slowfoot,

Another Illinois farmer here. The family farm was in central Illinois in a big bend of the Sangamon River. Abe Lincoln navigated barges through the family farm. Part of the farm was flat farmland, but the woods near the river was fairly remote. No bridges so no traffic on the access road, and since most was flood plain there were no permanent houses.

Spent most of my free time on the river in my jon boat. Started solo camping before I had a driver's license.