Beyond The Lodge

     St. Peter Sandstone, worn by moving waters, appears exposed under the thin layer of soil that supports the foliage of the forest canopy.  Its exposure faces the Illinois River in the form of bluffs and canyons carved over the passage of time.  It's in this setting that adventurous get-a-ways have taken place at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, Illinois. Often it was Cindy and I over a weekend in the spring; when we were both teaching and

before we had kids.  Sometimes it was a chance to reconnect, while grandparents watched the kids.  Two years ago we went as an extended family with our kids and my parents.  This past Thursday our family of four went for a simple overnight stay at the lodge.  It was just what we needed to connect and bond.  A little bit of hiking, sightseeing, resting, swimming, sleeping, eating and reading/writing in the classic, big-logged Great Room.
     Paths, trails, and staircases take you from the lodge to places with views from the vistas, as well as steep descents into cool canyons and the river's edge.  Man has followed these trails for thousands of years; from ancient Native American cultures to the present.Todd and I ran these trails Friday morning.  It's was a great workout and became one of Todd's "Top Five Runs" ever.  Somehow I knew he'd love it.  He loved it as much as Cindy and Jodi enjoyed visiting in the little cafe while
we were out, and as much as all of us did chalking
up a quick, yet memorable family outing, out beyond the Lodge.
See you along The Way...