Many of the fields were burning with intentional fires. Looking this up after getting home shows it is a common, but increasingly controversial, practice used to clear fields of pests and remaining plants after harvesting.
 

Approaching the Mississippi River bridge.

Looking north out the driver side window, lots of sand bars showed how low the water level is in the big river.

 

1518  62,364 miles  76°

Beth found a very reasonable stopover at the City Park in Milan, Tennessee. We had Site #1 for $25. 

In addition to lots of baseball fields, the park had a rodeo stadium and this R/C car track.

We enjoyed the paved walking path that circles the park and provides easy access to the Frisbee golf course. Frisbee targets had fun names like”H2Oh, no!”

Beth walked back to the van while I went looking for a rail facility I’d seen on a Google satellite view. Wandering took me through a pollinator garden where milkweed were going to seed. This will make some butterflies very happy.

I found warehouses, but all the tracks had been removed. I wonder what industries were here.

Passing back through the pollinator garden I heard shuffeling in the bushes. I froze and was rewarded when an armadillo came very close to me as it searched for grubs. 

The only armadillos I’d seen before were dead on the side of a road. Apparently their vision isn’t good, so it wasn’t bothered by a photographer. It even left me time to shoot this short video.

We definitely recommend Milan’s City Park for an interesting overnight stop.