Since the time I first learned about Fort Sheriday Forest preserve, I try to visit it a couple times a year, and at least once in summer. I didn’t have a chance to go there this summer yet, and I wanted to make sure I sivit it before summer ends. Even in July, I knew I will have very few options, and this Sunday was “one before last one.’ Usually, I listed to my gut feeling very careflly, gaging whether I should or should not do something, but this time, I was not sure. I felt like I am trying to squizz in too many things, and the weather was not ideal, but then I thought that if I would give in and not go, I will regret it, so I decided to go even though I knew it will be a very short visit,
The prairie exceeded my expectations :). Because of so many rains we had this summer, it was in bloom like I never saw it! I walked on the trail with a smile on my face, and was quitely saying hello to all my wild friends.
By the time I got to the lake shore, the sky started to darken, and I didn’t see that anyone in the water. Since this is technically speaking “no swim” beach, I desided not to go in. I just took my sandals off, and walked into the tide, and stood in the water, taknf it all in.
Then I saw people packing and leaving the beach, ,and decided I should also go :).
When I arrived to the train station, the sky was already very dark, and I thought I left just in time! The forecast was saying that the thunderstorm will start at 3 PM, but it was definitely ahead of the schedule.
The first drops of rain fall down just when the train came to a stop and opened the doors. I naively thought that 45 minutes will be enough for it to stop, but when the train arrived at Rogers Park, the rain was still very heavy with no sign of stopping in the near future. After waiting in a shelter on the platform with a couple of fellow travelers, i pulled out the beach towel out of my backpack and walked into the wall of water.
It’s about 15 min walk from the station to my house, and all this time, I was walking on the flooded street all this time, in the water at my ankle level. At least, it was warm!
Hettie's Reflections 