Abandoned Bikes, Snowmobiles, and 4 Wheelers.

Ever since we have been here we randomly see a Bike, snowmobile, 4 wheeler or any other mode of transportation abandoned around town. Keith and I have both wondered how in the world has that object has come to where it is left. Some are left in the oddest places... in the middle of a field, on the side of the road, in the middle of a forest, in a pond, in a snowdrift and anywhere else you can imagine. There are still machines and bikes in spots that have not moved since abandoned there. For the life of us we could not figure out why someone would leave a $10,000 snowmobile in the middle of a field or on the side of the road.

Well we finally found out the reason last night. Keith had returned from watering the garden and it was about 11:00 pm. When he came in the door he told me that there was a man passed out in the road in front of our house. Apparently this guy was passed out DRUNK and had eventually fell off his bike after driving in 4 or 5 circles in the road. Keith watched for a few minutes not know what he should do. But some other man on a 4 wheeler drove by and attempted to wake him up. It took about 5 minutes to get the guy awake and loaded on to the back of the 4 wheeler. The driver apparently knew who the drunk guy was and took him home leaving his bike abandoned on the side of the road. Thus it hit us that is why there are random modes of transportation left in the oddest places. I guess some that are left out in the woods are left because the person FORGOT where they left their $10,000 machines or their bike.

Since Galena is a Wet town, where Alcohol can be sold, there is a big problem with Alcoholism. Sadly this is all year round. The first barge that arrived here was loaded down and most of it was alcohol for the local bar or for peoples own consumption. The stories I have heard from people that someone had to much to drink, and then decided to drive themselves home and then hit a snow drift and freeze to death. Sadly this happens quite a bit. There have been attempts by some people in town to make this a dry town but it always fails to go very far since the Liquor store owner is a very powerful person in town. Keith and I have gone to the Snack bar where you can get a hamburger or some other kind of food on different days of the week and at different times and the bar which is connected to the snack bar is ALWAYS full of people. I am amazed at how many people will be there on the weekday and even in the morning. It is nice to be able to grab a burger and me not have to cook it but it makes me sad of how many people go to the bar. Yes it was kind of funny that the man outside rode in circles till he finally fell off his bike but that could have been a deadly situation if it were winter with freezing temperatures and someone would not have seen him fall off. I pray that God will work here in this town to show people that Alcohol is not the answer to whatever problem people are facing here.