relaxation

Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one's being.
--Donald Curtis (1915-1997) minister and author  

Located between Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock, NC at mile 296.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Price Lake offers hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. A 2.3 mile trail loops around and offers a scenic lakeside walk. More info here.

Memorial Day

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
--Albert Pine (1861–1937) American author

Two Revolutionary War heroes to honor this Memorial Day...

Jacob Brown, born in Virginia in 1736, moved to the Nolichucky area of what was then North Carolina territory in 1754 on land leased from the Cherokees.  He established a trading company and provided blacksmith and gunsmith services. His home was located just three miles from Col. John Sevier's home -- who he followed into battle at Kings Mountain as part of the Overmountain Men.  He was a captain at the time of the Battle of Kings Mountain, and was later promoted to second Major of the Washington County militia when it was part of the short-lived State of Franklin.  Brown died in a hunting accident in 1785. The large monument you see here incorporates the original small stone (click photo to enlarge). The Brown Cemetery is said to be the oldest marked cemetery in Tennessee and is located next to the Nolichucky River in a remote area of Washington Co, TN.  More on Jacob Brown and his family here. Click here for directions to the cemetery and a listing of those interred there.

Hugh Harris, Sr. had the distinction of serving under George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Born in Virginia in 1749, he  enlisted in 1776 as a Private in the North Carolina Continental Line, being promoted to Corporal in 1778. He served in the Battles of Germantown and Monmouth, and was discharged in 1779. Around 1827 he moved to the Limestone area of Washington County, Tennessee. He did in 1855 at 105 years old. His grave is located at New Salem Church Cemetery on Lester Snapp Road in Washington County.

happiness

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.
--Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Author and monk 


Above: Stacked rocks found along Clark's Creek in Unicoi Co., TN.

The Lily of the Valley

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll. 

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 

He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.

Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal. 

He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll. 
--Charles W. Fry (1830-1896) English bricklayer, musician and hymnist 

Above: A wild lily of the valley found growing on Unaka Mountain. Click here to listen to this wonderful hymn.

Stepping Out

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
--Lao Tzu (6th century BC) philosopher of ancient China  

Actually Randy and Ivana (trail names Kwai Chang Caine and Kaboose) expect their journey to be 2,180 miles -- or about 5 million footsteps. I met them on the 20th day of their Appalachian Trail thru-hike on Unaka Mountain.  They said they had spent the previous day resting at Uncle Johnny's Hostel along the Nolichucky River in Erwin, TN. According to the AT distance calculator, it's 340 miles from Springer Mountain, GA to Uncle Johnny's, which they did in 18 days -- an average of nearly 19 miles a day -- which is really pushing it! Randy, who's from Indiana, and his wife, Ivana, from France -- both love the Appalachians. I have no doubt they'll complete the entire AT.  They emailed yesterday from Damascus, VA after completing a 38 mile day.  I think they've earned another day off!

Completing the AT is really an amazing feat when you consider that only 1 in 4 hikers who start a thru-hike actually finish it -- only about 300 hardy souls per year.  Since its completion in 1937, only about 11,000 have hiked the entire length. Even if you don't ever plan on being a thru-hiker, you might find this website interesting.  It describes the AT and all the planning that goes into making the 5-7 month hike from Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian Conservancy website has some interesting statistics here and here, such as the oldest thru-hiker was Lee Barry, who in 2004 completed the trail at age 81.

Great videos put together by AT Thru-Hikers -- here and here.

Wolf Creek Falls

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.
--Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher 

It's not that we were lost. It's just that we weren't entirely sure where we were going. But the good news is that Understanding did arrive, it was just a bit late. My friend Lee and I set out to find Wolf Creek Falls outside of Hot Springs, NC and discovered that there's an easy way to get there, and a hard way.  We, of course, chose the hard way.  A revisionist history may insist that it was our love of adventure and our desire to explore the unknown that drove our choice. But mostly it was ignorance.  :)

Wolf Creek Falls (30 feet high) is located just inside the Tennessee border in Cocke County.  As we later learned, it can be driven to from the Max Patch/NC side of things (Directions here). But that's if you want to drive there. Jeesh, what fun is that? If you want an adventure, enter from the TN side, and wander up an old logging road filled with muddy bogs, stinging nettles, poison ivy, swarming gnats and dozens and dozens of downed trees. And did I mention the four creek crossings? Let me tell you, it all adds up to an enjoyable walk in the woods.

