2023-08-30 42 -87

Location

In a public park near Skokie.

Participants

Plans

Going to take the train out in the afternoon!

Expedition

Because this hash appeared to be in a public park next to a bike trail, I set out to take the train to the nearest station to the point in Evanston and walk the roughly 1.5 miles to the hash point. I just recently downloaded Pokemon Go on my phone (a gps based mobile game) so I was hopeful I would have plenty to do along the way. The train journey to Evanston was uneventful, and I set my way out towards the hash, taking in the lovely architecture and generally enjoying the weather. I didn't actually play the mobile game that much because I didn't want to drain my phone's battery prematurely.

As I approached the trail to head through the park, however, a disappointing sight appeared. A locked gate barred access to the trail. Along side was a sign that indicated the sports fields beyond the gate were for use be permit only. I've never encountered a limited access public park before. Now I had no intention of using the soccer fields, I just wanted to walk down the trail, but there were crews working on the fields at the time so I didn't think they'd let me through the gate. I felt quite defeated and was ready to turn and head back to the train station when I remembered that there was a different park on the other side of the trail, and it was technically closer to the hash point. There wasn't a sidewalk to head around the sports park so unfortunately I had to walk through a busy mall parking lot all the way.

The other park turned out to be called Pooch Park, and was actually a dog park, but adjacent to it along the trails was a skate park and playground as well. And wouldn't you know it, there was no gate blocking access to the trail along the sports fields. I set out walking the short way to the hash point, reasoning that if any of the field crew asked what I was doing I could very legitimately tell them I was wandering around playing Pokemon Go. Two steps off the trail into the grass and I was at the hash point. Success! My first in the Kenosha graticule. Once again I didn't want to hang around too long and retreated back to the Pooch Park entrance to get the photo with Sylvie.

The walk back to the Evanston train station was wonderful, and I very much enjoyed seeing the neighborhood. Then just before reaching the station a flash of pink and blue in the corner of my eye drew my attention. To my amazement there was a pride flag on display outside an adorable indoor plants shop. I couldn't tell if they were open or not, and if they were I didn't have the time to stop in, but I made a note of them so I can come back and shop there in the future. And with that I took the trains home with a big smile on my face!