5/28/2022 Indiana Dunes, Dunes and Bogs

 5/28/22 Saturday

Wake to BLUE SKIES Hurrah!

48 degrees at 6:30.  Today we will explore the park.

First we head to the Dune Ridge Trail at Kemil Beach. This is an area of dunes that has become quite wooded and overlooks a wetland area.  Lots of birdsong and the morning dew and remnants of rain make everything sparkle in the sunlight.

Further along this road are the 1933 Century of Progress Homes.  These were homes that were on display at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and were later moved to this location along the lake. My favorite was this Florida house.  Two of the homes were residences and one was under renovation, but it was interesting to think that these were "the wave of the future" back in 1933.

There is a ranger-led hike this morning at 10:00 at the Pinhook Bog, which is only open during these rare tours. It is about a twenty minute drive and we arrive early - no surprise there - but we are surprised that by 10:00 about 50 other folks have arrived! 

 A ranger named Bill gives a little background. A bog is a lake fed only by rain and supporting an array of unusual plants. We walked about 1/4 mile to the entrance.  This bog is a remnant of water left by a melting  glacier.  It is nearly covered by spongy moss,  ferns and other plants, so it can be walked upon (but we don't). It is up to 45' deep at some areas, but you would never know it by sight. Only when Bill steps onto it at one point can you see it quiver and move - but it does hold his weight.  How did we then walk into the bog you ask?  The boardwalk is made of a light plastic that has holes in it which floats atop the bog.

There are several carnivorous plants that grow here.  The pitcher plant has beautiful burgundy color flowers that attract insects which the pitcher-shaped leaves near the stem trap and digest.  There are two others - bladderwort and the tiny sundew which also eat insects.  

There are also a variety of orchids -  more species than Hawaii actually - of which the beautiful pink lady's slipper is one. Lots of fern and mosses.

And quite a few blueberry bushes which someone once planted before this became part of the park.  The berries are just beginning to form.

We came armed with insect spray, but surprisingly see almost none. Bill says wetlands that are managed properly don't have many - and it could be that the cool weather helps.

We move on and have some sandwiches for lunch before setting out on the Cowles Bog Trail.  This isn't a true bog but a fen, because it has a source of ground water beneath it and much of the trail goes around it.  A few unusual plants, a couple of turtles and a frog along with some lovely wild flowers.  Lots of singing birds and we spot a bluebird and some ever-present red-winged blackbirds which we have seen everywhere on this trip.

Many closed areas and to our west is industrial property. Though we don't see a lot of people on the trail, the smallish parking lots are packed.

Not sure what the "Emergency Conditions" were....??

Next stop is the Bailey Homestead which showcases several buildings built by Joseph Bailey who arrived here in 1822 and set up a trading post.  He was near the Little Calumet River and two major Indian trails so did a brisk trade in furs. Imagine what was happening in this setting 200 years ago! The Potawatomi Indians were the dominant tribe.

The Riverwalk is our next stop. Originally designed as an amusement area 35 miles from Chicago, the first big storm changed plans as it wiped out buildings and piers.  There remains a small restaurant with nice outdoor decking, and a few people enjoying the beach.  

 On the pier, one of several fishermen I spoke to said they were fishing for steelhead trout now, and later in the year they catch king and coho salmon! 

High temperature today has been 71 degrees and there is a slight breeze.  Water temperature a chilly 54 degrees at our final stop - West Beach.  

Back to the Visitor's Center, we did some chores, washed up and enjoyed a salad and worsts for dinner. Greg caught this beautiful sunset from our boondocking spot.  

We are hoping early Sunday morning on Memorial weekend will mean little traffic as we go through Chicago area tomorrow heading for Wisconsin.

www.indianadunes.com