This is a true story.
I take Beau over to the tracks under Morgan Ford to let him run. On this particular early spring day a train came chugging down the tracks. Beau was on one side of the train, I was on the other. Panicked that he would get hit, I tried to cross to his side. The train guys saw us and stopped the train so I could cross!
Then this guy mildly scolded me for being on private property.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwx3lM0I1CGXmy9jgU9yfqcAzYODee_iZrKO8-DwLmTVvyYLBydTSoyVRviVf9h57Ln7VTKVGb3asTGvM5LY08NzO9WBFvP9FabpEE949SWx0xfVES2qSnf8DGsLBMGhUgqNA/s320/tr+nice+train+guy+that+didn%27t+kill+beau.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kkiZDvuJsjwTDNKdaDZEwa76ltxt764g9n9AG895x_bXwwfgUGQRgYdnu6uxSbwFlgagAMXdp3SwF3IPp4N6nGrF3KcN-QL2bx7IbQlWthtoxPkW-28DQRhTwrNvHTjvJZoh/s320/tr+our+near+death+experince.jpg)
This area was once a spur to the main tracks, the rails have been removed. Now it's a dumping area and a trail that I walk with Beau.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLvPcmpdDJ_DHMDRjZC00Z8oF-Wk8foEFPnfwppF4yM1UDDkLX_-dqog82vfTExR46lW6aatCgO-pE_f-HxjnlmXpJ14K_3HaT8Hct_crFQBm02yeuW4i7OgJrXBaF6pjlMfn/s320/tracks99.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsozC5PpqhyphenhyphenSkTOftHZJxkuHekucDB2U7z-qymp2a8U5E7VxKmrjV5mgXnchrv_MOwJJOSDl0rpXrAzqP_bD7MS8r4MjNDy5nubyuzxqY6pcEue33kWkONzF5o5gvqQuZSMBb/s320/tracks97+running+cloud.jpg)
Beau's native name is Running Cloud.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuV0jTQM2SjXe4urbwJWoKRMQBbgSTzyFdGk2__sMPsUJ5Cc86420SC8Mp2uVnQ43lUtuFWu6lYR2NemAzM7M9o5b13vE26Akp_i0PNpFkiJEtVYkzG0QCVP_qZ70kvo8cm2l/s320/tracks98.jpg)
This is a rural area in the heart of the Tower Grove South neighborhood that is progressively becoming one massive dump.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCQVnEWdC0ppdOU-SacVurV2hb82JpFzxLB14O2gIMBlFYtEPKxqHbjny6GucwibGcqCyzM5_kUW6VP1VdUj_0iut9OoBn6La1vkW1tcJwCqXiuvrqV7g3kbcZ5H6D0k6Hqej/s320/tr+about+50+tires+dumped+in+this+area.jpg)
I stopped counting at fifty tires.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4t7qkT7cahR-u-XlJWTVK2wwRrI86URiGHu612USbIvSA-szjI5kUDg72xA5AOsvNRKUzPAEjzOF1iQM2oUPIrinJRL4JUIzEmWcPN0eS9Tl_NXeHqOaH9YjRVxMxYeKxN9d/s320/tr+more+tires.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI2aRWEqnCzgf_FSP-YaKCrIPyozZ39c5kk_TLXSqYa1q1eWiv7-fjtlB1r2tyFxK3w687yo1FV0cjhS1ZDg-fYZm2OfDP_n4BSCjy2DVsDg5Q_-bW9xGxjpmdV-cGHiUsxKm/s320/tr+barrell.jpg)
Looking west towards Kingshighway. Home Depot is on the left.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCMsOWL3gRKvISfDn0C52_8OJpreuVgtVxVfF4pgWyzvgJ469UXQkIkn1vk6IBNzgwc4TT1hWh2SH4efbIVW31wQzFaL-uv21Dh1KnpaxQjVdevy3X0dWJoDSHmIsNznKyBZA/s320/tr+tracks+towards+kingshighway.jpg)
Looking east to the Morgan Ford Bridge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy3KT4uTQVU70qxoCH904WobokiBgr7laC0v_OL2ocaCq7N6JUBlB82V9W8CVsIGSr5Z4qQAiUVgLGMVzO7OSbRIwhpIVsvsE1HICPcn0muIzAohoS9u-GSspk5-oMylR4GDw/s320/tr+MGF+bridge.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWNuqZ30-PHP8UzMnRJ6XTeCyQlpvdiPEskKGe6Rt9dGRkvvia5MxuuOVnarBCaTSDJr4zap5_MmOqAkI0XwvzN6zEBB4rnCkAP7ySPl-tyWBOdXiA2zi4Vjp24iXRs5gk_uu/s320/tr+mgf+bridge+wall.jpg)
Tree growing in retaining wall.