It actually would not be so bad of a hike if the recent high winds (tornado?) had not knocked down dozens of large trees in the area, many blocking the trail completely. Fortunately this only impacted the first third of the trail. But the muddy bogs were encountered throughout the hike. The good news is that along the way we saw lots of beautiful, mossy creek scenes and wild flowers.  Obviously I recommend you visit Max Patch (a scenic bald southwest of Hot Springs, NC) and then head north to Wolf Creek Falls -- driving there.  But if you do, just go knowing that Lee and I appreciate this waterfall more than most visitors ever will.  I'll give the full directions from the Wolf Creek Trailhead just to have them out there in case any adventurous soul wants to appreciate this waterfall on as many levels as we do.

Directions from Max Patch, NC: Click here.

Directions from downtown Hot Springs, NC: (map here). Turn right onto Rt 25/70 (heading west) and drive 6.4 miles (entering TN), turn left onto Wolf Creek Rd. and travel 0.1 mi and then take the first right and drive 0.6 miles to the large, gravel parking lot for the Wolf Creek trailhead. You will want and need a high clearance vehicle for this last stretch of road. Large, deep bogs will make you think you're making a Subaru Outback commercial.  From the parking lot, start your adventure by continuing up the road on foot; you'll quickly come to two creek crossings.  If there's little or no water in the creek, and making these crossings is easy, I'd turn back, the falls won't be worth the effort.  You'll soon come to the area impacted by the high winds. Take your time, watch for poison ivy, and you'll be able to find your way over and around these obstacles.  About 1.5 miles (approx) of fairly level hiking, you'll cross the creek again, and begin a slight climb. After a mile or so, you'll cross again for the fourth time and the trail will get even steeper and will no longer parallel the creek. After this steep climb, you'll reach the top and then start a decent that will soon meet a road, turn right and you immediately come to a campsite.  The top of the falls are located to the left (very dangerous), a short winding path to the right leads to the base of the falls and the view you see above. Total mileage roundtrip is approx. 6-7 miles.

the path of leadership

We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.
--William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) author 

"Blue" leading the way on the Appalachian Trail on Unaka Mountain.

first rate

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.
--Judy Garland (1922-1969) American actress and singer 

The unusual and endangered pink lady's slipper makes her spring appearance. More info and photos here and here.

masked stranger

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish Poet

I could hear my dog Blue going crazy at the other end of the house -- and upon investigating, this was the scene outside the guest bedroom. I didn't notice this raccoon at first, but Blue kept persisting (maybe he's got some Coon Hound in him).  It was getting late and the light quickly fading, so I had to crank the ISO setting to get these images. The one on the right was the last image I took before he scurried away into the night. 

Photo Details:
Top -- Nikon D90 w/ 70-300mm VR lens @ 300mm, f/5.6, 1/60th sec., ISO 3200
Right -- Nikon D90 w/ 70-300mm VR lens @ 280mm, f/5.6, 1/30th sec., ISO 6400

beyond words

There are worlds of experience beyond the world of the aggressive man, beyond history, and beyond science. The moods and qualities of nature and the revelations of great art are equally difficult to define; we can grasp them only in the depths of our perceptive spirit.
--Ansel Adams (1902-1984) American photographer  

Above: Martin's Creek Falls, Erwin, TN.  Click here for a description and detailed directions.

Check it out...Hiking Bill has completely redesigned his website -- a fantastic resource with beautiful photos and always-accurate descriptions and directions.

surreal

Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.
--Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Spanish surrealist painter 

Above: Watauga Lake at Sunset. 

