RAIN ON MELTON HILL LAKE

The rain is pouring down. Its chilly out but no wind is blowing. This is the kind of day that holds promise for excitement. This is the day I have the entire lake to myself. No other human is out. Only a fool would be on an enormous lake in this kind of weather. Only a fool. This fool embraces it and is appreciative of the beauty that lies just "out there". The natural things are alive and moving today. This is business as usual to them. Its just another day in their lives. I wouldn't miss the opportunity to share it with them for anything. Time is precious and I use it up. All of it. I love the wilderness. I love the lakes. And I'm thankful I am healthy enough to enjoy them. ----------The water is cloudy this day due to run off. There's a lot of floating timber in the water washed off the banks and some trees have fallen into the water where they could no long cling to the eroding soil. All will float or settle and dissappear after the rain. I wonder where all the floating trees end up. It is cold and soaking. It chills to the bone. But I revel in it all. Its invigorating! The opening ahead is the actual cove where the Uniform and the Golden Dog sought refuge from a very hard storm. They drove to the back of the cove and found some cover under a overhanging tree. The story, "The Storm" is about the events of that day. This rain today is nothing compared to the tempest in the "Storm" story. Douglas doesn't care. He just stands at the point and goes head on into anything I drive toward. He's soaked. Rain it did and hard! Very peaceful and scerene.

MORE BIG RED

I have received a few email's requesting more photos of Big Red. So here they are. She's fine and waiting for Spring. Big Red is a 2001 Road King Harley Davidson. She has carried me over many roads and will continue to do so for some time to come. She is family. Red only has 68,000 miles on the speedometer and plenty room for more.

Nature's Message

Frost covers the trees and fields. Leaves change to dramatic colors. The harsh weather causes change in the field and wood. Animals are burrowing and preparing for hibernation. Birds have either left or are preparing to leave on annual migrations. Many are returning from Northern Climates. As the waters become cold and the air crisp; the lakes are suddenly void of human use and it appears that nature once again has taken control of her territories. The thin skinned and frail humans are susceptable to the cold of winter and find it uncomfortable, preferring to remain indoors until Nature allows them the use of her offerings in the warmer times of Spring. But the strong winds and storms of winter are thrilling and exhillerating! They awaken the sprit and test the fortitude of mortal man. They are a reminder of who and what is really in control. Total control!!

Ft Loudoun Park and Lake

My sweet friend finds his place in it all. He belongs here. He is at home in this vast beauty. He blends into all that nature provides. He is a blessing and a beauty to be admired. He represents all that is natural. He is nature himself. I admire him. He is my friend and companion and I am proud of him. Views across the lake are nothing less than spectacular. The results of the greatest painter of all-------------------Nature The rusty colors of Fall are everywhere and no better place to view them than where water kisses the shore. The crisp air and rustling leaves promise that winter is near. The path to the lake. Located at Ft Loudoun State Park on Route 360 South from Vonore, TN. The trail follows the edge of the lake after rambling through beautiful, bird filled woods.

NATCHES TRACE PHOTOS 1

Somewhere near the Trace, a Great Pyrenees guards his flock. Janet says that these dogs will protect any animal they are raised with. Coyotes are prevelent in this area and the dog has his work cut out to thwart those raiders. Always with a smile. She is demonstrating the layered look. Clothing layered on in this fashion guarantees warmpth. Well, sometimes..... Ah, yes. What better place to warm ones feet than on the engine of a $23000 motorcycle. Crafty girl this..... Janet was a trooper. Here we see her near totally frozen, employing the age old trick of lying on prewarmed concrete to absorbe the warmpth. Tricky lady. At the Trace on the Harley Davidson Ultra

NATCHES TRACE PHOTOS

Meriwether Lewis Story At the North end of the Trace Ozone Falls in Tennessee.

NATCHES TRACE

Took a little motorcycle ride to the Natches Trace which runs from Natches, Mississippi to just South of Nashville, Tennessee. The Trace, as it is affectionately called, is an old indian path used by indians in the late seventeen hundreds. Later, it was used to transport trade goods across country from South to North. During the Creek Indian War, General Andrew Jackson traversed the trace with units of his army. And even Davy Crockett used the trace while in the employ of General Jackson during the war. But the Trace is most remembered for the place where Merriweather Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, met his death. He was found in a cabin with a bullet wound to the head. It was considered a suicide. His body lies under a memorial on the spot of his death. Those were the days when men were men and women were women. Pioneer people and frontiersmen crafted from the fabric of the earth and confronted by the perils of the wilderness. We, Janet and I, however, were thwarted by cold weather and threat of rain. Our ride South ended at the Lewis memorial on the Trace. We headed home from there. A cold ride it was.