Interruption on the bank of the Little Susitna River

I drove away from the Grotto and then decided I wanted to post the previous entry before I returned home. The bridge at the Little Su seemed like a good place to do so, but there were a couple of cars in the tiny downstream parking lot where I would normally pull off. I wanted to be alone with just Lynx, my thoughts, and my iPhone. On the upstream side of the bridge, there is a turnoff with a gravel road that leads to a private gate about 50 yards away. I pulled to the side of the road, well short of that gate and started to work on my post. I had not gotten far when I was startled to hear a knock on my window. I turned to see this gentleman, Alaska State Trooper Lindberg. He informed me I had parked on private property. I had to leave.

He was pleasant, professional, polite and respectful and was only doing his job. Still, it is a bit of a jarring thing to have your head into the middle of something and to be interrupted in such a manner. I suggested to him that next time he spoke with the property owner, he might suggest he post some "no trespassing signs" near the bridge. He told me I would be welcome to contribute to a fund to help the owner do just that, as he had put up many such signs only to have them torn down and stolen. This, I did not doubt. Even the bullet-ridden place signs on the bridge have disappeared.

He said he frequently finds people down here doing drugs, some of them with needles hanging out their necks. He said he had saved some lives, right here. I did not enjoy the experience at all, but damn - as beautiful and serene as is the setting my little community sits in, it does have a very dark fringe. Officer Lindberg's job can sometimes become most dangerous.

He absolutely did not need to stop the yellow car coming down Schrock Road so that I could pull out, but, as embarrassing as this unnecessary action was, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.