I suppose if a person just pours off the train in Sevier Yard and wants to kick it downtown, one might find Knoxville to be shitty. I live outside Knox County near the Clinch Mtns and find it to be EXACTLY what I want! What's that? No idiots, no tree huggers, no maggots and the law tends to the riff raff. Not having to deal w/fuckstick crackheads is not a really bad thing. As to services, well, if you go hungry here, you need to. I'd agree to the public transit trip, though. Not up to par. People, though, are decent to you as long as you don't stumble up w/a 40 in your hand DEMANDING money. May strike some as a novel concept; the world not owing you a living and all, but there is money to be made. I averaged about $90 for a 4 hour period in multiple spots.
I hike all over Knoxville w/a pack when I am mapping out squats here w/o hassle. If you can't catch a train in or out, you don't need to be riding as you'd never have to even enter the yard (see my pix on catching out in Knoxville). And if there aren't enough camping areas here, well, one needs to move perhaps to Montana. We have a lake that takes up almost four counties, two dams, three national forests... Work is to be had here; I'm rather insulated as I do foreclosures. I don't see that tapering off any time soon. Here I differ on the law: if an ex-con can have a company who's primary vocation is to drill out locks under the eyes of a sheriff and not catch hell and yeah, they know I'm a train rider, list many of the houses on a master list for IBRR, they don't strike me as bad as I've seen 'em in say, Longview, Topeka, Roseville or fucking Pasco.
BelleZ, DiamondRails and I all live out here (DR and I have a 13 acre farm), no_future is up the way a bit and ALL of us are involved in the same shit and we're still free. But, I guess, hillbillies like us simply like the mountains, lakes and clean air more than the concrete cesspool down in Charlotte. Spend some time panhandling there or hanging out in the area around the yard 'cause u sure aren't gonna roam IN the yard!
As to the bus Matt, I'm working on an info pack for u. You'd be able to park on the farm anywayz.