I love going "home" to Southern Illinois, the place where I grew up and hold so many wonderful memories of exploring natural places. Many people in the Chicago area have no idea the beauty this part of the state holds.  Places like Ferne Clyffe State Park, Giant City State Park, Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge and the Shawnee National Forest are all areas I explored as a child.  Climbing among the crevices and cliff formations at Ferne Clyffe, learning to cliff rappel down the cliffs there and at Giant City (something I would be terrified to do today), hiking, cave exploring - all things that contributed to my deep love of and respect for nature today.  I recently spent a week visiting friends and rediscovering some of these beautiful places from my childhood.  My dear friend, Ellen, invited me and another childhood friend to stay in her beautiful cabin on Arcadia Lake.  It was a place I spent many hours during my childhood and I hadn't been back to the lake since the 60's.  It is amazing how little has changed on this wonderful little lake since then.  The cabins on the lake are connected by a series of what we called "swinging bridges."  They don't really swing but they do bounce a bit and I remember being a bit scared by them as a child, but loving the freedom they brought to explore the lake and woods.  Below are a few pictures from the lake and surrounding woods.

An old boat house in the early morning mist of the lake.

Those wonderful "swinging bridges"