Rockwood to Muddy River; Distance = 33 Miles; People Met = 5
We followed close to the mighty Mississippi along the Levee Road for most of the way. The weather has been perfect at the right time. We’ve seen a mosquito, butterfly and dandelions the past couple days. If we were traversing the open levee in high winds or a storm life would be most unpleasant. Soon we will be in National Forest, sheltered from any future tempest that might come.
In January?
I hear people from the open west describe their experience amongst hills and forest as “claustrophobic.” A westerner’s “claustrophobic” is an easterner’s “shelter.” We went through the plains of Kansas and Missouri at the right time, as was planned. That the open part of Illinois should be accompanied by good weather also is an added bonus. Hopefully, real bad weather will be kept at a minimum. An ice storm would be the worst and we would seek a rest day(s) should that occur. Yet at least we will be in hills and forest for the next couple of weeks if bad weather should arrive.
Devil’s Backbone Campground in Grand Tower marks one end of the River-to-River Trail. We stayed two nights with the park manager and mayor of Grand Tower, Mike Ellet, and his wife Joyce. Mike thru-hiked the River-to-River Trail on mules and welcomed the chance to “shoptalk” with us. Joyce works in a nursing home and got to “shoptalk” a bit with Cindy as well.
Mike and Joyce Ellet
Mike warned us of athletic people being surprised by the trail; I think he half suspected we might be such “victims.” (Ed K, if you are reading this remember “You’ll never make it!”) His caution to us is consistent with the RtoRT guidebook warning people that you can’t go over one mph in the wilderness areas. I know where Mike is coming from, in that I’ve seen college athletes in soccer and basketball “surprised” by wilderness backpacking. Yet I suspect that Mike and the guidebook author might themselves be “surprised” by our experience level. I glance to the east at the topography we are about to face and nothing comes close to the 3,000 feet in 3 miles of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, or even the gentler but prolonged climbs of 500 feet per mile in the western mountains.
Mike is a native to Grand Tower and we learned a little bit about the history from him. One tidbit is relevant to my message across the country. A power plant came to the area employing 400 people. Eventually the plant became fully automated and now employs five. You can imagine the impact this had on Grand Tower and I believe there is a lesson here for all communities.
Sugar daddy businesses are great; lots of employment and lots of taxes with nary any effort by the town; indulgence at its finest. Yet the sugar daddy comes with the price of the “tail wagging the dog,” while its ultimate allegiance is not to the town’s welfare. Grand Tower found that out the hard way. I generally dislike hypotheticals, but here’s a thought-provoking one for you.
Power plant looming large over a farm
If a community can autonomously meet it’s local energy needs through small scale projects, never employing more than ten people, would you take that deal over hosting a regional large scale energy project that starts out as a sugar daddy ruling the town, yet ultimately employs no more than ten (or less) down the road? Do you go for the short term riches or the long term stability?
Other Photos
Johnnie and Lisa minding the local store
We would not dare drink from this piped spring (wink, wink)
Some folks need multiple cues I guess
If this picture appears blurry you've had too much coffee
