#whycantwejusttakealookaroundus

[spotsonmyapples]

Spent the afternoon at Bulge Hole Ecological Area with @shannysue, @mikealderferplaysbass, and #donttellrob for Easter! #friendstagram #naturetime #southernillinois #shawneenationalforest #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus https://www.instagram.com/p/BwiLYCig4DU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wkfn9rpsh19j

[spotsonmyapples]

Good day, great company. :) #friendstagram #forestcemetery #snakeroad #southernillinois #naturetimes #springtime #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus

[spotsonmyapples]

The view wasn't to be beat on this overcast day. #snakeroad #southernillinois #naturetimes #springtime #swampvibes #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus #surroundedbycolor (at Larue-Pine Hills National Natural Landmark)

[spotsonmyapples]

Finally tracked down Blood of the Ancestors with the help of these wonderful hiking buddies. #southernillinois #naturetime #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus #rockstagram #rockart #nativeamericanhistory #nativeamericanart (at Stoneface) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Z_0WDJSj3/?igshid=e7795bhysv2q

[spotsonmyapples]

Crossed this off my #southernillinois bucket list: While hiking in the Bald Knob Wilderness this afternoon, I found Odie's Place! #abandoned #naturetime #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Bald Knob Wilderness) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Jcvs2J-jq/?igshid=bn6n3fi1rba3

[spotsonmyapples]

Made it halfway up Trigg Tower before chickening out. Still a lovely sunset view. #southernillinois #shawneenationalforest #fearofheights #latergram #sunsets #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Trigg Lookout Tower) https://www.instagram.com/p/B33OdaYJITf/?igshid=9jzghrfiq2tn

[spotsonmyapples]

Finally made it to the stunning Millstone Bluff today on my way back to Carbondale. #southernillinois #naturetime #historywalk #latergram #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Millstone Bluff) https://www.instagram.com/p/B33OD0JJmti/?igshid=em5yr19mn26q

[spotsonmyapples]

With my writing buddy out of town, I took the day off and hooked part of the #rivertoriver and Panther Den Loop trails. #shawneenationalforest #southernillinois #naturetime #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Panther Den Wilderness) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3K5GSEBMSi/?igshid=baxl966q5wci

[spotsonmyapples]

With my writing buddy out of town, I took the day off and hooked part of the #rivertoriver and Panther Den Loop trails. #southernillinois #shawneenationalforest #naturetime #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Panther Den Wilderness) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3K3_c1h5g3/?igshid=11gi59ylnm9k7

[spotsonmyapples]

This tree floored me today--in the morning light, with the changing colors, over a lawn of fallen leaves? Gorge. Everytime I come home--literally every time--I think about how much I love my beautiful neighborhood. #southernillinois #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HaofQpu7N/?igshid=1i9biuzzp82jn

[spotsonmyapples]

Also, met this frog-buddy on the trail. 💚🐸 #frogstagram #frogsofinstagram #naturetime #southernillinois #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Little Grand Canyon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B29i4_fpgrH/?igshid=c9llgul8fu9t

[spotsonmyapples]

Took a morning hike at the Little Grand Canyon. I had to turn back due to flooding the last time I was here, and the bottoms are still a little confusing with washed out sections and bushwhacked workarounds. In some places, signs at shoulder height were caked in mud! #lgc #littlegrandcanyon #southernillinois #naturetime #fallcolors #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Little Grand Canyon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B29iTuLJalg/?igshid=v8lwzneinash

[spotsonmyapples]

Mantis on wild rose #naturetimes #summertime #sunsetwalk #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus (at Carbondale, Illinois)

[spotsonmyapples]

I just fuckin' love this place, and I'm a little afraid no place else in the world is this special and beautiful. #southernillinois #surroundedbycolor #whycantwejusttakealookaroundus #naturetimes #sunsetwalk (at Campus Lake)