We used to walk out onto the railroad bridge across the Mississippi from the Missouri side, swing out over the side onto a ladder, climb down the ladder and swing back onto a covered catwalk, cross the river on the catwalk, and repeat the process on the Illinois side. Then to get back we'd reverse it.

The bridge itself was about fifty feet above the water and the covered catwalk was covered on three sides -- only the bottom was perforated, and you could see the river below. We did this at night, lighting our way along the catwalk by the light of cigarettes.

One of the guys who did it I know is dead -- from lung cancer from cigarettes. Don't know whatever happened to the other two.

We did this, of course, because it was forbidden.

Just like we swiped beer (in the 8th grade) to drink on Boy Scout campouts and de-pantsed younger Scouts who finked to the Scout Leaders. Oh...the guy who stole the beer is now the Scoutmaster, one of those involved picked up a Silver Star in Vietnam, another got the Army Commendation Medal for running MEDCAPs in 'Nam....