Frivolous Friday: Starved Rock State Park

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

Spouse and I went for a little trip and hike at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois for our wedding anniversary. We didn’t camp this time, since we wanted to relax for our anniversary and we wanted access to a hot tub, but we did spend Sunday in the park exploring it.

Starved Rock is the most popular park in Illinois, possibly because it is an oasis of interesting geology in an otherwise exceedingly flat landscape. The park lays along the Illinois river, and contains several beautiful canyons and small waterfalls as well as tall bluffs overlooking the river. These features were eroded by the repeated flooding associated with glacial melting in the last ice age in an event called the Kankakee Torrent. The rock exposed in these bluffs and canyons is fairly soft sandstone.

Starved Rock itself, a big section of bluff along the river, isn’t all that impressive to see from inside the park itself. We climbed the long set of stairs, expecting to see something more impressive, but the view of the Illinois River wasn’t actually worth the climb. On the other hand, our short hike to Wildcat Canyon was definitely worth it, with nice views of French Canyon on the way, and lovely scenery. Most of the hike had tree cover and the trails are well maintained given how much use they get.

Speaking of use of the park, it was PACKED. I wouldn’t visit again on a holiday weekend. We luckily got there early enough to find parking in the overflow lot, and get a good amount of our hiking in before it was too busy, but by early afternoon they closed the gates to the park because they were at capacity. I don’t blame them, as by then the hiking trails were completely packed with people. I plan to go back and explore a lot more of the park, but it will need to be at a less popular time.

We had a picnic lunch using my favorite camp stove under one of the big trees near the Visitor Center. We watched people catch two big fish in the river while we relaxed in the shade. Others nearby grilled, played volleyball and catch, and generally had fun.

Not feeling up to a second hike, especially in crowded conditions, we headed back to overflow parking (up a huge flight of stairs on the way) and into the nearby town of Utica. While Utica was also full of holiday travelers, we did enjoy some ice cream and a wander through a few adorable antique stores before heading back to our hotel.

I look forward to going back to Starved Rock State Park when it will be less crowded, and to exploring other Illinois State Parks. Starved Rock is open year-round so maybe it will be a good place to get some winter hiking in this year. Mostly it was lovely getting to spend a few days out of the city with my amazing spouse.

Frivolous Friday: Starved Rock State Park
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Frivolous Friday: Ingress Player’s Tips for Pokemon GO

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

I recently wrote about my favorite augmented reality game, Ingress. I didn’t realize that soon thereafter Niantic would be releasing Pokemon GO, or that it would be so popular! I was aware they were working on the game, but wasn’t prepared for it to be such a sensation. Yes, I am now also playing (and enjoying!) Pokemon GO, but I will admit that I still prefer Ingress for various reasons*.

Since the two games are similar in some ways, and they use the same set of locations for portals and pokestops and gyms, there are some tips that transfer well from Ingress to Pokemon GO.

1) If you can, use public transportation. In Ingress “hacking” portals is how you get gear, and it’s pretty similar to getting gear from Pokestops. Most public transit buses and some trains go slowly enough that you won’t get speed locked and can get a lot of pokeballs and other items.

2) Get a good data plan if you can afford to. I realize they’re not cheap, but these games blow through data faster than anything else. I decided paying for an unlimited data plan was worth it for me. Going past your data plan every month is often more expensive than upgrading.

3) Get an external battery. Lots of people like Anker batteries but I use this KMASHI battery which has worked beautifully for me for well over a year and costs less. A smaller one is fine too, but more battery means more play time. No matter what kind your choose, you’ll want the extra battery power for long play sessions, especially if you also listen to music or podcasts as you go.

4) Weather doesn’t have to stop you from playing! I tend to stay in when it’s really hot or there’s TONS of snow on the ground, but you CAN play in the rain if you want to. I take my external battery, connect it to my phone, and put both into a ziplock bag. Then I use a little duct tape to kind of make a nice neat package of them with the plastic taught across the screen. Most touch screens work fine through the plastic! Yes, it’s a bit heavy to carry compared to your phone alone, but this set up, plus water proof shoes and a poncho allows me to play in the rain for HOURS if I want to – which is particularly useful when large Ingress events get planned for rainy days.

