Homer Lake Forest Preserve

Homer is a small agricultural town in Champaign County Illinois.
Not to be confused with Homer, Alaska, home of Tom Bodette the "We'll leave the light on for ya"  Motel  6 guy
This Homer may be best known, if at all, for the Homer Soda Company
Claiming 250 flavors -- there are some strange ones for sure!
(Kitty Piddle being one)

We didn't get to Homer itself, but the Forest Preserve north of town.

The Salt Fork of the Vermilion River runs nearby -- so named for salt springs that pioneers used to preserve food -- and leading to the city of Danville, Illinois

Perfect day for cycling, temp in the 70' and light winds

A 5 star ride -- no question!


 Arrival at Kolb Park, St. Joesph, Illinois
Headed south out of St. Joseph
Turn on to Homer Lake Road

First view of Homer Lake    A constructed feature created by damming Conkey Branch of the Salt Fork River.

Previously, there was quite a resort along the Salt Fork River -- long gone now'

Read about it HERE

Entering the park


Glacial Erratic Boulders
Homer Lake

Elderly gentleman out for a quiet kayak cruise

Much to our surprise, he began making bubbles with a giant wand!
One travelled quite a way down the lake





"Natural Playscape"


Spillway
Downstream side of the spillway -- streams here are much more deeply incised than our area in northern Vermilion County


Photo bombed ourselves

Salt Fork south of the park

A more familiar scene on the way to Hidden Acres



Hidden Acres


Pond covered with Duck Weed



All too soon it was time to head back to St. Joesph and home  😢

A true 5 star ride on a 5 star day!!

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