Penning Photography Daily

The home of my youth had 13 acres of land. On part of that land, this creek, Spring Creek, ran through it as it butted up against a steep hill to a bluff.

It was the playground of my youth.

There was a large tree that lay across the creek, and we would use it to cross the creek, seeking further adventures, climbing up the hill or at the top of the bluff. Imagination ran as wild as we did.

The Sangamon Valley Trail ( www.springfieldparks.org/bicycletrails/SangValleytrail.asp ), which was built from an abandoned railroad bed, now runs through this area. High above the creek bed, on top of the old train trestle, the trail passes over the creek. I could not help but stop for reflection, and to grab a photograph of a place so similar to where my brothers and sisters and I would have a passel of fun and try not to kill or maim each other.

What brought a deep satisfactory smile to me is that the scene looks nearly the same as it did almost half a century ago.

Perhaps I’ll climb down, off the trail, and strike out for new adventures, one day.