Page 154 - "Mississippi in the 1st Person" - Michael James Stone (Demo/Free)

I always liked hiking because you never knew what you might see.

I was surprised to go from “appearing wild” and desolate Mississippi River Creek to well culti-
vated acreage of a farm.

I don’t know why I was surprised but I stood there about 5 minutes just looking at this flat
farmland.

Going back down to the landing this time I headed up river and as I did I saw in the distance

across the river a tractor traveling parallel to the river on what I could not see but I assume as
also farmland.

Later in the day I heard a vehicle going upstream from me and the unmistakable sounds of the

Thump Thump Thump of a car going over a wooden bridge somewhere out of sight upstream.

Illusions were gone. I knew by the map that there was an area of population and farms before
Coffee Pot Landing, seeing on a map is different than finding in person. It seemed odd.

I knew based on all the barren trees and bushes around, I doubted anyone in spring would ever

notice the things I saw.

This place would be overloaded with growth.

Then I heard it.

It was loud.

It sounded or resembled the sound of a lawn mower

But with more power.

And it was coming closer…,

Walking back down to my camp I arrived just as a quad runner pulling a large land mower
pulled over the crest that led down to the landing. Sitting on the quad was gentleman and two
kids.

As I came closer and he was negotiating the sloped overgrowth with grass road downhill
…….I waited for him and waved as soon as I caught his eye.

The look of shock was enough.

He didn’t expect anyone down here as much as I didn’t expect anyone coming down here.

To say we were both shocked would be an understatement.