A HOT DAY ON THE LAKE

It's 7 AM and it's exceptionally warm on the water.  I think it's the humidity making me think it's hotter than it really is.  The morning appears to be overcast with a grayness preventing the sun to shine through, but it's not stopping the heat.  There isn't much happening on the water today as there is only one boat trailer in the parking lot.  I think the anglers know that today's going to be a scorcher as the thermometer is already approaching 85 degrees.  The only bird I see is one mallard duck and he looks like he's ready to get in the shade someplace.

About 50 geese are hanging on the shoreline near the water where the sun's heat has not intensified yet.  They'll probably head into the water and seek the coolness of the undercut, shaded river bank before long.

The heat intensifies as the morning progresses.  The little thermometer on my fabric food cooler reads 89 degrees.  Whew!  No wonder I don't see any critters out this morning.

I was able to snap a couple shots of a couple ducks who were hanging out back in the shade of an overhanging tree.  As usual - it's too dark for good shutter speeds.

You may notice a tiny difference in brightness between the two shots.  I adjusted the contrast on the camera a click to the bright side to compensate for the dark surroundings and corresponding slow shutter speed.  Getten tricky here.

I've never seen the water so void of wildlife.  All the critters are definitely in the shade or back in the water grass laying low and close to the water.  I don't blame them.  I'm wearing a long sleeve cotton uniform shirt that I call canvas to keep the sun off my arms.  I don't like putting on sun blocker.  Normally I'm comfortable with that shirt throughout the Summer.  This morning is causing me to rethink my preference of clothing.  I have short sleeve shirts, but as I said - I have a thing about spreading chemicals on my skin for hours and hours -- unless it's tick and chigger repellent. 
It's been an hour since I snapped a picture of anything.  If I see any bird flutter I'll click my shutter.  Not bad, huh?
Ah ha.  Here's something to take a practice shot or two of.  Low light, contrast one click brighter, 1/10th of a second faster shutter speed selected over the light meter's recommendation and click a click a click.

You'll notice some blur in these shots because no matter what I tried - I couldn't get a decent shutter speed.  This 500mm lens is just too slow.  That's the downfall of a commercial grade lens.  They are slow (require more light) than a professional lens.  There's nothing to be done about it.  Sucks!

 And, one last click as the big heron heads for parts unknown.

Now, this lady knows how to beat the heat.

That cow is foraging on the river grasses that she is enveloped in.  They must be tender and sweet.  The other cows in the field act disinterested.  
I have put forth a lot of effort to try and find otters on this section of the Holston.  As I have stated before - I've had the pleasure of watching them almost every day back in October and January.  Then, after trapping season, I haven't seen even one.  All those little fellows I delighted in watching and photographing have been killed.  Harvested is the politically correct word to use, but I prefer to call it like it is.  They were killed, skinned, their bodies thrown on a land fill or worse and their pelts turned in for a bounty.  Shame, shame, shame on humanity for that mindset.  I'll not go into the trapping thing here, but it's coming.  Someone ought to get some otter seeds and plant some more in here because I think the otters I came to enjoy were over "harvested."  OK - I'll drop it.  But the article is coming soon.

If you are a canoeist or a Ki - "Yakker", you definitely have to visit this water at some point in the Summer while the lush, thick, green river grasses are prevalent.  You will enjoy paddling down the narrow waterways that cut through the large bodies of river grasses located down at the John Sevier Steam Plant bay.  It's an amazing experience.  The grass is intensely thick and full of wildlife that can be approached, if your quiet.  On the banks of the upper river section the grass grows out from the shorelines from 10 to 30 feet and there are very, very narrow channels leading from the main river through the grass to beaver lodges that can't be seen from the main water.  Sometimes you have to back out of the dead end channel as the grass is too thick to turn a canoe around and paddle.  I just get up and move to the opposite end of the boat and paddle on out.  Not sure how a kayak would handle it.  Notice the waterway cutting through the grass in the shot below.

That open water narrows down as one proceeds into the grass and the boat can be taken either up or down stream way back by the trees.  This picture is only a tiny section of about ten acres of grass on that side of the river.  The water depth varies from three feet to nothing - one to two feet being the normal.  It's a really nice paddling adventure back in there.

A quick drive by the eagle's snag showed junior perched in his usual spot.  His sibling wasn't present.  Dad was nearby though.