5) Make peace with GPS drift. It will happen, especially in downtown areas with big buildings and lots of interference. There’s not much you can do about it, and Niantic hasn’t been able to fix it either. I used to work sometimes in a high-rise in downtown Chicago, and would use the drift to hack a few portals I would probably not otherwise have gotten out to, which was cool. In Pokemon GO you can use drift to incubate eggs! I get minor drift around my current work place (not nearly as dramatic as downtown) and if I leave the app open while I work it picks up about a quarter km per hour of “walking” due to drift. Not bad!

6) Stay safe! Keep aware of your surroundings, look where you are going, and don’t take bigger risks playing the game than you would if you weren’t playing. Mostly Ingress players have found that the risks are not as big as the media has been making them out to be, but I do know people who have slipped on ice, tripped on curbs, and walked into poles (okay, that last one might have been me). Keep your eyes on the road when driving or biking, and don’t go into places you’re not supposed to be. The game is not fun if you’re injured or arrested!

*Reasons: I like fielding a lot better than the gym concept. The planing, preparation, and execution of a fielding operation, whether solo or in a group, is more satisfying to me. Both games are fun, but I think seeing a big field come together is just more satisfying to me.

Frivolous Friday: Ingress Player’s Tips for Pokemon GO

Frivolous Friday: Ingress

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

This weekend at CONvergence one of the panels I’m on is on Ingress strategy. I’m so excited to get to talk about this on a panel! Ingress is flipping awesome.

Ingress is an augmented reality game that uses mobile platforms (ie your cell phone) that plays a little bit like a globe-covering capture the flag game. Gameplay exists between two world-wide teams of players, with each team attempting to control actual physical spaces. In order to play you have to actually move around in the real world, so this game is excellent for people who like to get out and explore, those who like walking or biking, and those who want a way to meet new people (though social play isn’t crucial). I particularly recommend Ingress for people who are moving to a new city – it can be a great motivator to get to know your neighborhood, city, and new people.
Continue reading “Frivolous Friday: Ingress”

Frivolous Friday: Ingress

Frivolous Friday: Spouse’s Giant Bunny

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

Last week I introduced my floofy cat, Tegan. This week, at Niki’s request, I want to introduce you to Spouse’s giant bunny, Patrick!

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Patrick is a New Zealand White rabbit, a breed actually created in the USA despite the name. They are extremely commonly used in laboratory testing, which is actually where Patrick came from. He was bread for lab testing, but was too small at 12 weeks to be sold to a lab, so we adopted him. His size caught up fast, and now he’s our sweet big smart bunny.

Patrick gets along well with cats (cat in this video was one Spouse was catsitting) and enjoys chewing on really bad psychology textbooks.

Frivolous Friday: Spouse’s Giant Bunny

Frivolous Friday: My Floofy Cat

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

I have a wonderful floofy loud Maine Coon cat named Tegan. She yells at me all day long, and I love her enormously. We made her radioactive once, but the only superpower she has is incredible cuteness.

So, for this Frivolous Friday you get cat pictures. You’re welcome.

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Frivolous Friday: My Floofy Cat

Frivolous Friday: Gebhard Woods Gear Test

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

Well, I went out for my gear test weekend just as I planned. I went to Gebhard Woods State Park, about an hour and a half south of Chicago, in the town of Morris. I was hoping to test the gear I have for going with tent-free camping – a hammock and tarp, with my usual pad and sleeping bag. I also originally intended to do some hiking but blisters on my feet from work meant I changed that plan last minute to stay off my feet as much as I could.
Continue reading “Frivolous Friday: Gebhard Woods Gear Test”

Frivolous Friday: Gebhard Woods Gear Test

Frivolous Friday: Preparing for Gear Test Weekend

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

As of right now the weekend weather looks like it’s going to be clear and cool. I’m going camping, and I’m trying several new things. I can’t wait! Since I only have 2 nights and am testing new gear I’ll be staying at a state park in a walk-in only area that I hope will not be full of people this weekend. I am VERY much looking forward to a quiet weekend alone and out of the chaos of the city.
Continue reading “Frivolous Friday: Preparing for Gear Test Weekend”

Frivolous Friday: Preparing for Gear Test Weekend

Frivolous Friday: Preparing For First Camp

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care about that may not have serious implications for atheism or social justice. Any day is a good day to write about whatever the heck we’re interested in (hey, we put “culture” in our tagline for a reason), but we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun. Enjoy!

