Good story Maule Driver, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Let me tell you
another story, just so you can appreciate that your experience could
have been worse.

I fly a 1-26 out of Van Sant (9N1 in Eastern PA), painted to look like
a Japanese Zero (the big red meatballs are the major clue). I was told
that some years ago Ron Sutton (sp?) was flying this particular 1-26 in
a contest, and had to land out. Apparently the best place available was
a large field, in which some people were standing around. The landing
was uneventful, but when Ron climbed out of the cockpit he saw that
most of the people were dressed in orange jumpsuits. He also couldn't
help but notice a few other people there, who were aiming leveled
shotguns at him. The folks with the guns were suspicious of him, his
airplane, his paint job, and his parachute; and reportedly had definite
"attitudes". Ron had not only landed in a town with a prison, he had
actually landed inside the prison!

I'm told it all worked out well, after some discussions with the
warden. Ron was even given a "get out of jail free" card as a souvenir.

-John