TORNADO MISSED ME AGAIN

East Tennessee is getting it's share of dangerous weather and today, the entire day, was filled with tornado warnings on top of each other.   The warnings are still in effect and will be until 1AM.   The first series of storms contained extremely high winds and more rain than I can ever remember seeing.  The winds tore a section of metal off the East corner of the roof.  When the winds started, the sky to the East was clear and almost white but, to the South West a very dark gray sky was moving toward this little town at a frightening speed with the gray clouds slowly turning into each other.  The tornado siren started sounding and would not stop.  A series of very bad storm cells was located at the town of Madisonville, twenty minutes from my town of Greenback, and moving directly this way at 65 miles per hour.  Two tornado's were spawned from that storm.  Somehow, someway, they skirted past Greenback and moved on toward Maryville following Route 411 North which is a quarter mile from this place.  The tornado that hit Greenback last month did much the same thing.  My front door swings in and when the wind started I was standing in the yard.  By the time I got to the door and tried to shut it, I found I had to lean all my weight against it to get it closed.  That's when the roof section blew off the corner of the habitat.  As fast as the rains came;  they stopped and not a leaf on a tree moved.  Shortly after, another gray mass formed and another torrential downpour started with high wind.  After that passed I thought it was over.  But no.  Another storm hit just awhile ago.  With the high winds came hail.  I must be living right.  This is the second close call for tornados that just missed.  I took a couple videos of the hail stones falling.  It's almost night time so the video isn't perfect but, you get the idea.  I haven't checked my truck yet for dents and mostly I'm worried about the little Gheenoe boat.  That's most important.
Oh;  if you listen carefully you can hear the danger siren blaring;  and the cat.  I guess the video is pretty dark.  The splashing you see in the puddles isn't rain.  It's hail stones. The white spots on the ground are hail stones.  They're of a fair size.   Uploaded video quality leaves a lot to be desired.

This place has been turned into a mud hole.

 Greenback, Tennessee had two more tornado warnings within the past hour, one of which looked like a direct hit would occur.  At one point I thought about loading the dogs in the truck and heading North but, there were warnings and reports of tornadoes in that direction.  Storms and tornado warnings put the South out of the picture and East had tornado warnings.  May as well just sit it out here.  This last tornado warning produced a lightning display such as I've never seen or could imagine.  High winds and blasting rain but; no tornado as of yet.  There are two more hours left in the tornado warning period and the line of storms should be past this town at least.  The night skies are on fire.  What a night!

VISIT TO THE BALD EAGLE TREE & ROUGH WATER

click on photos to enlarge

We are due to get some rough weather here locally late today so I hitched up the Gheenoe and went to check on the eaglets before the rains came.
The water looked rough and I stood and stared at it from the boat ramp awhile before launching.  It can be tricky getting a boat safely into the water in high wind with waves when one has to work alone.   This was going to be a rough ride as the water swells were high and constant.  The photography at the eagles nest probably would be tricky also.

All appeared fine at the nest.  I could see the back of the second eaglet moving along the top edge of the nest.  They both never did show themselves together on this visit.

By the looks of the plumage development;  they will need another week before leaving the nest.
Who's that peeking around that tree?  Little sister?

My boat was acting like a cork out on that rough water.  I'm glad someone invented image stabilization for these long lenses.  Even with the stabilization feature it was difficult to hold the image in the lens.  I had to continually position the boat between shots also..  I had just repositioned the Gheenoe for another picture of the babies when I looked up and saw mom sitting on a limb to the left of the nest.  She is always watching.  I commenced to focus "no pun intended" totally on her with the camera.  The results are below.  I believe the following photographs of this adult Bald Eagle are the best my equipment, and I, can produce.

