One of the amazing things about driving cross country are all the little gems that you didn't know existed but that you discover along the way. Such was the case when my wife, dad, daughter, and I discovered Slide Rock State Park in Arizona on a spring break trip long ago. Looking for a place to picnic, we happened upon the state park and found that people were flocking there to slide down the slick rocks in their bathing suits in a natural chute of rapid water. Such was the case this morning when I needed a pit stop on my long drive from Portage, IN to Omaha, NE. I pulled five miles off the Interstate (I-80 for those of you who are curious) and discovered this amazing and very popular spot called Starved Rock State Park in the middle of Illinois. From the Website: "Starved Rock gets its name from an incident that allegedly occurred in 1769. According to legend, the site was where the remnants of the vanquished Illinois Indians sought refuge from their enemies after an Illinois brave murdered the Ottawa war-chief, Pontiac. The summit was reportedly where the Illinois were surrounded, and then slaughtered by Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians. Alleged eye-witnesses to the massacre claimed that the Illinois were killed at the base of the Rock. Later versions, however, state that the Illinois victims were starved to death on the summit. Although most accounts agree that the massacre was revenge for Pontiac's murder."
Starved Rock SP has a series of amazing trails, some along the river's edge, some in the inner canyons where hidden waterfalls await at every turn. Despite the wet and often muddy, slippery sandy soil, there was an excellent network of trails that allowed you just enough privacy to get away from the crowds. As there was thunder in the distance and ominous clouds on the horizon, I ran back the trail, springing like a deer over the logs on the path, bounding up the stairs, and racing against the rain back to the parking lot, probably getting wetter from the sweat of a humid 89 degree day than I would have had the rain unloaded on me, but at least getting my exercise in for the day.
Back on the highway, I cruised through the state of Illinois and then coast to coast through Iowa, which was nothing but cornfields and windmills, before finally arriving at my destination for the day in Omaha, NE.
Here, after four days of solitude on the road, I was welcomed by a friend of mine from my Vassar days who I have not seen in (gosh, can it be?) over ten years. We went to a rooftop BBQ for dinner in the center of Omaha (whose current marketing slogan is: "It's only as boring as you are") and enjoyed great company, new friendships, good wine, and hours of fireworks in every direction on the horizon. No matter where you looked, there were fireworks hissing and popping through the cool night air. It was really sensory overload. It is always amazing to me how much money people spend to have pseudo-professional grade fireworks at their backyard BBQs. As for me, I was just happy for some socialization and a real bed to sleep in for the night!
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