Fun Things Found by the Side of the Road

During many of the segments of the walk, I discovered objects that had found their way to the edge of the road. I stopped to capture photos of them and then found myself devising the stories behind how they got to that point. Please allow me to share....

The irony of the first find--which went unphotographed--is that I had been looking for a pair of those snazzy wrap-around visor-type sunglasses the day before I started walking. I was concerned that traffic might kick up some dust and gravel, forcing me to spend time removing grit from my eyes. At about Mile 4 on Day 1, I found a fully intact pair, right by the side of the road! I didn't photograph them before slipping them into my pocket. No doubt they belong to a dog of a considerate owner--the dog must have been riding with his head out the window, pretending to fly. Instead, off they flew. If the owner can describe this pair lost between the Logansport Park and County Road 600, I'm happy to return them. Otherwise, I'm riding around with my head out the window, wearing these snazzy shades, pretending to fly.

If you prefer, you can also have what I found on the Nickel Plate trail--half a pair of those same type of sunglasses. (What do you call "half a pair"?)

I didn't find any roadside treasures on Day 3, but Day 4 offered a bumper crop. Not far from my house, someone misplaced these working vise grips on Overdorf Road (I tested them).

It was early in the morning, so I assume he/she got the vise grips out of the car trunk to reattach the antenna after yesterday's car wash, put the vise grips on the roof of the car to go back inside the house to get the recycling to take to Noblesville, and returned in a hurry because his/her twelve-year-old forgot about baseball practice and needed a ride immediately. At some point a half mile down the road, the vise grips took flight, landing

just in the weeds on the east side of the road. I placed them under the nearest mailbox, so if your vise grips are missing, ask your neighbor to return them.

A mile later, still on Overdorf, I found what a Hamilton County dog hanging her head out the window lost: a brand new donut toy.

Somewhere, a Golden Retriever is sobbing.

Around the corner, I encountered what I hope is not evidence of some nefariousness, a solitary glove (it did have all of its fingers, but the one in the middle was bent under the glove and I wasn't about to touch potential evidence... or something disgusting).

The real jackpot came when I crossed the bridge on Cumberland to go to Potter's Bridge Park. The bridge has no curbs or sidewalks (Hamilton County Commissioners, think that through, please), which means I was walking on an extremely busy roadway with traffic three feet from me and a heavy-duty bridge railing on the other. Items that otherwise would have landed in the gutter made by a curb were thrown up against the wall supporting the bridge railing. Other than the intersection at Meridian and 86th Street in Indy, this was the most unsafe part of the entire 100 miles. Clearly, people lose a lot of stuff there. I could have photographed a set of plastic hangers (don't you hate it when you move and your belongings fly out of the back of the truck?) and enough metal objects to open a hardware store. I quickly retrieved this squashed ratchet and bolt but didn't dare to photograph them on the bridge as traffic was whizzing by and I would feel foolish dying because I was taking a picture. I took them to the park and photographed them there. Do you think the ratchet gave way, the tarp flapped open, and two dozen hangers were set free?

Day 5 offered no left-behind treasure, just this little friend by the side of the Midland Trace Trail. Trail Bunny and I had a lovely chat.

Day 6 offered a couple of treasures. Making my way from Sheridan to Westfield via Hortonville, I found this penny just outside the booming burg of Hortonville (actually, it will be booming soon when the new housing is complete and the Monon runs through it again). Housing prices will be astronomical. Times are tough and every little bit counts, so if you are the person who left this behind, please contact me so I can return it to you. Please be prepared to identify it by date.

Trying to make my way to my mom's, I passed the new golf course area. So this find might not seem unusual...

However, it was at least a quarter mile from the driving range and any hole on the course. This is exactly how I play golf, so I wasn't surprised by the lie, either. I'm guessing this will be at least three penalty strokes.

On the way back from my mom's on the same day, I encountered this frightening mutation of a Fisher Price toy:

Perhaps it is a warning from aliens--comply or get what the puppy got. Or perhaps it is a reminder not to leave toys in the yard on mowing day.

I feel as though I've left a few items out there on the highways and byways of central Indiana. I'm tempted to do the route again, only this time on the other side of the road. You never know what might be waiting to be discovered!