If there ever was such a club, I would want to attend one that started the camp across the river in Columbus Belmont State Park in Ky.

I would call this the mysterious IL Photography trip (even though I was starting in Ky). Columbus Belmont is a decidedly old and unfussy park but it has the most spectacular confluence view of the Mississippi where it joins with the Ohio. It also has a most unusual set of earthworks. Attributed to civil war efforts but never used.

It’s a short drive from there to Cairo IL (Kay-Ro to locals) where time stopped and the earth is doing her best to take it back. The photo ops for a photographer, writer or artist are abundant. This fellow’s blog will give you the idea:

Abandoned Places Photography in Cairo, Illinois (with Video)

Egg Camp So IL #2

Then, a Spring or late Fall (no leaves) camp in the Illinois wine country near Makanda IL, camping at Giant City. Giant City has nice trails and loosely rebuilt rock work but the real destination should be a nearby spot called Panther’s Den in the Shawnee National Forest. It’s there you will see stones that pioneers wrote about and called a Giant’s City. If you have walked the ledges in Ohio, you will feel an odd similarity that might just have you scratching your head.

That trip would include hikes, wineries and a few local restaurants. If it was a late summer trip though it could include a visit to Rendleman Orchards to pick wildflowers, sunflowers and zinnias. It’s amazingly beautiful. Rendleman is located in Alto Pass which is itself historic. There are potters shops to tour and shop from the potters at home. But this could also be Trip #2b. This trip could include painting mini canvases depicting a casita sheltered in the shade of a giant sunflower.

Egg Camp SoIL #3

This was going to be our tiny trip next week but a tornado blew through and tore the roof off of our primary destination.

On Friday next, The Ashmore Estates (formerly Cole County Poor House) was going to have a flashlight only flea market set up inside…with the ghosts. It wasn’t a ghost tour, just a novel approach to seeing the historic building at night. The next day was an open house in daylight so people could see the building and what they are trying to restore. The price of admission was to be donations to the local animal rescue.

Last night, their town was hit by a tornado. Their roof was lost.

The plan was to camp on a tiny island nearby:

Years ago, I struck up a conversation with an elderly woman who lived in Charleston IL. She told me that the native tribes that used to live in the Embarrass River bottoms won’t live in the area now. She said one of their chiefs saw much destruction coming. The Native history of the tribes that lived here before removal is quite interesting. They told stories of tricksters and doorways, and a giant red comet. There is a famous abduction case of a nine year old girl who eventually married the Comanche chief. It would be a history and possibly alternative history trip. Lol

So, this gives you an idea of what a SoIL Egg Club could be. Writing it, I could think of dozens more interesting trips but the pics are on old devices, if anyone wants more ideas though, I have them.

If you have found value here, I hope you will like, comment, follow and share.  Thanks I write for the fun of it but it’s fun to hear your ideas, too.

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