It's hard to believe he is just a baby.  Actually, immature is the proper term.  He is already as large as his parents are and will get no larger.  This fellow and his sibling will soon be driven off by both parents.  It's natures way.  Eventually, in about four years, each will seek out mates and help perpetuate the linage.  They may move to and stay within two or three miles of their birth tree or, if no mate can be found, will move further and further away until contact with a potential mate is made.  They could eventually leave this area entirely and not return.  Such a sad farewell!

The mountains are taking on that dark blue color that indicates rain.  My time here today is over and I need to leave.  The bottom of the lake at the steam plant has turned white.  The rain has arrived on the river.  That's one rain I wouldn't have minded getting caught in.

I have the Kawasaki bike all set to go on the trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Pennsylvania, almost.  I discovered tonight while washing it that the front brake pads need replaced.  That's no big deal.  It's a bigger deal driving to Sevierville in the truck to buy them.  I despise Severeville.  I'll think about writing the trapping article while rambling over the Blue Ridge Mountains and I may just pull over under a tree and write it along the road.  I can think when I'm on two wheels.  It's a lot like being on the lake alone on a boat or canoe.  The mind settles down and processes thought more precisely.  Imagine that.  I'll be back up on the Holston tomorrow afternoon so maybe a critter or two will show.  See ya then.  

CANOEING IN THE MAZE

This has been a busy day.  After bringing the dogs back this morning from the forest,  I changed clothes, laundered everything I had on to assure the ticks and chiggers were eliminated and loaded up the canoe for a paddle across the French Broad River to the flood plain.  The dogs were all bagged out under ceiling fans.  They were worn out and that's a good thing.  I should have joined them, but I had a desire to feel the paddle in my hand that I couldn't resist.

I slammed the Attikamek into the water at Rankin and blasted across the French Broad as fast as I could paddle to avoid any boat traffic.  This is Sunday and there were many boats on the water.  They don't normally come up this far on the river,  but Sunday is busy.  I went straight into the trees across from the boat ramp and headed upstream through the jungle.

I would slide around the right side of the trees on the right corner of the above shot that would allow the canoe access to the interior of the flooded forest.

Ah - this is better.  I slowed down the paddle strokes and just eased silently along the trees.  I will find a small opening in the line of foliage and head on in under the branches and try to lose myself in this tangle.

I'll paddle around the right side of that vertical snag in the right side of the photo and that should put me into the trees - I mean under the trees.

It appeared to be a dead end.  It was endless water grass as far as I could see, but there was good water beneath.  This is where a kevlar boat shines.  This boat glided effortlessly over the top of this dense grass as if it weren't there.  I pushed on.

I kept looking for some clear water, even the width of a narrow ditch would do.  I could see it but couldn't get to it for all the obstructions that lay in my path.  It's fun to dice around debris, turning and twisting this and that way, exploring for a path through the dense, thick foliage.  

The grass thinned out and I got some room to maneuver.  The river was busy.  I was  isolated back in here, but the noise was intense.  It sounded like Laguardia Airport out on the river.  I could hear fast boats with big two stroke engines loudly flashing up and down the river.  Why is all the noise necessary?  It was really getting to me and I was entertaining the idea of just leaving the water.  I couldn't find any wildlife due to all the boat noise anyway.  Then I saw a single prothonotory warbler.  Just one.  The challenge was made.  I had to sneak up on him and photograph the tiny guy.  Small birds are more of a challenge than the big raptors and herons.

He was looking directly at me.  I chuckled to myself as I froze in mid paddle.  Here I am stalking a tiny yellow bird.  What have I become?

It's very dark back in here but I thought I could pull off some good shots.  The reason is that the bird is a brilliant yellow and will contrast to the darker than usual background.  I can, therefore, use a slightly faster shutter speed to catch the contrast.

He's not flying away.  Maybe he thinks my boat is a giant canary god or something.

I couldn't take the noise from all the boat traffic any longer.  I'm outta here.  I didn't plan to make this a long paddle so I just went straight across the river and into the woods from the boat ramp.  If I would have gone downstream and crossed the river I could have paddled far into the interior of the forest and been far, far away from any boat sounds.  It was a good little paddle trip though.  I was satisfied with the experience.  Here's one more shot of the tiny prothonotory warbler..  He's all I saw to photograph, but he is enough.

