cabin sweet cabin

There is hardly a pioneer's hut which does not contain a few odd volumes of Shakespeare. I remember reading the feudal drama of Henry V for the first time in a log cabin.
--Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) French Historian and Political scientist.

Above: Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton, TN.

water under the bridge

The wise treat yesterday's problems as water under a bridge. Where the unwise will treat them as a place to build a dam.
--Unknown

Elizabethton

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.
--Alan Alda (b.1936) American actor.

I took part in teaching a week long course in digital media a couple weeks ago to 10 high school students. In the short time we had to cover digital photography, I wanted to give them lots of different photographic opportunities. For instance, we practiced portraits, sports photography, abstracts and landscapes. For our field trip, I took them to downtown Elizabethton, TN. They loved the covered bridge, but what they really enjoyed were all the colors and rough textures of the old buildings. Even the alleyway was exciting for them in terms of exploring various concepts I had taught them to be looking for: textures, lines, light and shadows, layers and abstract opportunities.  We had a wonderful afternoon doing something I usually don't do in terms of photography...exploring the city.

Elizabethton really has a marvelous, clean, welcoming and interesting downtown. Lots of restaurants, furniture stores, gift shops and antiques.

$5 Bridge

Some interesting history of the Elizabethton Covered Bridge (built in 1882) found at the Tennessee Department of Transportation website:

After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E.E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Matson, who had been an engineer for the Narrow Gauge (Tweetsie) Railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his "$5 bridge" since he made a profit of $5 as contractor.... Structurally, the bridge contains one span, a covered wooden Howe Truss that is 137 feet long. The total length is 154.3 feet. The bridge contains one traffic lane and a single walkway.

Give the gift of Appy Treks this Christmas -- 2011 Calendar on sale here!  :)

strength

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
--unknown

The Covered Bridge in Elizabethton, TN, built in 1882.

Children at Christmas

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Covered Bridge in Elizabethton, TN, built in 1882. More photos and history here.

heritage

There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man's life to know them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave.
--Ernest Hemingway (1898-1961) American Writer

WHEN the Elizabethton Covered Bridge was built in 1882, life was so different from today. We can hardly imagine the daily lives of those who first crossed over this bridge and all the difficulties they encountered. And I wonder, if they were to look in upon our lives, would they recognize themselves in us? As I consider the generations that have crossed over and looked upon this beautiful bridge, I wonder what we share with them. What simple things, what lessons, could we learn today from their lives?

old and new

Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test--
Time and change--are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray;
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we reach and youth renew.
Cherish friendships in your breast--
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
--Joseph Parry (1841-1903) Welsh composer and musician

Well, okay, not exactly old and new -- but old and renewed. Certainly the Elizabethton Covered Bridge, is both old and gold. Built in 1882, it spans 134 feet across the Doe River. It is one of the best known landmarks in northeast Tennessee. In the distance, you see the arches of the Elk Avenue Bridge, which was constructed in 1926. This bridge was scheduled for replacement, but public interest and outcry led to its recent rehabilitation. It is nearly identical to the nearby Broad Street Bridge, built in 1929, which was also recently repaired. The 42nd annual Covered Bridge Festival is fast approaching, the dates for this year's event are June 11-15th.

For the next generation...and Charlie

It is our task in our time and in our generation, to hand down undiminished to those who come after us, as was handed down to us by those who went before, the natural wealth and beauty which is ours.
--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) 35th US President

Here's another shot of a great blue heron in front of the waterfall at the Elizabethton Covered Bridge taken from a slightly lower angle than the one I posted yesterday. I thought it lent itself to black and white -- and I couldn't help but keep the eye it's bright orange color. (Click photo to enlarge).

On a completely different note, I have my friend Andy to thank for introducing me to this cute and hilarious video. It gets my vote this Super Tuesday...

the peace of wild things

When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
--Wendell Berry (b.1934) Author

I found this great blue heron feeding (quite successfully) at the weir dam in front of the Elizabethton Covered Bridge. It stood perfectly still as it waited for fish, so I was able to keep the shutter open to soften the water coming over the dam. What a beautiful and graceful bird -- so peaceful and patient. It knew a little fish would flop over the wall and be pushed up against that log by the current -- no need for worry or dispair. Just watch and wait (and trust).

Covered Bridge Classic

The covered bridge above is the best known symbol of Elizabethton, TN. The hanging of a single Christmas wreath is such a classy touch -- I'm glad they didn't wrap it in dancing icicle lights and top it off with an inflatable Santa. The addition of a simple wreath on this 1882 landmark says it all -- and with style.

It's impossible to find a "new" perspective on the most photographed structure in Carter County for the last 125 years running. But I like this angle with the rocks in the foreground. Layering is a great way of adding interest and perspective to a photo. Here, there are three layers, the rocks, the falls and the bridge. In case you're wondering, the shutter was left open for 20 seconds on this one.

Simply Summer

We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities.
-Norman Vincent Peale

[Kids playing in front of the 125-year-old Elizabethton Covered Bridge on the newly re-constructed weir dam on the Doe River. I used a fast shutter speed to catch the kids' splashing, so in order to get the waterfall to look softer and to bring out the Norman Rockwellish aspects of the scene, I experimented with the 'accented edges' filter in Photoshop.]

Elizabethton Covered Bridge

Built for $3000 in 1882, the covered bridge in Elizabethton, TN has stood the test of time. The 137 foot long bridge, which spans the Doe River, has become the most recognized and photographed landmark in Carter County. Click here to learn more about the bridge's 125 year history. It wasn't very long ago that you could still drive across the bridge -- today however, only pedestrian traffic is allowed. The 40th annual Covered Bridge Festival begins this week and runs from June 6-9th and includes music, arts and crafts, classic cars, food and, of course, fun.