Yesterday, I was walking on the Russell White Nature Trail in Carroll County, Iowa. It is an interesting trail! It used to be a railroad track, but the rails and ties were removed and the bridge across the Raccoon River was converted to a foot bridge with handrails. The trail is as straight as an arrow and very level. It is only 2.5 miles long, but I like it.
As I was hiking along, I noticed something red about 1/2 a mile up the trail. I realized that it was a tent, set up right in front of the bridge. I thought that it was a little weird, hey, I will just walk around it and continue on. As I got around it, I saw that whoever was camping there had made a large campfire right in the middle of the trail, leaving behind a huge pile of ashes. Tossed in the ashes was a can of spraypaint. And then I saw the bridge... graffiti all over it. Someone had also ripped down ALL of the hand rails on the bridge as well.
I was not happy at all, but I got out of there and crossed the bridge rather quickly... I didn't want to run into any drunken teens, or anyone else who was strong enough to do that kind of damage. I saw a white pickup truck sitting at Hobb's Access, which can be seen from the bridge, but I really did not want to run into anyone, so I did not go get the license plate #; I am wishing now that I did.
Anyhow, I finished walking to the end of the trail, but instead of walking back the same way, I took the road, just to avoid that whole situation. When I got back home, I wanted to call the police, but I didn't.