This bird was breathtaking to observe.  I am a bit concerned about only seeing one adult at the nest.  It has been this way in my last three visits.  Bald Eagles mate for life and it would be a shame if one of these parents met with disaster.  A shame!  Time will tell.
I swung away from the eagle's tree and headed out into the river channel.  I wanted to visit the Heron rookery to see if the babies were born down there.  I went about a quarter mile down stream and decided I didn't want to fight the waves and swells.  I continued on, out of stubbornness until I ran up on a tug boat pushing a huge collection of barges down stream.  I didn't want to fight the wake from that vessel and turned around for home.

That water is rough;  let me tell ya!   Some kind of weather front is moving in tonight for sure.  I can see it in the sky.

I got my boat loaded safely and headed down the road.  The wind was blowing very hard and I wanted no more of it.  I would spend the rest of the afternoon in the company of my dogs.  The river ride was fun and the photographs I collected of the eagles will be put in the memory file with the thousands of others.

KLR TO HIWASSI RIVER AND SOME OLD TENNESSEE BUILDINGS

 I awakened this morning to an achy back.  It sure let me know I still have a problem.  The sciatic pain is gone but it left me with a back ache that won't allow me to bend over far enough to put my socks and shoes on.  I laid on the bed and completed some stretches and exercises I learned at therapy and that fixed it.  I was in the mood to take a ride on the KLR Kawasaki.  Yes;  I would turn my back on the wilderness and the lakes for the day and enjoy a leisurely ride through the mountains on the bike.  I wanted to check out the Hiwassi River that is known for it's trout fishing by drift boat.  I've seen those boats before but never understood why they are designed the way they are.  There is a picture of one later in this entry on the Hiwassi. 

I also wanted to take the opportunity to photograph some old barns.  I always see them while riding the motorcycle.  The roads I will be traveling today will take me through the real Tennessee countryside.

The photo to the right goes with the one above.  Look at what was used for a foundation.  Well;  ya gotta use what ya got I guess.

Someday I'll photograph signs.  Some of the names of roads and creeks will amaze you.  I think I'll do that next ride on the KLR.
The roads finally lead me to the rivers edge.  I have not studied the Hiwassi River much as it's not a river I'm inclined to float a canoe on or wade in to fly fish.  It's a fast piece of water for sure though.

I believe if a canoe were to upset on this water;  the contents would never be retrieved again, unless everything was tied tightly to the canoe gunnel's and thwarts.

A very scenic road winds along the river and dead ends in a cul de sac at the end.  A campground is available for overnight stays.  The amazing thing is that there is no sign at the entrance to this road that indicates it's a dead end.  I found out about the dead end part nine miles down the road.  I wasn't upset as the ride along the water was beautiful.
It was along this road that I saw the drift boat only, it wasn't drifting.  It was stationary out in the middle of the fast moving river.  Some sort of anchor was holding it to the spot.  The fishermen just stood there and cast flies with their rods. 

I mean that boat isn't moving down stream an inch.  I noticed a pair of oars fastened to the gunnel's.  They were hanging outside the boat.  Notice in future pictures how steep the curve of the bow is.  The gunnel's actually flow gracefully up to the tip of the elegant looking bow.

The guy sitting in the front must be the river guide.  He isn't doing anything.  The two fellows behind him are casting fly line continuously.  I saw the man in the middle catch a rather small trout while I was photographing them.

I believe the bow is high to block water from entering the boat.  Also the boat should ride well on top the waves and rougher water.  That's just my presumption.  I'm not sure.  But, it's a nifty looking boat.  By the way;  these are solid cherry wood boats and they are made by a company that makes no other style boat.  As I understand it these boats are shipped to Colorado, Montana and Wyoming to float fishermen down fast moving rivers like the Bighorn, Gunnisson and Elk Creeks.  I believe I'll stick to wading small mountain trout streams.

I found this old building right along the river.

This is the top part of the building above.  I can't imagine what it was used for.  I was too lazy to get off the bike and walk over and read the plaque in front of the porch.

Time for a rest and a couple therapy exercises before moving away from the river and into the countryside and forests.  There are some small, unique towns I want to roll through on my way back home.

Just look at this wonderful old place.  Another shot from a different angle is below.

