On our way back from the Kingsley Plantation we kept passing a power plant set out in the woods away from everything. The night before we had been in the area and Alex had even taken pictures of what seemed like a thousand lights lit up against the night sky. After we passed it a couple of times I decided we should stop and see if they offered tours.
Alex is always up for a new adventure and it is unusual for him to express reluctance to snoop around and take pictures but this time he kept saying “I don’t know…” but I pressed the point and we continued. There was this smoke stack that was huge and I wanted a shot of it in all its glory.
We pulled into the parking lot and looked up at the smoke stack which now seemed ten times larger than it had appeared from the entrance. As I searched for the identification outlined in the instructions at the gate Alex kept saying “I don’t know…” but I would not be denied. This was a chance for a picture and I was going to get one.
I walked up to the office door, opened it, introduced myself to the security guard and explained that we wanted to know if we could go on a tour and take some pictures. He in turn asked if I had some special type of identification and I said “No” But why should I have to have it! The recent rate increase and subsequent rise in my utility bill should be more than enough to allow me to wander around and take some pictures.
The security guard gave me the strangest look and then replied “This is a nuclear power plant and there is NOTHING to see here.” I stood there for a moment just sort of letting the words sink in and then replied “You’re Right!” and hurriedly rushed for the door.
Back at the car I relayed my recently acquired information to Alex who responded that he thought I knew, as we even more hurriedly drove away. The tower I thought was a smoke stack was a cooling tower.
And so, in our never ending search for adventure… we almost had a chance to meet Homer Simpson!
