and I went thru it earlier today, just to take a look.
2012_04_14 ESPENSCHEID AND BLACKHAWK SPRINGS FOREST PRESERVES
Wilma and I have been to Espensheid 10-17-10 and Blackhawk Springs 9-18-10 Forest preserves before. But, they are nice hikes so we came back.
Espensheid is on the smallish side, but the terrain is fairly rugged so the hiking is a little more work than you might expect from a smallish park. It is virtually all hardwood forest. Some is low land along the river so is kind of damp, more of it is higher ground and is a more traditional and dryer forest. Lots of access to the Kishwaukee River and a creek for the beagle to play in. There are some bike trails in the park that were created by a local bike group but I don't have a map for them. I will see if I can get one from the FPD. The bike trails wind around in circles inside the park so are a lot longer than you might expect from a smallish area. The FPD web site claims the facility is 114.7 acres rather than the 60 acres the trail map claims. It seems bigger than 60 acres to me.
Blackhawk Springs is adjacent to it to the south and west and is flatter but does have some grade to it in places. This park has hardwood forests and some prairie area as well. Good access to the river and also has a natural spring. There is a creek as well, but most of it seems to be dry or more mud then creek when we have been here.
You can see the nature of the bike trails inside Espensheid here. It is easy to get turned around, especially if you do not know where they start and end. I found them by accident and got off by bushwhacking from the bike trail to the hiking trail.
Fairly typical of the trails inside Espensheid. The bike trails we took on the way back were about the same but a lot narrower.
Caterpiller we ran across on the trail just inside Black Hawk Springs. Wilma showed no interest.
An old sleeping bag just off the trail at Blackhawk Springs.
Blackhawk Springs - cool looking fungus.
Saw this on our way back inside Espensheid. Beavers at work.
Posted at Espensheid. It appears to be the same obsolete map that was there when we visited before. Note that the north arrow points toward Perryville Road on this map, which is actually to the west.
ETA: 4-17-12 I emailed the maint super for Espenscheid and asked what the reference to Cherry Valley FP on the bottom of this map meant, and whether Espenscheid is 60 acres as the maps say or 114.7 as the web site claims. This is what he replied:
Espensheid is on the smallish side, but the terrain is fairly rugged so the hiking is a little more work than you might expect from a smallish park. It is virtually all hardwood forest. Some is low land along the river so is kind of damp, more of it is higher ground and is a more traditional and dryer forest. Lots of access to the Kishwaukee River and a creek for the beagle to play in. There are some bike trails in the park that were created by a local bike group but I don't have a map for them. I will see if I can get one from the FPD. The bike trails wind around in circles inside the park so are a lot longer than you might expect from a smallish area. The FPD web site claims the facility is 114.7 acres rather than the 60 acres the trail map claims. It seems bigger than 60 acres to me.
Blackhawk Springs is adjacent to it to the south and west and is flatter but does have some grade to it in places. This park has hardwood forests and some prairie area as well. Good access to the river and also has a natural spring. There is a creek as well, but most of it seems to be dry or more mud then creek when we have been here.
You can see the nature of the bike trails inside Espensheid here. It is easy to get turned around, especially if you do not know where they start and end. I found them by accident and got off by bushwhacking from the bike trail to the hiking trail.
Fairly typical of the trails inside Espensheid. The bike trails we took on the way back were about the same but a lot narrower.
Caterpiller we ran across on the trail just inside Black Hawk Springs. Wilma showed no interest.
An old sleeping bag just off the trail at Blackhawk Springs.
Blackhawk Springs - cool looking fungus.
Saw this on our way back inside Espensheid. Beavers at work.
Posted at Espensheid. It appears to be the same obsolete map that was there when we visited before. Note that the north arrow points toward Perryville Road on this map, which is actually to the west.
ETA: 4-17-12 I emailed the maint super for Espenscheid and asked what the reference to Cherry Valley FP on the bottom of this map meant, and whether Espenscheid is 60 acres as the maps say or 114.7 as the web site claims. This is what he replied:
When Deer Run was finally established, it absorbed some of the 114 acres that made up Espenscheid, thus the 60 acre reference to Espenscheid now, and Cherry Valley Forest Preserve is what Deer Run was called in the beginning.
Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi
Just so they don't feel left out, I do drink diet Coke and diet Pepsi sometimes as well as other flavors of diet soda. They are sort of my gold standard for diet cola. I sometimes get diet Coke out of the machine at work, but lately I have been buying cans of it at the store and bringing it with me.The 20 ounce bottles are a bit more than I sometimes want to drink at one time and kind of pricey as well.
Random stuff
A couple of my wife's nieces came to visit a few weeks ago. One of them drew this picture on our whiteboard in the kitchen. Picture taken 4-8-12.
4-15-12 (added)
Forecast was for rain most of the day but this is about all that ever happened. Sprinkles now and then.
4-15-12 (added)
Forecast was for rain most of the day but this is about all that ever happened. Sprinkles now and then.
Unboxing - Grace Engineered Products
4-2-12
Now and then at work I get stuff from venders and people who want to become venders. Mostly it is stuff like coffee cups or pens. But this company sends more unusual stuff.
I have several bungee rockets they sent me. And now this.
Peppermint lip balm! Bet you never got that as a marketing gimmick.
Now and then at work I get stuff from venders and people who want to become venders. Mostly it is stuff like coffee cups or pens. But this company sends more unusual stuff.
I have several bungee rockets they sent me. And now this.
Peppermint lip balm! Bet you never got that as a marketing gimmick.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Rover Run Dog Park 4-8-12
Wilma and Fran and I went to Rover Run this morning for an Easter Egg hunt. Wilma and I have not been here since 12-31-11.
There were a number of dogs present.
Max and Mollie - Labs
Addie - Border Collie
Barkley - Beagle
Cooper and Brady - German Shorthairs
As I suspected would happen, Wilma was uninterested in the treats in the Easter eggs and even when I took one out and directly offered one to her she turned it down.
I found a geocache in a hollow in a tree in the dog park. Wilma had a good time, especially playing with a German Shorthair puppy (Brady).
I took a few pictures along with some video.
In case one could not figure out how to use the poop bags, the dispenser has directions.
Wilma playing with Barkley.
Midwest Brew changed their web site name to GOTBEAGLES.ORG and then seems to have all but disappeared locally. They used to have a monthly adoption day at PetSmart in Machesney Park, but an employee told me they have not been there for quite some time. I think he said the last time they were there was on Valentine's Day.
Wilma's trainer at PetSmart was named Doug. I wonder if this is the same guy.
There were a number of dogs present.
Max and Mollie - Labs
Addie - Border Collie
Barkley - Beagle
Cooper and Brady - German Shorthairs
As I suspected would happen, Wilma was uninterested in the treats in the Easter eggs and even when I took one out and directly offered one to her she turned it down.
I found a geocache in a hollow in a tree in the dog park. Wilma had a good time, especially playing with a German Shorthair puppy (Brady).
I took a few pictures along with some video.
In case one could not figure out how to use the poop bags, the dispenser has directions.
Wilma playing with Barkley.
Midwest Brew changed their web site name to GOTBEAGLES.ORG and then seems to have all but disappeared locally. They used to have a monthly adoption day at PetSmart in Machesney Park, but an employee told me they have not been there for quite some time. I think he said the last time they were there was on Valentine's Day.
Wilma's trainer at PetSmart was named Doug. I wonder if this is the same guy.
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