I keep most of my camping gear stored for the winter in a different city than where I live most of the time, so when the season begins I need to go fetch gear from the garage. I love going in and sorting through my pile of stuff, imagining adventures of the past and future.

While I have a lot of gear, I’ve been moving towards simpler and simpler camp set-ups over time. I don’t want to be daunted by the idea of packing for camp and end up skipping it because things are too complicated. I don’t want set up to take a long time, nor teardown (the worst part of camping). This is the opposite of how most of my big poly family camps – my spouse doesn’t plan ahead as much as me, and preparing for camp tends to be frantically throwing 6 musical instruments, a box of granola bars, and bottle of wine in the car. This works surprisingly well for them! My boyfriend and his family have a big, luxurious camping set up that’s great fun to use with them, but a style I’d rather not do on my own. The full kit requires a full sized van and small trailer but creates an extremely comfortable home for a big group.

Since I have limited time to get out to the trails I want my kit to be simple, light, and able to be kept together most of the time so that I can simply toss socks and food into the kit and get out the door. On my own, simpler is better. As much as I love gear, I just don’t need that much, and I want to carry as little as I can get away with.

This time I pulled out basic lightweight gear only – none of my car camping gear like large tents or air mattresses or lanterns. I stuck with my sleep pad, frame pack, lighter sleeping bag, and an old rain fly from a now-dead tent that I hope to turn into a shelter tarp before heading out. I brought my backpacking tent as well, but my hope is to switch to using my hammock instead when I am on my own. The tent itself sleeps 2 people who really like each other and will keep me dry in nasty storms, but it weighs 6 pounds which is totally unnecessary weight when I’m on my own in good to moderate weather. I would recommend it, though, if it was still being made. Unfortunately the company isn’t in business anymore and my tent is about a decade old and obtained second hand.

I found a small walk-in campground near home to do my gear test. It should be very quiet there in April, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m going in two weeks, which gives me time to adapt the rain fly and plan my food! I’m definitely going to try something new if I can. Perhaps next week I’ll write about the menu once I figure it out.

Frivolous Friday: Preparing For First Camp

Frivolous Friday: Hiker’s Spring Fever

Frivolous Fridays are the Orbit bloggers’ excuse to post about fun things we care a lot about that may not necessarily have serious implications for politics or social justice. Although any day is a good day to write about our passions outside of social issues, we sometimes have a hard time giving ourselves permission to do that. This is our way of encouraging each other to take a break from serious topics and have some fun.

Spring is here! Although Chicago had an incredibly mild winter this year, it’s still exciting to have the weather warming up and flowers start to appear along my walk to work. My winter was a little darker than usual due to working overnight full time and spending a lot of my time in classes and studying, but the winter classes and weather have passed.

I love spending time outdoors when I can, and spend much of my free time fantasizing about camping trips and hiking excursions. The lead up to spring is often full of spending time looking at hiking gear, planning camp food, and searching for fun places to get out of the city. In recent years I haven’t gotten out as much as I’d like. The combination of work, school, and family responsibilities has kept me from camping more than two or three times a year, and kept me from any serious hiking for several years.

This year I don’t have any more free time than I have in the past, but I do have a slightly more predictable schedule, which helps enormously in planning. I also have a few more friends who enjoy this kind of outing, so I have planned weekends away with friends, with partners, and by myself. I’m particularly excited to explore new state parks and try out some new gear, including my new hammock which I hope will be a lighter alternative to my backpacking tent.

In the long run, I’d like to start doing some more serious hikes, possibly starting with the 160 mile River to River trail in Illinois. This summer, though, I’m going to test my newer gear, work on freezer bag cooking recipes, and just get out of the city as much as I can.

As spring and summer advance, keep an eye here on Frivolous Fridays (and any other time I feel like it) for reviews of gear, vegetarian backpacking food options, and maybe some pictures of pretty places I get to visit. Hopefully I will only encounter the fun kinds of bears.

Frivolous Friday: Hiker’s Spring Fever