We used to pass a college on our way home

It looks like Knickerland might be officially closed. We’re a bit concerned here at Woodhaven.

Knickerland is a single-wide trailer with lots of deferred maintenance that we pass on our way to and from Woodhaven. It has never been clear how many people live on the half-dozen acres. I’m guessing maybe two men. I have never seen any women there. Occasionally would-be pets appear and disappear. Mostly dogs. And a chicken. And a couple times, a duck.

Knickerland got its name when one day as I approached, I noticed a slender, hairy man with dark green sweatpants pushed up to his knees running with a go-cart in my lane. It’s a two-lane country road where most folks keep it down to 50mph so go-carting is not expected nor advised. Particularly when one is running behind the cart instead of driving it.

As I slowed down, I noticed the man was running with enough speed that his dingy white tennis shoe flew off towards a ditch. Bare-footed, he hopped in the go-cart and tried to steer it into a nearby fire station parking lot.

When I got home and described the scene to Rob, I said, “The guy was wearing sweatpant knickers.” And thus “Knickerland” was born.

It soon became part of my routine to check out what is happening at Knickerland when I drive by. The array of things that appear and disappear from the property is fascinating and unpredictable. Among the treasures: a Partridge Family-style school bus; a teepee without the canvas; an old Mercedes; a wheelchair; laundry hanging in a rain storm; a homemade painting of a purple bird on a large sheet of plywood; a hot tub shell; an iron gate attached to nothing; and most recently, a boat of the cabin-cruiser variety. Interesting, their predilection for modes of transportation.

The arrival of the boat is particularly noteworthy since as of about a week ago, there is a chain across the driveway with a spray-painted sign that says “NO TRESPASSING CLAYTON MOVED” Some windows and siding are missing, so it’s not clear if the place has been vandalized or if Clayton took a few things with him on his way to his next homestead. But it was a relief today to discover that even though Clayton and his duck may be gone, the ebb and flow of redneck paraphernalia may linger on.