We saw a Bald Eagle across the creek. Photo by Lee Banov.

Often I will drive around aimlessly through the gravel roads just outside of town. The first time I ever found Eagle Bluffs State Conservation Area was quite by accident a year and half ago. Though what I founded terrified me, I eventually made my way back.

So the first time I found Eagle Bluffs, the sun was setting and I drove south on Providence Road until Columbia rolled away behind the soft hills that I’m so unused to being an Illinois native.

As dusk crept in, I passed Lucy’s Burgers and Beverges in McBaine, Missouri and slowed  my roll on the the dusty gravel road. I saw the sign for “Eagle Bluffs State Conservation Area” reflecting off the dim glow of my headlights.

Intrigued, I turned in. After following the twisty, crackling roads of grey rock for many minutes, ever under the watchful gaze of what appeared to be small water towers, I found myself in the heart of the dark wetlands.

It was there I was shocked to witness the red glow of two parked cars out in the middle of this dark wilderness an hour after sundown. I logically concluded that there only three possible reasons for this dark meeting in the park:

1. They were moving work out.

2. They were moving a body out!

3.They were moving work and a body out!!

I turned around and sped off, ever checking my rearview but never followed.

The area is beautiful when there’s still some sunlight and I’m not worried about witnessing a crime. Photo by Lee Banov.

Anyway, I went back about a year and half later (while it was light out) and had a really great time. Here’s a video of some of the stuff I saw:

This deer decided to have a quiet night in alone while all his friends ran around aimlessly in a swamp. I feel a strange kinship with him. Photo by Lee Banov.