Another belated October post:
I was given the opportunity to spend a little time in the Rockford area of Illinois, about two and a half hours west of Chicago.
I was staying with a friend of mine who lives in Loves Park, a suburb just outside Rockford.
Just like Downriver, there are apartment complexes and housing projects between the rows of ranches, bungalows, and old colonials.
I noticed there were a couple houses that had painted garage doors. I'm not sure if this is the work of one artist, or just something they do around here, but I had never seen it before. Either way, it was pretty cool, and something I wouldn't mind doing if anyone was interested.
In Loves Park and other areas around Rockford they have these deep canals that run through the rows of houses. Downriver back in Michigan we have natural and man-made creeks that serve the same purpose.
Heading towards Rockford.
My friend Lexy doesn't keep any coffee at her place, since she doesn't drink it, so one of the first things I had to do was grab some after we had reached Downtown.
This is the Wired Cafe.
It looks like these used to be studios. I suppose the upper levels still could be. The bottom floor was being rented by different businesses.
There was a mixture of older victorian, retro, and more modern architecture.
The Rock River cuts through Rockford, which has several bridges that go across it.
An interesting mural along the side of the bridge. The first of several we saw.
It was funny seeing this particular mural, considering Lexy and I had just watched the movie Dark Skies the night before. Look to the left. If you saw and remember it, you'll get it.
There was a very nice park alongside the river.
This is Lexy.
The Main Street District of Downtown.
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| photo credit: James R. on yelp.com |
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| photo credit: Connie R. with the Midwest Wanderer |
Across the bridge:
There was a deep sea mural at the bottom of an overpass on the east bank.
It was clear there's a lot of love in the area for the water. It makes sense with the Rock River and its smaller tributaries being right there, as well as the many lakes around. For that reason, though, I would've went with a freshwater theme. That's not to say that only places near the ocean should have ocean-themed murals, but it would make more sense I guess. Maybe it could serve as more of an expression of pride in that area. You won't find any of the things in that mural near here except maybe the angry rain cloud.
I really do like that creepy fish on the right though.
I found a "Before I Die..." board. I guess they do this in a lot of different places.
All the ones I could make out:
Before I die...
- get money
- own my own hair salon
- marry Dallas
- I want to see Hillary in prison
- find purpose
- be loved unconditionally
- get married
- find companionship (girlfriend!!! please!!!)
- make a better life for me & my family
- make amends
- I want to go to the moon
- knock John out cold
A mural of Noah's ark on the side of an animal hospital that shares the same name, painted by Michael Stiffler.
After spending sometime in downtown Rockford, we headed to Shorewood Park.
Part of the Rock River that I'm guessing the local high school or university uses for rowing practices and competitions.
This is where Lexy said she likes to come and think. I can understand why. It's very calm and peaceful by the water when there's no groups of people there.
We left that park to check out a different one that was on a small lake with some marshland. I can't remember the name of it.
Even on vacation I was still doing a little work. This was the start of my Inktober drawing for this (past) year. I had planned on doing several, but timing wouldn't allow it.
This part of the trail reminded me of the part in Fellowship of the Ring when Frodo and the other hobbits first encounter the Nazgรปl.
The water running over the ground here for years has cut into the dirt and rock in a process called erosion. As the ground has continued to erode, ravines and gorges have formed.
It's like a miniature canyon.
There was a series of structures across the river that we couldn't get to.
Lexy said there was a cave around here somewhere. She hadn't been there herself, but she was told about it. We went down a couple different trails to try and find it.
It took some time, but we eventually found it - or at least, I did. You have to scale down a couple rocks on a steep side of part of the gorge going off of the path to get to it. Two guys who I'm guessing were locals pointed us in the right direction, since you can't see it from any of the trails. Lexy decided she was going to sit this one out.
Really there's two caves, but only one is remotely large enough to stand in. I had to duck down to step into it.
This was such an awesome place for you to dispose of your beer can, lazy
You can also vaguely see other peoples' poor attempts at mimicking cavemen. Except that cavemen drew pictures relevant to their life - with effort. No one's going to give you and your girl's first initials with a plus sign or some stupid short phrase or group name you came up with the same recognition, no mater how much time passes. Sorry I'm not sorry to burst your bubble.
It wasn't much as far as a walk-through, but it looked cool aside from modern man-made marks on it.
There was a little brown bat chilling by himself.
Inside the smaller cave.
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photo credit: Lexy Lowry (@belleame06)
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There's a trap house - then there's a trap shop.
It's The Big Blue House.
After spending some time in the city and its surrounding areas, Rockford is certainly another place I'd like to return to with some art supplies and finished work in hand.
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