I pulled into the parking lot at Big Rock Forest Preserve. “Oh no,” I thought as I realized where I was. The last time I was there, four years ago, I got lost and ended up on a private–not very friendly–golf course three miles away. (See “Fore!”) It all ended well, but I haven’t trusted my ability to navigate the Big Rock trails since and have simply stayed away. I dunno for sure why I stayed. A friend texted me some exciting news as I pulled in and I thought that was a good omen, maybe? I have also discovered satellite GPS. I decide to risk it.
The fields expand between broad areas of trees. As I walked the perimeter of the fields on mowed paths, there were always woods on one side. The sun was warm on my face and arms as coolness seeped flirtatiously from the woods. I remembered. I knew how I got lost last time. I didn’t really like the prairie. The woods pulled me in. On the previous visit, I saw a deer path and impulsively took it into the dark coolness and then followed a stream. Big Rock FP is an 840-acre irregular parcel. Impulsivity made getting lost easy.
The memory of the lesson was vivid as I stayed on the mowed path instead of drifting off on a deer run. The fields were pretty. I reminded myself that Illinois IS a field. This is home. I should love where I live. I squinted at the scene and tried harder to embrace it.
I heard a bird’s song and saw a Red-winged Blackbird. In the forest, I can’t see which birds are singing, so it’s hard to learn about them. With very little effort, google offered up a two-minute loop of the same song which confirmed my identification. (Don’t be too impressed, it was Red-winged Blackbird which is pretty obvious.) I played the song and laughed as the bird flew around me in a large oval, occasionally landing on last year’s echinacea to sing and look around in confusion. I was still. I felt invisible to the perplexed, love-sick bird. I only played the loop twice. It amused me but felt like I was torturing the feathered creature. Things are not as they appear, my bird friend. It made me think about some of the online dating stories I have heard. Misrepresentation leads to confusion in other species too.
I saw fawns standing on the path. They were motionless, except for their twitching ears. I continued to walk steadily toward them. They let me get close. I wanted to lecture them on the danger of humans. I also wondered if google knew a sound that would make them think I was a deer. I thought of Snow White, too. I call my blog “Wandering Thoughts” for a reason.
I saw a few bunnies.
The sun was on my face instead of hidden behind treetops. Wildlife wasn’t hidden either. The plants, flowers and bugs that live in the prairie are different from those of the woods. Their numbers and variety are stunning. I’ll admit that the prairie trail was a refreshing change. The prairie has a unique beauty that I believe I can grow to love. Or at least like. And I found my way back to my car without an escort. Bonus.