2014-11-19 42 -88
| Wed 19 Nov 2014 in Schaumburg: 42.0981038, -88.6000937 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
Farmland between Coon Creek and some railroad tracks, just west of Hampshire IL
Participants
Plans
Evening visit, after stopping by Gaming Goat in Elgin.
Expedition
In the Chicago and Milwaukee area on business, leaving tomorrow. Business concluded for the day, we checked into the hotel and I borrowed the car for a short drive to the west.
On the way was a game store, mostly Magic the Gathering. Purchased a copy of Dixit Jinx and a small LED flashlight for use at the hashpoint. Also had dinner nearby, an uber-carb sandwich. In this case, a macaroni-and-cheese grilled cheese with bacon sandwich, fries on the side of course.
Continued west onto increasingly smaller (and less well lit) roads. Eventually turned onto New Lebanon road, followed it through the residential district, and parked after crossing the railroad tracks.
After bundling up (-5 C, with wind chill -15 C) I struck out along the railroad tracks. These crossed the creek (with running water still audible) and past the fenced property on the corner. Reaching the field, my previous research was justified - there is no fence between the previous property and the first telephone pole.
Crossed some frozen weeds to reach the field. Previously this field held corn, which had all been harvested. All that remained were little frozen stalks, each threatening to penetrate my sneakers. None did, and I meandered to the hashpoint. Photo below of a section of harvested cornfield that wouldn't seem special, except for November 19th 2014 that is.
I did not leave a marker, merely stood angled against the wind and waited for the upload to finish. No icicles formed on my extremities (though it felt like it) and finally the upload was complete. I pocketed the phone, pulled gloves back on and struck out for the tracks again.
The trip home was uneventful. Hoping (against all odds) to pick up one more hashpoint in Chicago before I go. How about at the Field Museum, my morning destination? A guy can dream...
Photos
On the way @42.0329,-88.3283
Parked - time to walk @42.0992,-88.6027
