Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Van Patten Woods
Right next to where the Des Plaines River Trail starts is Van Patten Woods. I had no intention of skipping such a scenic park.
Van Patten Woods is a large forest preserve that marks the first major area that the Des Plaines River Trail goes through as it works its way south. The park has several more trails and that left me a little confused on how to classify this one.
Technically I did follow a trail for this adventure. But its one that never leaves this preserve and takes a good tour around the corner missed by my last adventure. Its labeled Yellow Trail if you want to recreate this walk.
Though this is a trail, and even has mile markers, I skipped over them in the pictures. Instead I focused on the forest around the park and the cloudy sky above. Some of the photos came out blurry but I think they still showcase this place well enough to be included.
Van Patten Woods has a lot of the wonderful scenes that made my adventure feel unique. Even though I traveled some of these places on the Des Plaines River Trail, it was from different angles and in different weather too.
Normally people visiting from Florida would have an issue with the drastic change in temperature. But I’m originally from this part of Illinois. This isn’t cold. Maybe a bit chilly from all my time in the sunshine state. But low 50 degrees Fahrenheit is not what would have me shiver. Try below freezing for what would get me to not go outside.
Enough about the weather though. There are several trails in this park that take different loops. I came here twice for this blog and still feel like I missed entire sections. I’ll have to visit again one day. Though it will be a long time since I come to this part of the country maybe once a year.
The last time I tried to explore areas around northern Illinois, most of it was flooded. Thankfully this time the park was dry and there were no areas that were blocked. I wonder what Van Patten Woods looks like when it does flood?
I enjoyed my time at Van Patten Woods. And so did the people I sent these images to early. I’m experimenting with using multiple forms of social media. If I get some results, I might write about them. This blog helps document my journey after the fact, but there are ways I could share the adventure’s live.
I didn’t mention this earlier, but I didn’t go on this walk alone. Instead, this was one of my few adventures with a friend. And not just any friend. I reconnected with a friend from high school who I hadn’t spoken to in years. Thus making my trip through Van Patten Woods also a chance to catch up. Something that I have difficulty doing since my life has changed so much in the last five years.
Thinking about how much has changed in my life is wild especially considering this blog offers a window into those changes. Hard to believe how long I have been exploring parks. Never expected that what started as a one off adventure turned into a life changing choice.
Van Patten Woods was nothing short of amazing in Pokémon Go. From start to finish there were countless spawns. You can see some of the stops and gyms in the background, but the forest is too large for this image. There were plenty of stops and gyms to spin and enough spawns that I didn’t even use my blue incense.
Was too worried I would miss something rare by using it. And that was a good choice. Even in the picture above you can see some rare Pokémon. If you are in north east Illinois and have a chance to come here, I would recommend it. Between the game and the wonderful sights, you won’t be disappointed.
Helioptile was with me once more on my adventure through Van Patten Woods. So long as there isn’t hail in the sky, this Pokémon can adapt to any weather. Cloudy and serene is one type of weather that just about any Pokémon would enjoy. Look at all the contentment in that little face.
As promised, to him that is, here is a picture with me and my friend who I caught up with. He had a blast too and told me he might check out a few parks near where he lives. The fact that we met up at all was pretty contrived. We live in different states and both were visiting family up in Illinois.
So he came on this adventure because I found out he was in town and asked if he wanted to go walk around a park. A shame he doesn’t play Pokémon Go. But I’ll forgive him. I was happy that I got to catch up with a friend at all. Too many times I have found it hard to reconnect.
I should be back in Florida for my next post. So look forward to more of that. But I’ll return to Illinois eventually and continue this adventure.