2009-10-08 33 -84

Graticule

About

In the back yard of a farmer in Stone Mountain Georgia.

Expedition

NWoodruff

As I first drove up, I noticed that it is a really old house under renovation. There were two cars parked beside the stand alone garage. The front porch is missing off the front of the house so the front door is up about 3 feet from the ground with no steps up to the door.

I walk up to the front door and knock on the bottom of the door, a spot a little above chest high. There is a door bell but appeared to not work. I knocked once more. Nothing. I took a picture of my GPS and started to walk away. I was walking back to my truck with my back to the house and someone shouted "What do you want." It kind of startled me.

I'm assuming that he has has problems with people on his property before. It was an older gentleman in his late 60's or early 70's. I told him my name, and explained a little about Geohashing. I had the google map in my hand and showed him that. I explaind that I would like to walk on his property and take a picture of the eTrex. I ask "May I?" and he responded with "No you may not!"

I said "Okay, thanks for your time" and turned to walk off. A classic case of a "No Trespassing". As I was walking back to my truck his wife walked out of the house and he shouted to me "Hey, Mister, explain to my wife what you want".

So I walk back and explain again to his wife almost exactly what I said to him. She looks at him and says that she doesn't see any problem with it. She wants to know who I am and I show her my drivers license. She looks at is and sees that I live in Norcross which is only 10 miles away.

She looks at him and says that I am a local boy and it is okay. He then says "Okay, I'll walk over there with you". He askes how will I know when I've got to the spot on the map. I show him that the eTrex has numbers displayed and when the numbers on the map match the numbers on the eTrex I am on the spot.

He looks at me and says "Wow, that must be an expensive device." I tell him that I found mine on sale for $57 at the "Outdoor store".

I take a few pictures and then he has me walk back through the garden. They are growing everything from beets, to peas, to peppers to okra. He picks up a basket and starts collecting vegetables. He then says that I can have all of what he is collecting.

I thank him and then make my way back to my truck. I wave goodbye one last time before I head to Norcross.