Category: Illinois River

what i saw at starved rock

My day job is as a worship pastor. I have the privilege of working alongside a fantastic team of leaders and friends. Our team culture includes celebrating each other’s birthday. Each year we head out to Starved Rock State Park (a real gem of a place in the midst of the Midwestern plains) when my birthday celebration comes around. These images are some of what I saw today. Thanks for stopping by.

morning has broken

floody river

Just a couple of posts ago I was enjoying a beautiful sunrise… today the river is swollen after LOTS of rain last night.

tugboat tuesday

Didn’t know it was tugboat Tuesday! Hope you have a wonderful day!

dawn

…and a beautiful one it was…

moments in marseilles

Oil change, check! New (loud) pipes, check! Beautiful day, check! Riding? Absolooooooooootleeee! Headed to Marseilles, IL. This is the Illinois River and the Marseilles Lock and Dam.

peace

Remembering that the days are coming when the ice will pass away, and the still, heaviness of summer air will press down on the river, and a fisherman will remain… surrounded by peace…

marseilles motorcycle 6

This is the 6th in a small series of images from a recent motorcycle ride to a favorite location, The Marseilles Mill Ruins, which, you can learn about by clicking on a link in my previous post.  These are pictures of one of the gates that controlled the flow of water along channels, called raceways, that were used to help create power and run the old paper mill.

marseilles motorcycle 5

I have been visiting this abandoned building for quite some time now on my motorcycle rides. If you are interested, here is where you can read about the history of what is know as the Marseilles Mill Ruins. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

marseilles motorcycle 4

Here is the view from the bridge, looking upriver (East) at the Marseilles Dam. You can see that the water level is high from recent heavy rains. (To see a larger version, just click on the image.)