Here's a shot of the place above from a better angle.  Wait till you see the front of this beautiful building.  It is below:

Isn't that building beautiful?  It is sitting empty and no care is provided it.  I find that amazing!
There is no lack of old barns on these back roads.

The house that sits on the same property as the above barn is next.  It also has it's own old time flair.

Can you figure out which direction the strongest winds hit the barn below?

I can remember buildings such as these when I was a kid growing up in Pennsylvania.  Over the years those old buildings were torn down or bulldozed out of the way for the building of metal barns.  Tennessee is different in that regard.  The farmers often build new pole or metal barns but, they seem to keep the old buildings around too.  It's as if they don't want to let go of the past.  Or;  they have a sincere appreciation of where they came from and want the memories forever.  I think the South and the North have different philosophies when it comes to cherishing the past.  Check out the next old home.  I mean it's gorgeous.  And, yes, it's sitting waiting to fall into ruin.

Isn't this place fabulous!

I would think this old structure would be well worth refurbishing.  I absolutely can not believe that someone hasn't purchased this building and put it back to original.  It really isn't in bad shape.

This old country road finally ended up at a spot where I knew exactly where I was.  Parksvale Lake is primarily a fishing lake that has rapidly transitioned into a pleasure boat lake.  The extreme Western end of it is very shallow and the pleasure boats and jet ski's do not attempt to navigate there.  I hear the fishing is pretty fair on this lake.  It has it's pretty spots.

I bet Douglas would have a blast on this little island.

I was in familiar territory now and I wanted to get home to my dogs.  They would need fresh, cool water by now.  Hope you enjoyed my afternoon ride.  It was nothing big;  just a little ride through Tennessee's back roads.  I feel a canoe camp trip coming up.

A HIKE WITH DOUGLAS & SEARCH FOR WILD FLOWERS

The old turkey hen stayed with her nest of eggs until the last moment.  The footsteps came too near.  Tall grass made crunching sounds as it was bent and pushed aside by a human with a golden dog at his side.  Only then did she burst from her hideaway to fly into the forest a short distance away and alight in a tree.

She and her future brood were safe because her santuary was discovered by a human who empathises with all creatures found in these meadows and woods.

I wanted to go on a motorcycle ride today.  I actually did ride for a very short distance but, something was bothering me that made me turn around and put the bike away.  Douglas has been extremely lonely lately.   Usually he is standing at the gate ready to go.  It always makes me feel selfish when I leave without the dogs and especially him.  After I go through the gate without them;  Douglas retires through the dog door into the habitat.   Lately when I return to the yard, he won't show the slightest interest in my coming.  It used to be just him and me.   For the past two years he's been living with up to six other dogs that require my attention.  I believe his heart is broken.  Today is beautiful and it's his day.  Just him  and me.  We will spend a lot more time together from this day forward;  just him and me.

We are hiking along what I call the old Blankenship Cave Trail.  It's the trail I used when searching for the Blankenship Cave that lies in the side of a cliff overlooking Tellico Lake.

Marigold

The wind feels good blowing across the top of this mountain.  It also drowns out the obnoxious sounds of speeding ski and fishing boats traveling Tellico Lake below.  The lake is not a place to be on the weekend for guys like me.

This is not the easiest trail to walk and by the looks of it;  no one has used it for a long, long time.  We had to cross tall grass and briers to get to this trail and that grass is definitely chigger country.

The grass crossing is where Douglas and I frightened the hen turkey.  The trail moves into the mountainous forest shortly after moving away from the lake.  The incline is steep at times but the forest itself is open without scrub brush to block the views.  It's a pleasant environment.

Wild flowers flourish along the trail in many varieties.  I wanted to photograph all the flowers I could find along this trail.  It would be a good documentary of April lake flowers.  I'm finding out that most of the flowers are "woods" flowers.  Hence; a good representation of all the lake flowers won't be accurate.

Spurred Butterfly Pea

The greens are the richest, deepest greens imaginable this time of year.  I can imagine a world of chiggers living in all that splendor, however.

