Peck Farm at Mill Creek

I'm way late with this post. I actually walked well over a week ago, but just never made the time to post this. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to spend the rest of the day enjoying the outdoors, rather than sitting in front of this screen. This was by far the best walk I have had since I started walking the forest preserves, there were no mosquitos, the weather was cool, breezy and comfortable and there were just enough people on the trail. I always feel better when there are people around and so I suppose that will also play a part in whether I like the walk and trail. I have been on some trails when there hasn't been anybody for long distances, like 2-3 miles and its felt eerie. It is like 2.4 miles around the Peck Farm park, which is across from the Mill Creek Forest Preserve. There is a trail across the street that I have biked on, but the last time I did, the path came to a stop and continued onto the highway, which is never a good idea, unless of course your wearing one of those colorful biking sleeveless tanks and have calves and buns of steel, which is not me these days. Its strange, but as I now write about how I feel about biking and look back on what I have typed, I realize just how much I have changed. I remember never caring about whether I was riding in the street and now it is something I admit I avoid. I once rode a bike uphill, on a one way street at night, holding a "to go" container of tongue tacos while being chased by a dog. I remember seeing the cars headlights coming toward me and knowing I needed to out-pedal this dog. I was able to kick at the pooch, pedal, and keep myself from being hit by a car. I was in great shape physically and have always felt sort of athletic, but I never considered I was out for exercise, I rode my bike out of necessity, not owning a car until I was married, so until around 24, and then when I did get married, biking seemed to morph into exercise. I put a child seat on the back and we were gone for hours on my bike from the time he was about a year old. We would usually go from Aurora, Illinois Avenue up the Fox River trail to St. Charles (sometimes even as far as South Elgin), and then we would circle around, stop at Wheeler Park to play at the playground and then head back home. I'd know when he'd fallen asleep back there when his little head and the weight of his helmet would nearly throw me off balance and off the trail as he slumped to one side. I suppose I was throwing caution to the wind back then. Makes me wonder if there is a negative correlation between bravado and consciousness, assuming I'm evolving:)

Peck Farm at Mill Creek: Fabyan and Wenmoth Roads
Walking and Biking Trails
Time: 45 minutes

Johnson's Mound

This morning I went to Johnson's Mound, where my blog idea started. I wanted to get more pics today so that I could post my walk. There is a sign there that explains that Johnson's Mound is a "Kame", a geographical feature that is a big hill. So this hill has lots of trees on it, very woodsy and is in the middle of farmland. One side of the hill is a sledding hill in winter, long and not too steep that looks like it could be fun. The main trail, that can also be driven, is almost a mile (.8) long and is basically a big circle up and down the hill but winds a little here and there. My first time there, I went around three times, but this morning I only made it once, because I was fighting mosquitos all the way. I walked really fast, but when I started to climb in the steepest part of the trail my speed slowed as I ascended and the mosquitos were crazy and unrelenting. I realize they play a part in the eco balance, but that's one bug, I'd like to try living without! It was a foggy rainy morning so the trail was wet and felt a little slippery sometimes when descending, but I was wearing the good shoes (patting myself on the back) today. I do think this is a great place to get a good workout and I will continue to visit, but maybe at a different time of day or year and when it is dry outside, probably the perfect place and beautiful in the fall.

Johnson's Mound: 41W600 Hughes Rd, Elburn
Walking, Sledding
Time: 15 minutes
Speed: mosquito fast


This is the sledding hill, its really long.


Now we all know what a "kame" is.


Blurry cause I wasn't stopping.

Hannaford Woods

I walked with a friend in Hannaford Woods. We started our walk on the trail across the street from the forest preserve parking lot that connects to the Hannaford Farm subdivision of fancy houses, a big barn and lake that are all very pretty. We walked past the barn and lake and up through the neigborhood and then back down to the trail near the parking lot. It has never been a good workout for me when I walk with a friend, but I think its always more fun to have someone to talk to about the nature I'm seeing and in the case of this particular walk, feeling. I stopped for a couple of seconds to get a wee stone out of my croc and was swarmed on by mosquitos. The mosquitos were only bad in the two short wooded areas that took about 2-4 minutes to walk through and then this trail connects to the Virgil Gilman trail and goes west to Waubonsee College or east toward Aurora. I suppose if a workout was intended, I'd have worn my reeboks and then would not have had to stop, something I will consider if I really want to maximize the health benefits of my plan. The oak trees in this forest are really big and towering and I remember remarking that we were like elves next to them. I'll list the name and amenities of the trail and I thought I would be able to give mileage but I am not finding this information on the brochure provided by the county, so I will tell you how long my walks take me instead, and then I will describe my pace as either, a snail's pace, mosquito fast, or really fast. A very pretty walk on a beautiful morning!

Hannaford Woods: Merrill Road, Sugar Grove
Biking, Hiking, Geocaching
Time: 1 hour
Speed: mosquito fast

Forest Preserve Plan

I've been feeling like I need to get moving, literally, so I've decided to try blogging as a way of accomplishing this desire to move. I've always enjoyed exercise, walking, running, biking, aerobics classes and weightlifting. So in February I joined a gym and started a Zumba and turbo kick class and while I do like the two classes, its getting harder to go; with summer weather here, I prefer to be outdoors. There is a forest preserve within walking distance, that I go to regularly, but I decided I needed a change of scenery, so I went to a place a bit further down the road and it was during this walk that the blogging idea just popped into my head. When I'd finished walking, I picked up a brochure that they had at the kiosk type structure. It listed all the forest preserves in the county and I decided it might be fun to blog about my walking or biking experiences in each of the preserves listed. I thought, as long as I stay committed to my blog, it will keep me moving and help me take off the weight that I've gained since starting a new career and job two years ago. Although I haven't planned the exact format, I expect my blog will include random thoughts along with pictures of each of the forest preserves I visit, some quick stats like trail distances and terrain, and then my experience either walking or biking the forest preserve area. I am really optimistic about my plan and looking forward to visiting as many trails as I can. I think it will be interesting and fun for me to look back on my summer through my blog and maybe it will be useful to somebody looking for place to walk, run or bike in Kane County.