Bugman29
Virgin
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2021
- Posts
- 25
As one drives south on highway 211 there is a stark difference between the two sides of the road. To the right a barren wasteland with reddish brown earth for all to see. The dead tall grass that borders the road sways lazily and does little to hide the emptiness of the landscape. While the left side of the road is lush with green trees that forests the drive. When the wind blows from the south, the dust fills the air from the deserted fields. Where stick like blackened scrub pine tried and failed to bring life to the moon like surface. Traveling further south on the highway 211 you will find the sheriff department for the county. A bleak white building with a garage in the back for the county cruisers. All of this affronts the left side of the road.
Rattlesnake drive twists its way into the wetland. And hence it is called the rattlesnake swamp. A left hand turn on 211 will find you deep in the lush canopy of trees. In places the dirt road narrows and one's vison is limited to just a few feet ahead to another bend in the road. Here the road rises slightly and then dips, it is partly washed away from the rain driven storms. It is a challenge, though not impossible to follow the passage through the tunnel of tree foliage. And find yourself at the cabin on the woods. From here to the sheriff station is about a mile and a half. And the traffic on 211 can not be heard even at night. That is when the swamp comes alive with all the creatures of the night. Wet land birds make there last calls. The deer return to their hiding places and the possums return to the trees. The beetles and water bugs start their night shift of activities.
This is where you find Randy Whitestone, number one swamp rat and frequent visitor to the county lockup. In better times Randy had been paid by the county to paint the sheriff office on route 211. That was quite a while ago. And he avoids the southern side of the road. It is too depressing for his liking, and it makes him want to drink, even his own stuff. Yes, Randy lives in the swamp and loves it. Now and then he gets in his rather battered truck and slides into town to sell some county lighting to two of the smaller stores that hide his stuff under the front counter. The locals know the code word to make a purchase of bottled clear sunshine. The word is rainwater and $20.
Rattlesnake drive twists its way into the wetland. And hence it is called the rattlesnake swamp. A left hand turn on 211 will find you deep in the lush canopy of trees. In places the dirt road narrows and one's vison is limited to just a few feet ahead to another bend in the road. Here the road rises slightly and then dips, it is partly washed away from the rain driven storms. It is a challenge, though not impossible to follow the passage through the tunnel of tree foliage. And find yourself at the cabin on the woods. From here to the sheriff station is about a mile and a half. And the traffic on 211 can not be heard even at night. That is when the swamp comes alive with all the creatures of the night. Wet land birds make there last calls. The deer return to their hiding places and the possums return to the trees. The beetles and water bugs start their night shift of activities.
This is where you find Randy Whitestone, number one swamp rat and frequent visitor to the county lockup. In better times Randy had been paid by the county to paint the sheriff office on route 211. That was quite a while ago. And he avoids the southern side of the road. It is too depressing for his liking, and it makes him want to drink, even his own stuff. Yes, Randy lives in the swamp and loves it. Now and then he gets in his rather battered truck and slides into town to sell some county lighting to two of the smaller stores that hide his stuff under the front counter. The locals know the code word to make a purchase of bottled clear sunshine. The word is rainwater and $20.
