Family Hike & Picnic September, 2010

We had awesome weather for a hike and picnic in Forest Park, Sunday, September 12th.  Forest Park is one of the largest urban reserves.  It has tons of trails and beautiful hikes all within city limits. 
Present for the hike were David, Yukie, Sean, Ewan, Sarah, Nina, Andy, Carrie, Drew, Hugh and me.  Everyone brought their own lunch.  Yukie brought two ample tablecloths which were perfect for the picnic spot near the street bridge.
We celebrated Yukie's belated birthday, Nina's birthday, and Hugh's birthday with cookies to share.  Everyone went in on a pair of day-glow rain overalls for Nina and for show tickets to see Honky Tonk Angels for Hugh.  Here are some photos from our hike and lunch:

It was Sarah and Nina's craft project that brought Carrie and Drew along on our hike!

Drew and Carrie say 'Hi!'

Photo Op.

Nina is modeling her new waterproof Day-Glo biking pants.  She should be clearly visible to any motorists in any conditions!

Sean caught bugs.

Ewan walked away from his dad for a few minutes to check out what Andy and Sean were eating.

Old CCC structure on the trail.

A five-star review of Forest Park from Yelp:  "This is a city park?
I guess from my Chicago perspective on communal city spaces, parks are places you go to show off your new baby stroller to total strangers, conduct banal cell phone conversations or dispose of your McDonald's wrappers.
Stepping into Forest Park through the Lower McLeay entrance is like getting into an isolation tank (only without triggering the night terrors). Fifty feet into the mossy green ravine, the world is suddenly vivid with peace. Vivid because one can lift the blinders so necessary to surviving modern America without violence. One's mind turns from emails, meetings and bleeding eye sockets to tiny fronds of moss, to ferny curlicues, the leaf-filtered light, the grooves in the tree bark. The air is damp and redolent of trees, moisture and new mud, completely without trace of Lexus, Chevy or Ford. All this to the accompaniment of the murmuring stream. A stream that apparently contains live fish, not half-eaten fries and used prophylactics.

Now when I think about all my lazy summer days lolling in Chicago parks, the words 'misspent youth' are taking on a whole new dimension."

Munching on egg and edemame.

Drew, Sarah, Carrie, Andy are all smiles.

On the trail.