Just try to stop nature!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4nIXpYCTDZ1tndqd2UAOE8DdUi2uzL2sjROqsDypOON7ys_066UgUwyANqTVyvkYnwEgPhoa5A5SnJdfKSw9rgHk1yqENWqTbNC3I_VaLu30ZaYcISxiezSu6tIMUQpGJrGT/s320/tr+tree+growing+out+of+retaining+wall.jpg)
Graffiti is everywhere and sometimes with mysterious messages. Accompanying the uninspired graffiti, hundreds of empty paint cans.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvWPzHhkKY3IFPyTNLUdNTfs6Ee0R_lexVgrdnLE_iNpIfxtHUgCMLoNZaPdPxe8qezuXN32tMUGWLpV6SBAjclWmVAGQAxEgIUngWmRZy7agilbeCqWf5oDXc0USalb6_o9c/s320/tr+beau+gra2.jpg)
Beaver.
Say this word and every adolescent boy giggles, grown men become focused and feminists scowl.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcSE7-qKt55j8k-z_zFwc0ViaGaW9zYMpp4yUhaMMXna4j4rIAa7J0GZfrv5TbegNA_zslJVYraug83x7t7mZIDKEkDuugxI50MrdBxk4MY56hf5c0mK43B133PLBHS7B1tYL/s320/tr+Beaver.jpg)
Stale horse
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8s8OPE53eSAWFUTyuzwPD4BK_PJv9Y8AWitns6LoX5LBY-XInuLw2HNQvYXr4Bne1gowt8DAgyDyM1v0071N8QCX20Rhciwoo9o2R1C1U9Zxa-Ut2fL0DTJVp2yKOdYXZJS9R/s320/tr+stale+horse.jpg)
St Louis is just like Compton.
(Sure, cause no one changes their style of graffiti lettering)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoblXUBRrLr-P6VqVXZd0ue4p0Zc1CqwN0mAQB2U1E-GZdQe08dBt6mbFGrsFEOxU4ARowldvNPkhJOj8nzrlD1QR38xfl-mE_f3xEwsUJsArLwx0tKcHitYsTv0IXF90flbb/s320/tr+st+louis+is+just+like+compton.jpg)
My favorite:
Revenge. I know 2 much.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus5ILSM7-RagYoSoTo-wuZogWX1zB_kLqtDfvCs_R-UbBWGMQqHGl0FASqIEO7C9rP6LI0WZalYL2ZPu127xlHahjGeLwAw0dnKzMyQofg7ewzpKq_OSHx8OrmLBvFQh113NO/s320/tr+revenge+i+know+2+much.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW-m6utMh5JM3u2l3n90OJ_PHlyMZcv4NJVKX0r6Mc49tM5eDeJdLqOf0Y1_zQ8DcJJEd07G33J_xYf4wP1MMNmbqUQMO_4gP6s7qUrhyDs-5G_9Vu49q-p53a3S6gfJpdgrS/s320/tr+graffiti.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpwtxEUHLYT-dnrH9oCVqFUQ1AcuiU22MA0_IEGQWIeXaa17KWhz_Br424ot2a_LhyphenhyphenuusfYpCv2ssuKyUvUGo81YjFQwB8Kdr1ZZb6SZZ78Vh0Ifg4G3UupLXJMUzBl-J_JQs/s320/tr+graf1.jpg)
The red arrow points to a huge open field that is seldom used yet mowed. Sometimes I see people playing soft ball there. I'm guessing it's five acres.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZBrPuTK_aHjhcJrOrDIlXoRmntBBzzHJxe2MMxScao3gjUzD9MS6_9lgdv57AsS02GnjOfx4qaRqk1C44oOQRPm-5j8Iy7wP9ep0bBNviz22wOLGF6MZdCmCjijzxQ1-D4t7/s320/tr+unused+yet+maintained+field.jpg)
Pumice rocks scored from along the tracks. Photo'd on a railroad tie.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ga5nPi8ARkeafRlEJsE4YXTkO-XUXJ8hPGin1a3anRfSbl_YAusS_rZH1QLdn4jiW_7zwFPS7xDYpBcY-zRgPWO8tUeQVdUbt9iz0v31n9vpxjFP4gWjprY2XXD40bQyxLw/s320/tracks+95+pumice+rocks.jpg)
Decades ago, quartz rocks were dumped along the tracks. I still find them under the newer granite and pumice (lighter to haul) that gets dumped.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTdQ3RP_Jjy-ILjEQ7QEyabxlfz2CRTrgGlOu54VoBi9scs5mntNgboz_qzJhIVqz3Fc5cQHM5VPUBD1siCxKpho1NF-3uR8eGsBVlbHevrqxVBf_64lsc7VhDJ0jq2s5VLpo/s320/tracks+96+quartz+rock+tracks.jpg)
I took these photos primarily for my friend Marti Frumhoff before her untimely death.