Crab Orchard Lake cont.......

As the light worsened, it also got rather beautiful. Crab Orchard is a very large lake with a couple of causeways that cross it. We followed a map across one of them and around a small area of the refuge.
A lone fisherman at the end of the pier.

Some gulls waiting to see if he catches anything!

I liked the light on the water

The sun was still fairly high, but too many clouds. This was the night before the snow storm.

This was a small pond we went by. The light made the pond look like aluminum foil.

"Duck Butts in Aluminum"

Backing off a bit gave a more golden glow :-)

We passed a lot of fences and gates and this sign indicating that during the war this was a huge Ordnance Plant. I guess if you are going to make bombs, out in the middle of nowhere is a good place to do it. There is still activity going on there in one part.

Another little pond was surrounded by tall grass. I bet in warmer weather this is a pretty place. We will definitely have to go back on a sunnier day.

There was a lot of tree damage still evident from the huge ice storm of 2008. This isn't part of it, but the road was lined with damaged areas.

Hmmm......this little pile of feathers was next to the viewing platform. Someone had a meal. Hawk or maybe an animal hunting?

This is out of order, but I liked this shot :-)

Well, by this time it was really getting dark and we have a 2 hours journey back home. We will go back. I know there is lots more to see including a railroad you can ride. This lake is on the edge of the Shawnee National Forest, which covers the southern tip of Illinois. Same area that I posted last year from Garden of the Gods.