Just returned from 3 days on the Upper Sauk River. It was remarkable to travel this waterway that in 2003 took out several cabins hanging on to its banks. The houses are totally gone. Except, they actually are not totally gone, they are scattered along the banks of this river for miles.
Propane tanks, kitchen floors, lawnmowers, a generator, a vacuum cleaner, bicycles, more blue tarps than a person would ever want to see, a tent trailer, huge decks, carpets, kitchen drawers and cabinets, a plastic toy outhouse (??!), and even an oil painting of an elk. Hey that painting has held up well wrapped around a stick on the riverbank for the past 5 years!
I was on a volunteer trip with the Nature Conservancy, surveying and treating a noxious weed called Japanese Knotweed.
Because of this work we stopped and walked each gravel bar, bushwhacking through brush (watch out for the nettles and devils club!) and climbing massive logjams (watch out for the rusty nails!) I was not expecting to see so much human detritus, but it was interesting. The boy would have loved it.
The wild character was still there on the river, however. I saw tracks of coyote, bear, deer, racoon and squirrel.
There were eagles and nighthawks. As we explored all the riverbanks there were so many small flowers and plants I wanted to stop and identify. There were tadpoles and salmon fry in ponds. And we did not see anyone outside our group for three days.
Thanks, Shane, the trip was fantastic and the food was marvelous.
Not a bad way to get to work, eh?
