forward looking

Never look back unless you are planning to go that way. 
—Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author and philosopher.

Above: Steele Creek Park, Bristol, TN

Steele Creek Park

Bristol, TN is home to Steele Creek Park, the third largest municipal park in the state of Tennessee. Occupying over 2200 acres, the park has a 52 acre lake, a golf course, numerous picnic shelters, amphitheater, conference center and 24 miles of trails. The park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The above photo shows a bench overlooking the lake and Nature Center in the distance. Click here and here for more information.

 

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.

name them one by one

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.
--Willie Nelson (b.1933) American country singer-songwriter

slow growing

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
– Chinese Proverb 

Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN.

forever young

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
--Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-born American Physicist

These narrow tracks are for a unique miniature locomotive which gives kids a looped tour of Steele Creek Park in Bristol. The train was a fixture from 1964 until 2001 when the train and the tracks fell into disrepair -- both were restored in 2008, and kids can once again ride the Steele Creek Express. Video here.

gone fishin'

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.
--Doug Larson (b. 1926) Newspaper columnist

Of course, there'd be a shortage of hiking sticks as well.

Sullivan County, TN has been blessed with some amazing parks. Check 'em out!
Steele Creek Park, Bristol
Osceola Island & Weir Dam, Bristol
Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport
Warrior's Path State Park, Kingsport

alive

The mind, in proportion as it is cut off from free communication with nature, with revelation, with God, with itself, loses its life, just as the body droops when debarred from the air and the cheering light from heaven.
--William Channing (1780-1842) preacher

take time

Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.
--Elizabeth Lawrence

I was happy today to see that autumn's big show isn't quite yet finished. There are still a few tenacious trees that refuse to let go of fall. This is a view of the lake and Nature Center at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN. Directions and park maps here. More photos here.

The Great Escape

It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place the world is when one is playing golf.
--Robert Lynd

Above: Steele Creek Golf Course, Bristol, TN

Steele Creek Park Falls

I'm not sure if this waterfall has an official name. I came across one reference online to "Spillway Falls" -- which would make sense since it exists only when the water in Steele Creek Park Lake is high enough to flow over the spillway next to the dam. The easiest way to get to the dam and these falls is to enter the enormous, 2,000 acre Steele Creek Park through Rooster Front Park, a small park with playground and tennis facilities, and a trail head that connects with the extensive network of trails within Steele Creek Park. It's a short 0.3 mile walk to the falls above.

Directions. Rooster Front Park is located off of Vance Drive which makes a loop with highway 19/11E. Coming from the intersection of Route 394 and Highway 19/11E west of the Bristol Motor Speedway, take 19/11E for 4.4 miles, turn left onto Vance Dr. and drive 0.6 miles to the park on your left. If you're coming in from the north: From State Street, drive 1.3 miles south on 19/11E and turn right onto Vance Dr., continue on Vance for 2.4 miles, the park will be on your right. For directions to the main entrance of Steele Creek Park, click here. For trail maps, click here.

Steele Creek Park

If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
--President Lyndon B. Johnson

Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN is among the best city parks in the region. With miles of jogging, hiking and biking trails, a 9-hole golf course, nature center and picnic sites, this is the third largest municipal park in the State of Tennessee. It's a busy place in the summer months, very popular for family and group cookouts. But it's open all year long, and there's a lot to discover within its 2000+ acres. So don't let the weather keep you from getting out - there are beautiful things to be seen all year! Click here for directions and click here for trail maps.

There's also a small waterfall at the park -- click here for more information.

Click here to see more of my photos of the park.

Click here to visit the Friends of Steel Creek Nature Center and Park.