The non-Chicagoland urban/suburban pic thread (DeKalb, Sycamore: homes, castle, pine)

[Steve-o]

I took these pics of cities/countryside this weekend, but theyre too far out to be considered suburb pics, so I couldnt add them to the suburban picture thread, so Im starting a new thread for these types of towns/cities/etc. Please feel free to add your own non-Chicagoland urban/suburban/countryside pictures here.

Over the weekend we headed out towards Oregon, Illinois to do a little hiking/sightseeing. Here are some of the pics (in no particular order) I quickly snapped.

Prairie in winter, west of Sycamore:


Oregon, Illinois surrounding countryside:


The Roadhouse in Oregon, IL. I ate there many years ago, had a great steak, Id recommend it:


Part of the neat, old Sycamore public library:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee208/illinoisnative/Sycamorelibrary.jpg (broken link)

Steep trail (dont slip!) at Lowden State Park:


The staircase from the Black Hawk statue down to the Rock River:


About 5 miles east of Oregon, the terrain changes quickly from flat cornfields to rocky bluffs and hillsides almost instantly, and the once-boring RT. 64 becomes quite fun as you crest the hills and take many curves through the bluffs and woods:




Prairies, bluffs and deep woods bathed in gorgeous late-afternoon sunshine:


Farmland just east of Oregon, IL:


The Ogle County Courthouse in downtown Oregon, IL:


The northern edge of Oregon, IL taken from the bluff on the east side of the Rock River:


Just south of Oregon, IL on HWY 2, looking east over the river. Note the swaths of pine in the sea of oak trees. I believe thats part of the Lowden-Miller State Forest:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee208/illinoisnative/LookingeastatopCastleRock.jpg (broken link)

Homes on the far eastern edge of Oregon, IL:


Home along the river in Oregon, IL:


More homes on the northern edge of Oregon, IL:


Beautiful old Sycamore, IL home:


A large hawk soaring over us at Lowden State Park:


Downtown Sycamore, IL, looking west on Rt. 64

[Steve-o]

More downtown Sycamore, IL shots:


The De Kalb County Courthouse. Gorgeous!


The bluest sky Ive seen in my life:


Black Hawk War plaque:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee208/illinoisnative/BlackHawkWar.jpg (broken link)

Cool ice (no pun intended) in some rock crevices at Lowden State Park:


HWY 2 south of Oregon, IL. Gorgeous stretch of road that runs through some hills/bluffs/cliffs and along the Rock River:


Sunset on the way back home:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee208/illinoisnative/2-23-07sunset.jpg (broken link)

[Steve-o]

And now for some non-snapshot photos I took. haha

Staircase up to Castle Rock, just outside Oregon, IL:


Another view of the staircase:


Looking south down the Rock River:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j292/Illinoisboy/LookingsouthatopCastleRock.jpg (broken link)

Castle Rock surrounding scenery, immediately south of Oregon, IL:


One last staircase shot, I promise. haha Couldnt resist, the sunlight was golden and gorgeous, casting great light everywhere:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j292/Illinoisboy/CastleRockstaircase.jpg (broken link)

Chief Black Hawk statue at Lowden State Park, taken from the trail below the overlook:

[sgresident]

have been to the blackhawk statue in oregon. a great site.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by sgresident

have been to the blackhawk statue in oregon. a great site.

It is pretty neat to those who appreciate history and the like. I enjoy hiking there too.

[efost7873]

I was actually raised in Oregon on Rt. 2 south of town. I used to walk to Castle Rock State Park from my house. The pictures are amazing to see.