Much of the day was spent driving through beautiful Tennessee and Kentucky. It was hot. Around this time of year, the sun rises at 5:30 am and sets at 9:30 pm.
For the first time this whole trip, I was able to make camp early at Fort Mason State Park near Metropolis, Illinois- noted to be the home of Superman. It turns out this camp site would be the cheapest of all the camp site I would stay at- $8 for tent site and $11 for full hook ups. The park itself is on the border of a city and has a Kentucky Fried Chicken and Sonic fastfood restaurant, as well as other shops across the street. I don't ever recall having such "conveniences" at any other state park. In fact, the park may have once been a city park with the camping area added.
I had almost stopped at King's Inn in Paduka, Kentucky, near the border of Illinois, and stayed there for $25 total. There was a laundry mat across the street. The neighborhood didn't seem all that great, so I figured I may as well go camp out. I drove through downtown and to the end of the city where it ended at a river. Then went back and got some gasoline and headed to Metropolis, Illinois.
Everyone else had an RV and were sitting around chatting, while I was in a tent alone in the primitive area. It was a nice quiet evening as I finished off the leftover catfish meal from the casino this morning. I watched a documentary on RV's and a senior man said he and his wife had to be careful where they camped because America is not as safe as it use to be. When a state park has a bunch of seniors around with their RV's, then it's probably a safe place. I like the silence of the tent site away from the crowd.
Then I hit the shower and headed off to bed. Tomorrow morning would be spent at the casino in Metropolis. Back in 1994, I didn't recall Metropolis having a casino, but back then I wouldn't have really cared.
At night a pickup came around spraying the park for quite a while- circling the camp area many times. Not sure what sort of spray it was, but it it looked foggish. If this insect killer, then my take on it is this: Insects are part of the outdoor experience, and above all, they are a part of nature, and we should, try our best to preserve what is nature. I read a very beautiful quote in Outdoor Survivl Skills by Larry Dean Olsen (1981, page 73): "All life, from a tiny insect to a hot-tempered moose, has a sacred right to fulfill the measure of its creation and in no way does this fulfillment require that a beast becomes sport for man. Hunting for existence is a different proposition altogether and reflects a more serious and mature relationship with nature. Hunger is a humbling and killing creates a void in the earth taht is justified not by a shelf laden with trophies but rather by sincere need."
How many times have we ever killed insects unthinkingly- I know I am guilty. I wonder how many of us ever think when we step on a roach or swat a misquito what those creature purposes are on earth. Maybe they are carriers of germs and diseases to kill the weak so that the strong may continue- survival of the fitess, and also provides a form or population control. I'm sure man has a purpose on earth- and unfortunately, it seems one of their purpose is to be the enemy of all livings things, even to himself.