There were wild flowers everywhere.  I would have my job cut out for me identifying all of them later on tonight when I posted the pictures.

Douglas was a different dog this trip.   There definitely is something that affects his relationship with me when I take Happy and Shade along for our outings.  Douglas is staying with me and he is more responsive to my calls to him.  I wonder if he feels slighted when the others are along.

He runs to the lake at every opportunity.

I love him and won't deny him anything as long as he's doing whatever in a safe manner.

The forest ends and the grassland begins again.  It does this on and off for about a half mile.

Once  back in the forest we take a break.  A cool drink is in order for me.  Douglas is searching for the lake.  He loves the water more than anything else.  Down over the hill he goes toward the lake.

After a little rest I decide to go searching for some wild flowers.  They are not hard to find.  I took off my shirt to check for ticks as they are a continual bother out here.  Sure enough there was one working his way toward my neck on the outside of my shirt.

They are so bothersome!  I don't know what to do to keep them at bay.  I shall change clothes when I get home and wash these immediately to rid them of chiggers and ticks.
Douglas continuously searches out whatever his nose leads him to.

When we leave here we'll work our way down off this mountain to the edge of the lake and head back toward the truck.  It's quite a distance away.

As we near the lake we can hear power boats roaring about in all directions.  I anticipated this and was fully expecting all the hub bub on the lake.  When we want peace we go to Calderwood Lake.

Walking back along the lake gives Douglas ample time to swim and play in the water.  He is a water dog supreme!

The trail along the lake is an easy walk.  We are taking our time.  Douglas has lots of opportunities to swim and play in the sweet, green grass as he sees fit.  It's his day.

Nothing like a fun dry off.

There are many wild flowers along the lake.  Many I have not encountered prior today.  Flowers are interesting.  They make me wonder why they are shaped and formed the way they are.  If there weren't specific purposes to their design; they would all look alike and be the same color..  What is it that motivates the many differences in the design of flowers?



Spurred Butterfly Pea



Flowers were everywhere.  I can't imagine anyone not having an appreciation for flowers.  They are the colors of nature.  The greens and the browns are common place in the natural world but, flowers add the accent to the view.  They are to the wilderness the same as sharps and flats are to fine music.

Great Scott!  This is supreme chigger country.  This tall grass is close to the edge of the lake.  Chiggers love this environment.  I've got to get these clothes off before the little rascals find me under all this cloth.



Eastern Daisy Fleabane

 The flowers are gorgeous!


High Bush known also known as Sawtooth Blackberry



Quaker Ladies

I am impressed with the flower species present in this small area.

They are endless.  Each month has it's own colorful flowers.  They are with us such a short time.  It's a shame not to get out there and enjoy them.  They are free to us.

Spurred Butterfly Pea

Spurred Butterfly Pea

Spurred Butterfly Pea



Dwarf Cinquefoil






Wild Strawberry

  Spectacular display of flowers!


 Virginia Button Weed



Virginia Button Weed

 We left the lake and crossed a meadow containing very tall grasses.  All of a sudden we broke out into a field of blue flowers.  The sight was remarkable.  I won't waste words.  Look below:


Bachelor's Button

 Douglas is going to create a post card picture.  I know he is.


Bachelor's Button and golden dog

 And the post card picture appears.  That's my little boy out there in the middle of all the blue flowers.  He's gorgeous!


Bachelor's Button and Golden Dog

 They are Bachelor's Buttons.  A more definitive view follows.  There are purple ones mixed in with the blue.



Bachelor's Button



Bachelor's Button

 What a beautiful sight.  An entire field of these beautiful flowers!
Douglas is in need of water and so am I.  It's time to leave this wonderland and head back to the cool shade of the habitat and cool water to drink.   Hope you enjoyed today's outing.  We'll see what tomorrow brings. I've identified the flowers I could with my resources.  If you can lend a hand;  I'd appreciate it.  Just leave a message at the end of the post.  Happy Easter.  Stay safe....