Marengo Ridge - Chicagoland Spring Out!

[Ryno]

I am sorry we missed camping with you guys....maybe next time.

[turk]

Looks like a pretty spot. Next time. I miss early spring and summer camping. I will be doing something extempore before this month's out. Maybe Michigan U.P.. I will try to post a few pics of the Au ki ki wetland along the Kankakee:

Horse-shoe Bend road:
Camp on River:


The area is wildlife rich. Been so for centuries. Great history around there too. There's "Bogus Island" which you can still see, but it's no longer an island. Counterfeiters, Horse Thieves, Murderers and Businessmen lived on the island in the middle of a swamp basically. There's special wooden craft that originated in the area called "Kankakee Boats", kind of a cross between a rowboat and a kayak. Still great hunting and fishing there.

[chitwnvw]

Hey that's me! WTF is on my head? Must be my old man flap hat.

I wish we'd stopped an hung with those squatters that were living by the river, right outside that guy's property. I guess we don't have public land, but there is a something, something where you can find a place to live if you need it...

[turk]

Let's go visit that dude. He'll still be there. He's been there a while already.
It's free I heard.

[chitwnvw]

Let's go visit that dude. He'll still be there. He's been there a while already.
It's free I heard.

You say when. You have the big work load and what not...

[chitwnvw]

Doubletrack abandoned rail line that used to be the lifeblood of the region. NYC? Who knows. Gone. Imagine the work and history to plan and impliment such a useful marvel of techology, a thin strip bisecting maps and neighborhoods due to some folly of the past.

I find the decay of the region fascinating. Lots of history.

[locoqueso]

It was good to see you again chi. Marengo Ridge is a nice, quiet place to stay. We thought about going back out this weekend, but it will be a little too cold.

I'm a little late posting...

Marengo Ridge (May 2010)

[Sylvester]

The wild Dingo had stalked his prey, and was about to attack.

That looks like a nice place to camp.[/quote]

[turk]

Nice photos. That looks to be an American Toad.

American toads can be distinguished from other species of toads by the presence of several dark spots on their backs which contain only one or two warts each. These black spots are sometimes circled with white or yellow. Some types of American toads have a prominent ridge on the top of their heads.

American Toad - Bufo americanus

I think that's Common Blue Violets - Viola sororia sororia

Unpredictable spring this year which is predictable. It was colder than a witches tit today. It hailed too.

[jeb1978]

Doubletrack abandoned rail line that used to be the lifeblood of the region. NYC? Who knows. Gone. Imagine the work and history to plan and impliment such a useful marvel of techology, a thin strip bisecting maps and neighborhoods due to some folly of the past.

I find the decay of the region fascinating. Lots of history.

It's probably the old Pennsylvania Railroad or Erie Railroad... both had doubletrack mainlines that crossed the Kankakee (the PRR's Panhandle line from Chicago to Logansport, and the Erie's mainline from Chicago to the east coast).

Where were you camping on the Kankakee? It looks like both the old PRR and Erie bridges are still there over the Kankakee northeast of North Judson. Was there another RR bridge with tracks on it near the one in your photos?

[turk]

I don't know if a few miles is near, but there is at least another - near "English Lake". That campground is a mile or so east of highway 421 near "Lomax". Lomax is not even a town if I am right. It's an abandoned bed and breakfast, for sale actually. That's right about where those tracks in the picture are.

[jeb1978]

I don't know if a few miles is near, but there is at least another - near "English Lake". That campground is a mile or so east of highway 421 near "Lomax". Lomax is not even a town if I am right. It's an abandoned bed and breakfast, for sale actually. That's right about where those tracks in the picture are.

OK, the abandoned bridge nearest US 421 is the old Erie RR, the one further east near English Lake has an abandoned Pennyslvania RR bridge night next to a still active line owned by the Chesapeake & Indiana (old Chesapeake & Ohio RR). Lots and Lots of old railroad ROW in northern Indiana...

You can see the farm with the old school buses, etc. in the yard pretty plainly from Google earth... I didn't know there were campgrounds along the Kankakee River.

[bretski]

Great pictures, CrazyCheese!

[turk]

I don't know if a few miles is near, but there is at least another - near "English Lake". That campground is a mile or so east of highway 421 near "Lomax". Lomax is not even a town if I am right. It's an abandoned bed and breakfast, for sale actually. That's right about where those tracks in the picture are.

OK, the abandoned bridge nearest US 421 is the old Erie RR, the one further east near English Lake has an abandoned Pennyslvania RR bridge night next to a still active line owned by the Chesapeake & Indiana (old Chesapeake & Ohio RR). Lots and Lots of old railroad ROW in northern Indiana...

You can see the farm with the old school buses, etc. in the yard pretty plainly from Google earth... I didn't know there were campgrounds along the Kankakee River.

The campground is private. It is owned by a farmer. You put 2 dollars in the box to "use the road" leading to the campground.

[Hippie]

The campground is private. It is owned by a farmer. You put 2 dollars in the box to "use the road" leading to the campground.

Best kind of places. I really wish I could have gone with you guys. What an awesome place with all that history.