Glencoe, IL–What a treat! Record rainfall covered the Skokie Lagoons dams, making it easy to access all ponds without portaging. I paddled from the Tower Road boat launch down to the Willow Road dam first. Cormorants fished in their usual spot at the far south pond. A great blue heron eyed me from his perch atop a bat box, uncertain about my red boat approaching. Paddling back north, I tried to go against the flow of the main dam at Tower Road. Rather than push it, I went around the eastern ponds where a couple of green herons were fishing. It was an easy glide over the northeast dam and to a small set of ponds there. They closely connect to the western ponds, and I slipped out of the kayak and back in on the western side, closest to the bike trail. Magnificent! This water trail leads right up into the Chicago Botanic Garden, just past Willow Road. There you can slip right next to flowering plants and alone with nature. I spied a huge 1-foot diameter turtle sunning himself on a log on my return trip–the first turtle I’ve seen all summer. At one point a red-tailed hawk etched circles over me. Blue and green herons, terns, hawks, cardinals, sparrows, turtles–dam good.
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 Openlands overdoes the warning signs Highwood, IL–Openlands has gone sign crazy at the Lakeshore Preserve. Reminds me of the 70s song: ”Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blocking out the scenery, breakin’ my mind. Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” There are three “don’t do this” signs posted after the welcome sign–four signs in the first few feet of the entrance, and repeated warning signs about all along the 3/4-mile trail. What happened to the wonderful signs pointing out special plants? Spending money on signs telling kids not to skateboard when the road still has major potholes is a waste of funds. Let’s get back to the scenery!
Lots of fishermen: a baker’s dozen of blue herons doing their goofy, loping head forward walk in the shallows, a family of mallards, a tern diving for a snack. A pair of belted kingfishers played tag before starting their fishing expedition. The cormorants perched high in their leafless tree. A flock of Canada geese plumped and preened, the surface of the water covered with floating feathers. One goose stood alone on a log, his head tucked on his back while he slept. He’d probably be comfortable sleeping on an airplane, too. No turtles were out sunning–perhaps it was too warm for them. After two hours, I finally turned back, lamenting the fact that I hadn’t seen my favorite night heron this year at all, nor a green heron. Miraculously, at that moment a green heron appeared at the water’s edge, biding his time as dragonflies flitting about his head. It was a wonderful show, the heron walking up and down a log, onto rocks, and finally a quick peck in the water for his breakfast snack. Skirtless July day: sweet.
 Floyd's City Barber Shop in Mt. Airy, NC Mount Airy, NC–Remember The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD? Even if you never saw the original TV show, you can see the original Mayberry in real time at Griffith’s hometown. There’s Floyd’s City Barber Shop, where haircuts are still $8. Dine on a pork chop sandwich at Snappy Lunch. Get your jalopy fixed at Wally’s Garage. Shops throughout downtown Mount Airy celebrate the old TV series, especially the shenanigans of Barney Fife and his catchphrase “Nip it in the bud.” (Check out this YouTube mashup for a refresher.) Just one thing: like the TV Mayberry, Sunday is “go to meetin’” day, so nothing, absolutely nothing is open. Guess I’ll have to come back September 23-26 for Mayberry Days–maybe I’ll even see Floyd and get a haircut.  Snappy Lunch  Tulips bloom on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Photo by Laurie Borman Chicago, IL–It’s tulip time on the Magnificent Mile. Hundreds of bulbs have already burst into bloom, and views are free. Beginning May 7, a gorgeous floral carpet of more than 6,000 live tulips and other flowers will climb the stairs from the John Hancock Center Plaza up to North Michigan Ave.. There’s even a stunning pink and yellow tulip named after Mayor Daley’s wife, Tulippa Maggie Daley. And if all this tulip mania inspires you to buy some for yourself, step up to the vendors at the John Hancock Center flower market, where cut flowers and bulbs will be sold, from Thursday, May 7 through Mother’s Day weekend. Ah, spring.  Lobby of the O. Henry Hotel, Greensboro. Photo courtesy O. Henry Hotel. Greensboro, NC–The O.Henry Hotel is quirky. But it’s the good kind of quirky, one you wish you’d see more often in a hotel. A genuine London taxi (gosh, it’s cute!) sits at the portico, waiting to take guests to and from the nearby airport. The restaurant, Green Valley Grill, features fresh, local produce, all well-presented and tasty. Guest rooms sport the fine linens and fine furniture you’d expect, but also have nice touches like a dressing area with a permanent stand for suitcases. Windows open in guest rooms for those who love the fresh air. In the ornate lobby: artist Chip Holton paints watercolors, which will decorate the guestrooms, then he’s on to creating pen-and-ink pieces for the public spaces. In all the hotels I’ve visited, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guest artist, but I love the concept. Why the name? Well, the famous short story writer was born in Greensboro. For a reminder of his work, look up in the lobby to see his most famous story, The Gift of the Magi. Yes, that’s a good kind of quirky.  Meretites sarcophogus, getting moved into exhibit position Kansas City–Arts galleries, shops, and museums are blooming along with the spring flowers here. The venerable Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, with a 33,000+ collection, in May opens a new Egyptian permanent exhibit featuring a 7-foot tall sarcophogus of Meretites. Other don’t miss sites at the free admission, free parking museum: many Thomas Hart Benton pieces and the 17-ft tall shuttlecocks on the lawn. From there, head over to the small but significant Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. An enormous spider sculpture stands sentinel on the lawn. Glass works by Dale Chihuly decorate the entrance to the intimate Cafe Sebastienne. Their motto, “Come to eat, stay for the art.” Again, free admission and free parking. The Kemper has a satellite gallery in the burgeoning Crossroads District. Paintings by Ian Davis, the “Earnest Skeptic” are on display until June 19, 2010. his work is characterized by crowds of identically dressed men assembled around massive works of architecture or construction. Kansas City offers so many art venuesthat there’s now a First Friday, a Second Friday, and a Third Friday of gallery walks. Artistic spots seem to pop up like flowers after a spring rain.
A rock fence marks the shore and stones of all sizes litter the beach. It’s hard to resist collecting a rock or two from among the beautiful assortment here. Earlier visitors have gathered a collection, creating a rock tableau. A great place to gather thoughts as well as rocks. Yesterday, 60 degrees and sunny. Today, 32 degrees and snow covering the ground.  Evergreens laden with 3/20/2010 snow  Snow still falling. |
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Highwood, IL–The snow’s melting, the sky’s blue, the burn crew departed. Walk down 
