TheRoadScholar » Skokie Lagoons

Dam Good Kayaking on Skokie Lagoons

TheRoadScholar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:56:14 +0000

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 [...]

The Skirt is Off!

TheRoadScholar — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:06:23 +0000

When the temperature hits 90° plus, it’s time to ditch the spray skirt. Head out early, keep to the shadows, and paddle out in the Skokie Lagoons on a hot July day.

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 [...]

Final Kayaking of the Season

TheRoadScholar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:22:06 +0000

Glencoe, IL--The great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, and cormorants flew south some time ago. Their favorite trees, denuded of leaves, no longer buffer the traffic noise from I-94. Bikers whiz past on the nearby trail. Ah, what a difference a season makes in the Skokie Lagoons! Kayakers were out for exercise, not bird-watching. Sailors [...]

Four Bobber Day at Skokie Lagoons

theroadscholar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:10:05 +0000

Glencoe, IL–It’s a four-bobber day at the Skokie Lagoons. Collecting the lost fishermen’s bobbers makes great sport. Just paddle up to the floaters, snatch it, and put a notch in your belt. Besides the bobbers, there were lots of great sites, too. A momma painted turtle and her baby sun themselves on a rock. Mom [...]

Cormorant…or John Oliver?

theroadscholar — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:51:06 +0000

John Oliver c The Daily Show

Cormorants on Morro Bay C Mike Baird

Winnetka, IL–Another gorgeous day at the Skokie Lagoons, with very few paddlers or even fishermen. The kayak slices through water so still it doesn’t seem solid. Then a painted turtle pokes his head up to see what’s disturbing the peace and hurredly [...]

Great Blue Heron in Skokie Lagoons

theroadscholar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:57:46 +0000

North to Alaska

theroadscholar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:43:48 +0000

Winnetka, IL–This time last month I was in Alaska, working on a road trip article. Today a kayak trip in a local lagoons made me think of my kayak trip in Kachemak Bay, where this eagle roosted on a jutting log. That day with A Seaside Adventure (www.seasideadventure.com) was filled with sea otter [...]