Into the Oven

Full moon night, February. My exploration partner and I were met with perfect conditions at Indianapolis Coke & Gas. We saw an 8:30 moonrise from the high tower, the flattened and tallow-colored orb rising with surprising speed. But the best shots were not of the moon, but of the inky industrial decay. After the moonrise we went down into the coke oven itself. The reek down there is aweful--a chemical smell like lawn herbicide or something equally nasty. But it was worth it to see the "stalagtites" of rust forming around some of the oven valves.