The exploration began as a search for ponds.
Somewhere back behind a wooded area, down through a ravine and across a no name ditch, were supposed to be a couple of ponds, maybe four.
It took long enough to figure out where to park. The only road is a two lane. It doesn’t get much traffic, but it winds its way down one side of the wide ravine and up the other. A couple of blind turns and no shoulder to pull onto makes it difficult to stop along the road. Would be just my luck to get side swiped by one of the few cars to come this way.
I decided to pull into the abandoned drive of an abandoned farm.
This was a mistake. I knew immediately that going to find the ponds would have to wait till another day. There were abandoned buildings to be explored.
I’ve had a fascination with exploring abandoned buildings all my life. Growing up in Chicago, even as a kid fences and barbed wire didn’t keep me from this quest. Houses, apartment buildings, office buildings and warehouses were all fair game. There was always a way in.
I think the fascinating part of this exploring is partly due to the things found, but also due to the fact that I don’t understand how people can get up and walk away from buildings. To let them slowly rot into the ground makes no sense to me. Even now when I drive through old Chicago neighborhoods that have seen better days, I’ll come across a boarded up building. I have to fight the urge to hop out of the car, go pry plywood from a door or window and go wander through the building.
For now, I have nothing further to say about this area. I never made it very far. I kept wandering around the buildings, remnants of old walls and climbing over piles of stuff.
The thing I was struck by the most was the old fading red paint of the barn. It wasn’t going to disappear quickly and clung to wood and metal tenaciously.
For now, just pictures of the ruins. I never even took any of the surrounding area.
Eventually I’ll go find those ponds.
Travis
28 Apr 2011Where I need that barn wood….
The Four Season Angler
29 Apr 2011Travis – It’s F.P. property now. I would be careful about taking anything off F.P. property without permission. Maybe you can bring in a burlap sack with you and do some “trash clean-up”?
Ken, you got lost.
I envy you.
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Ken G
29 Apr 2011Travis, I thought of the same thing. The last FP property I explored, they wound up burning all the buildings down. I knew I should have taken a few things.
I was told there are no buildings on the FP site, so I have no clue who owns theses buildings. They must be right on the border of the property.
Tim Silva
29 Apr 2011Ken,
Some of your best catches yet. You were not skunked this day.
Ken G
29 Apr 2011Thanks. I’m thinking of finishing what I started over this weekend. I’m afraid if I wait too long, the way there will become impassable. I can only take so many thorns.