This week the state fair is back. Car windows are down and motorcycles abound on this perfect day of summer. Fair goers are weaving their lane-changing magic, heading downtown for a carefree day of funnel cakes and ferris wheels, so long missed.
Our car turns north, to one of our great city metro parks. We are in pursuit of the Natural Adventure promised by Cache Owner nancydrewrules, hidden three years ago.
Speed immediately slows as we enter the park. Golden ragwort and Sunday bikers enfold us in the green globe.

We hike by foot across the prairie, sun blazing in a thousand shades of emerald. A sudden blast of horseflies rises. Dive-bombing, they chase. The prairie has given birth to giant insects, jeweled butterflies, and fast-running humans.

Having won that little run for our lives, we regroup and find the real trail. Sounds of traffic fade into the distance, breezes cool, leaves whisper. The canopy of oaks and maples surround, green above and brown below, silencing our footfalls.
Iroquois chiefs and pioneer settlers whisper from the past, along with the great forest monarchs. Today’s trees, planted by farmers and the wind, wait for children of the touch screen to come and play.

We wander among fallen logs, following nancydrewrules as she creates her mystery for us. A pile of timber looks accidental but hides the log we seek. Like all great detectives, nancydrewrules has given us just enough clues.