I occasionally experiment with HDR photography, but I rarely post any of them here because I haven't had much success in producing interesting images. I'm happy to leave it to those who consistently turn out fantastic work like C. David Cook from Jonesborough, TN.  Other examples here and here. For those unfamiliar with this technique - the unique look of High Dynamic Range photos is produced by combining multiple photos taken with different exposures in an effort to "open up" the shadows of a scene while at the same time maintaining the details in the brightest parts of an image.  This is usually accomplished by taking one (or more) dark image, one "correct" exposure, and one (or more) bright image -- and then combining them using Photoshop CS5 or other software. When done well, the final product takes on a dreamlike, surreal quality.  There are entire books written on the subject of HDR and numerous video tutorials available online if you want to give it a try!

On another note..."Bonny Kate" is a familiar name here in northeast TN...here's the rest of the story.

the easy life

I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.
--Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th US President  

Above: Another photo of Blue at Watauga Lake. What a life! 

As an aside...those of you from Johnson City, TN may have heard that the well-known Grindstaff Castle is on the auction block next month with an asking price of $19.5 million -- just in case you're in the market -- down from its original $28.5m listing.  Here's the JC Press story -- and here is the actual listing - more photos here and here. But I doubt it goes for more than $5 million at auction...What's your guess?  You might remember back in January 2009, the castle was engulfed in flames.  And while you're house shopping you might want to consider the eleven most expensive homes on the market today, all with price tags over $50 million.

splish splash

 The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.
--Ambrose Bierce (1842-1913) American journalist 

This was the week my boy Blue discovered the joys of swimming. I wasn't sure if he'd like the water. Up till now he's been reluctant to get in too deep. But now he can't get enough of the water. Here he is enjoying a sunny afternoon at Watauga Lake. For a list of dog breeds known to love the water, click here.

It's been awhile since I've taken the Appalachian Trail from the Shook Branch Recreation Area just north of Hampton, TN toward the Watauga Dam. Parts of this 3+ mile section of the AT have been re-routed to avoid the steep ups-and-downs, and to have the trail more closely follow the contours of the lake itself.  It makes for a much more enjoyable and scenic hike. 

Directions: To reach the trailhead, take 19E to Hampton, TN, turn north onto Highway 321/67 towards Mountain City. Drive 3.2 miles to the trailhead at Shook Branch Recreation Area (on your left). Click here for a map of the area.

confidence

Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.
--Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French author 

Above: A Great Blue Heron standing on one leg (the other one's tucked up in there somewhere!) on a frail branch, surveying the scene at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN.  These birds don't really sing, they have what is described as a "harsh croak" -- you can listen to it here.

take the winding paths

Life is filled with so many exciting twists and turns. Hop off the straight and narrow whenever you can and take the winding paths. Experience the exhilaration of the view from the edge. Because the moments spent there, that take your breath away, are what make you feel truly alive.
--Stacey Charter 

Above: One of many switch-backs found along the Pinnacle Mountain Trail, Unicoi, TN

conformity

Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.
--Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher

Happy Mother's Day!

Who ran to help me when I fell,

And would some pretty story tell,

Or kiss the place to make it well?

My mother.

--Ann Taylor (1782-1866) English Author--

From a portrait session I did last fall -- little Ethan was lots of fun!
Here he is listening to his baby sister. :)

not an end, but a beginning

Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.
--John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach  

Congratulations to those graduating from Milligan College tomorrow!  I've always found this quote inspiring - impressing on us the need to move forward with purpose. So I think it fits for graduation -- because after all, "commencement" is not about an end, but a beginning. This will be our President Don Jeanes' last commencement before his retirement in July -- so we'll give him our thanks and celebrate and congratulate all that he and his wife Clarinda have accomplished these last fourteen years. More here. Here's to a great new beginning for them and for all those receiving diplomas!

for good measure

A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.
--Tim Cahill (b.1944) travel writer 

Above: A winding path at Buffalo Mountain Park in Johnson City, TN. To download the latest trail map of the park (pdf) click here.

one more time

Spring is God's way of saying, 'One more time!'
--Robert Orben (b.1927) American magician and author 

Above: Wild iris