Scenes from an autumn Sunday

Sunny, warm and that autumn feel of drying fields in the air.  After lunch we got into the car and meandered off, randomly choosing roads we didn't know.  We drove through miles of fields ready for harvest, tiny villages of neat little houses and then along the Illinois River.  It was fun to drive with no agenda, follow our whims and see what we discover.  

We followed a sign off the beaten track about 2 miles to a U-Pick Pumpkin Patch (strictly honor system).

Of course a few pumpkins came home with us.  I'm a sucker for u-pick.  This would have been more fun with grandkids but oh well...

The grain barges are starting to move on the Illinois River

In Henry, IL someone must have released some domestic geese by the river.  They have multiplied over the years and now number in the hundreds, a large and noisy flock that dominates the waterfront park.  I asked a local guy what the story was and he just drawled, "Oh, they've been here a long time now.  Sure make a mess of the park."

Goose flotilla on the river.  This is only a small portion of them.

Exploring country lanes.