Monday, May 01, 2006
Urban Hiking
Well I went on my trip to the Chicago Botanical Gardens this last Saturday.
I left the house at 8:15 the sky was a little overcast and a slight chill to the air, but it had been that way all week and usually cleared up in a hour or two.
I decided to walk to the train station for half an hour, ride the Metra and walk the rest of the way to the garden.
The Botanical Gardens website said it was only 1.3 miles from the train station. The Braeside train station that is, not the Lake Cook station that I arrived at. Anyway after half an hour of walking I was beginning to wonder how much farther it was. I was 95% sure that I headed in the right direction despite my knack at getting horribly lost.
So I plodded on for another half an hour when I saw the garden ahead. That was a bit of a longer walk than I had anticipated, but it was only 10:30 so no big deal. I decided to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria there before I went on the walk in the garden. I needed some energy and a bit of rest for my legs. I got the last bit of breakfast that they made special just for me (lunch menu was just on) so I was happy. A nice cup of herbal ginger tea in hand I was off to check out the blossoms.
I headed right to the Japanese gardens and unfortunately the water areas were under construction and that detracted from the atmosphere of the garden. It was still a little early for the cherry blossoms here. Still I took about 30 pictures just in the Japanese garden and enjoyed it very much. I then went along and walked about half of the other areas and enjoyed the vibrant bulbs that were blooming everywhere.
About 12:30 or so I felt the first inklings of rain, but it was so mild that I continued walking.
The humidity in the air was just right. Moist enough where I could smell many of the wonderful scents of the flowers. Usually my sinuses are so dry that I can't smell anything. At about 1:15 I was starting to get a bit tired and decided that I had better make my way back. The train left at 3:20 and it took me an hour to walk to the garden and I wanted to stop at a Barnes and Nobles that I passed on my way. I grabbed a cup of mocha and a few mange to read while waiting for the train. I was able to finish one manga just before the train made its way into the station. I climbed aboard and just looked out the window on the way home.
Have you ever noticed how many dead and fallen trees there are along roads and rail lines.
On my trek back home the rain started coming down steadily, but I didn't mind too much, it was still warm and I was going to slip into a nice hot bath when I got home.
That felt so good! All the tiredness in the legs just seemed to disappear in that tub. I was exhausted though and went to bed extra early. I was still tired Sunday, but it was worth it. I walked 10 miles to and from the train stations plus however much I did in the gardens. Today I feel like I could do it all over again. I am pretty impressed by my endurance and how far I actually managed to walk. It feels good to get exercise like this. Your whole body gets tired, but your muscles are not sore like after a day of heavy workout.
I gotta pull the pics off the camera I borrowed and figure out how to post some here.
Later.
I left the house at 8:15 the sky was a little overcast and a slight chill to the air, but it had been that way all week and usually cleared up in a hour or two.
I decided to walk to the train station for half an hour, ride the Metra and walk the rest of the way to the garden.
The Botanical Gardens website said it was only 1.3 miles from the train station. The Braeside train station that is, not the Lake Cook station that I arrived at. Anyway after half an hour of walking I was beginning to wonder how much farther it was. I was 95% sure that I headed in the right direction despite my knack at getting horribly lost.
So I plodded on for another half an hour when I saw the garden ahead. That was a bit of a longer walk than I had anticipated, but it was only 10:30 so no big deal. I decided to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria there before I went on the walk in the garden. I needed some energy and a bit of rest for my legs. I got the last bit of breakfast that they made special just for me (lunch menu was just on) so I was happy. A nice cup of herbal ginger tea in hand I was off to check out the blossoms.
I headed right to the Japanese gardens and unfortunately the water areas were under construction and that detracted from the atmosphere of the garden. It was still a little early for the cherry blossoms here. Still I took about 30 pictures just in the Japanese garden and enjoyed it very much. I then went along and walked about half of the other areas and enjoyed the vibrant bulbs that were blooming everywhere.
About 12:30 or so I felt the first inklings of rain, but it was so mild that I continued walking.
The humidity in the air was just right. Moist enough where I could smell many of the wonderful scents of the flowers. Usually my sinuses are so dry that I can't smell anything. At about 1:15 I was starting to get a bit tired and decided that I had better make my way back. The train left at 3:20 and it took me an hour to walk to the garden and I wanted to stop at a Barnes and Nobles that I passed on my way. I grabbed a cup of mocha and a few mange to read while waiting for the train. I was able to finish one manga just before the train made its way into the station. I climbed aboard and just looked out the window on the way home.
Have you ever noticed how many dead and fallen trees there are along roads and rail lines.
On my trek back home the rain started coming down steadily, but I didn't mind too much, it was still warm and I was going to slip into a nice hot bath when I got home.
That felt so good! All the tiredness in the legs just seemed to disappear in that tub. I was exhausted though and went to bed extra early. I was still tired Sunday, but it was worth it. I walked 10 miles to and from the train stations plus however much I did in the gardens. Today I feel like I could do it all over again. I am pretty impressed by my endurance and how far I actually managed to walk. It feels good to get exercise like this. Your whole body gets tired, but your muscles are not sore like after a day of heavy workout.
I gotta pull the pics off the camera I borrowed and figure out how to post some here.
Later.
# posted by kc masterpiece @ 2:10 PM 
