Living on the River Part 1

I've come across some unexpected things in the last 6 months on my walks along the Mississippi River.   I have some rules that I go by now. The first one is don't be here alone.  Be safe.  Second is if it looks like someone is coming back don't disturb their stuff however much it looks like trash.  I don't know what issues this person suffers from (alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness), but they don't need me making it worse. This is a photo taken in the summer. I hope this guy has found other shelter because it's now getting colder with every passing day.  If this spot were closer to my home I would probably go back here periodically to see if it was "abandoned" to do some pick up.

This sleeping bag floating downstream last April should have been my first clue about people living along the Mississippi River in camps.  I was never able to retrieve this out of the water.

I have picked up a lot of clothes since I've been doing this.  At first I was disturbed when I would find clothes along the river because it feels, well creepy and I worried that something sinister was going on.  I think the truth is that when a person who is homeless has to carry possessions they just naturally lighten their load.  Used clothing is cheap and easy to replace.  The Salvation Army downtown sells clothes priced by the pound.

Backpacks.  I see these all the time. If they are empty, dirty, falling apart, I will dispose of them.