A quick drive from Chicago. Taking I-90 south, then I-94 east which runs along the coast of Lake Michigan. I resist the urge to buy half a ton of fireworks while driving through the small towns and tuck stops. Huge signs everywhere. The shore is filled with industrial facilities of who knows what. Not very inviting. I wonder what kind of beach I’ll find. Turn north on 49, head to the dunes. We are at the Indiana Dunes State Park.
The water is freezing! We can’t go in, at least for very long or deeper than knee high. Kids all around us don’t seem to have the same problem. Keck deep in the water.
We have a small lunch, more like chips, cookies, and water. I reach to my camera and take a few snaps.
To the west, I could see a factory of some kind. Not sure what they do there. I do see smoke or steam coming out of some pipes. I wonder if they use the very same water we are in for… things. Wish they dumped some warm water into the lake. To the east I see a cooling tower. This one look a lot more familiar, and energy plant perhaps. I wish they dumped some warm water in to the lake too.
This place reminds me of Huntington Beach, with the oil platforms and the beach industry. I always felt I had to be a little cautious. Always paying attention to the water. As if I would be able to recognize anything fishy.
The sun beats down a soft warmth which is very welcomed. I watch the kids going head first into the water. Still amazes me. I shake my head.
Time to move on and explore a little.
We quickly discovered how steep and high these dunes are. We are half the way up to the top and we have to stop. Catch a breath. We aren’t carrying any real equipment. Camera, tripod, lenses in a bag. Nothing, really. At the top we discovered trails. We want to snap some picture just model and landscape, so we decide to go the opposite direction form the crowd.
The trail isn’t anything too special. Or secluded. Actually, there are people everywhere. As in most public venues, we have to stop and allow people to go by. Or sometimes we are given the curtesy to finish shooting. At one point we draw a small crowd, mostly young kids and some teenagers. I actually enjoyed it a little. I never had a small crowd.
We venture out of the trails into another dune. The view to the beach is really nice. We are vey high up. We could see the west side of the shore, leading to those smokey pipes. But far away almost undistinguishable, the city. The Sears tower. The skyline.
We take our final shots. We decide to head back.
We are tired. We clean up. We load. We drive.
The drive back seems quicker. We spent half day at the dunes. We enjoyed it.
Next time I’ll check the water temperature.
