Saturday, June 7, 2008

Enter Summer...

After 30 degree nights at the end of May, summer suddenly settled on us in the last 10 days! We have been treated to alternating sun and thunderstorms, with a continuous wave of humidity throughout. It's so warm and damp some days it feels like you could swim in the air. (I can't really explain that phenomenon any more than that.) I am back on hospital rotations this month and already dehydration is becoming a common admission complaint.

Pimiteoui
Nonetheless, we got out for a great hike last week. Starting the Nature Center where I met the turkeys, a couple of friends and I headed up the river cliffs to Grandview Drive. Some other time I'll share a picture or two of the impressive mini-mansions. This time, it's just the view!
Bet you did not expect that expanse in the middle of Illinois! It certainly took me by surprise. :)

And for a little history - this area originally was the land of the Peoria Indians. Most of the early settlers happen to have been French, I believe, which is reflected in the names of the surrounding towns. Creve Coeur, Illinois, always presents a spelling challenge to unfamiliar transplants like myself as our pens pause over discharge papers wondering what letter comes next and wishing we had a geographically oriented spell-checker.

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