This time of year here on the Sangamon River, we reflect on a major milestone passed by our planet during its annual trek around our star. A milestone for which it’s been destined all year long. Most of us know that our Earth tilts on it’s rotational axis. And this slight tilt gives us all of our seasons and brings […]

A funny thing happened on the Sangamon in the last few weeks: It cleared up. There’s something about clear water. Clear water is clean water and muddy water is dirty water. Period. There’s no way to know what’s under the surface of muddy water. But clear water shows all. And its cool to see what’s down there. My morning coffee […]

The Sangamon River these November days is flowing as clear as the results of my recent election campaign for Champaign County Clerk (I lost bigtime). As many savvy readers know (hi, Mom!), I took time away from writing this Notes from the River column to run for County Clerk, an office that for a political scientist like me could have […]

  Well, this column is not actually about biking in a river, but it is about biking in and around the Sangamon Valley. And as much as I enjoy kayaking and canoeing, I also enjoy cycling the Sangamon Valley’s bike paths and county roads as they weave their way through forests, prairies, cornfields and crisscrossing the Sangamon River all the […]

Yes, it’s that time of year! Time for “those days of soda, and pretzels and beer” according to Nat King Cole. The Summer Solstice passed on June 21. After this longest day of the year, the days have already started getting shorter again even as the temperatures remain high. The Summer Solstice found Carol and me with our feet propped […]

  He shouldered his kayak and walked down the path toward the Sangamon River by the historic Hazen Bridge. The Hazen Bridge was one of his favorite spots along the river. There was something about these old single-lane iron truss bridges that evoked a feeling of the past, of times gone by, and of remembering what had gone before. He […]