PIG DOG. GEE WHIZ!

"Go faster dad, faster!"

I loaded up the kids before sun-up this morning and headed for the Wildlife Management Area at Buffalo Springs for an early morning outing.  These couch potatoes needed to get out in the fresh air.

We got there at sun-up and was greeted by the fields of color that appear annually on this property.

I've posted shots of these flowers in past years and am continually impressed with the beauty they provide.  The flowers go on and on for acres.  Stunning is the word that comes to mind.

The colors and variety of flowers are diverse and so beautiful that if the public could see this sight - they would stop their cars an be compelled to walk through them.  The fields, however, are hidden and protected in the midst of the forest where the animals can enjoy them.

It's impossible to walk here and not get a smile on your face.  Impossible!  I don't know who's responsible for this spectacular display of color, but my hats off to him.  I'd like to take a fold out chair out in the middle of this field an just sit there.

I understand that Tennessee Wildlife Resource's Agency, (TWRA) is undertaking a planting program called "Savannah."  Vast fields of grain producing crops will be planted for the benefit of wildlife.  The harvesting of the grains and distribution of same will feed much of our state's wildlife population.  The grain that falls to the ground or remains on plant stalks will be of tremendous benefit to the local wildlife such as quail, turkey, deer and many other species.  I was skeptical about bulldozing down so much forest to achieve these needed agricultural fields, but now I kind of like the idea.  A lot of trees and forest had to come down to create the vast areas needed to plant on - hence the term Savannah.

Already grain crops are thriving.  If it helps the wildlife then I'm all for it.  This is an example of the vital projects that TWRA undertakes to propagate, nurture and extend good stewardship to the state's wildlife.  This is excellent use of vital budget money to enhance wildlife resources and fulfill the agencies mission to the citizens of Tennessee and "their" wildlife.  Sounds like a commercial - huh?

As you can see a good portion of forest has been cleared away.  This bothered me at first, but when one looks at the big picture - it all makes sense.  There still remains a vast forest on the entire perimeter of these future fields. 

I love how the dogs stay with me.  They are the best.  We followed a trail that, hopefully, would lead us to the creek they like to swim in.

The trail brought us out onto another freshly cleared piece of land.  What's that black spot out there by the mud?  It's, it's Shade.  For goodness sake!  Oh no!

My black pig dog found a spot she couldn't resist.  Well, it is getting warm out and that, to her, is water.

Just look at her enjoying the mud.  I don't care.  It's her morning and it's clean mud.

Chestnut Hound joins Shade in the mud but she walks through the water.  She doesn't lay down and roll in it like pig dog does.

Shade is having a tremendously wonderful time.  Her face is lit up and she's enjoying the coolness of the mud.  I don't mind at all.  If it makes her happy, then I'm happy too.  She is, however, sealing her fate as far as a shampoo bath goes for when we get home.  All that mud will wash away when we get to the very clean, cold creek later.

"Come on Shade - lets go find the stream."

It is impossible to walk through or around all that wood that borders these cleared fields.  The trails are blocked and we're having a difficult time getting to the creek we need to find.  The sun is getting hot even at this early hour.  We'll find the creek and start back toward the truck and home.  I don't want to risk them out in extreme heat.

I decided to take them straight into the thick woods and head straight down over the hill to the creek.  The plants in here were covered with water and would help keep them cool as they past through them.  All I could think about was all the ticks and chiggers that were clinging to my clothes as I waded through this mess.  

We came out on another trail that would parallel the creek we sought.

We finally found the cold, clear stream.  They went nuts.

Chestnut was really enjoying the water.  She walked in it for a long distance, drinking deeply.  Sweet little girl.

Shade laid down in the stream and just languished in the coolness of the water.  The mud was washed from her hair and she came out clean as a pin.

The sun is really getting hot.  It's only 8:30 AM and the humidity is raising with the heat.  It's time to hoof it out of here.

I'm glad I took them to the forest today.. These are woodland dogs and they don't belong on the couch at home.  Today they could act like woodland dogs and seek and search, smell, sniff and run in the woods.  I wish I could get them out more, but I can only afford so much gasoline.  It's all about gasoline these days.

I thought I'd show you some flowers in my yard at home.  I planted climbing roses as well as knock-out roses and they are beautiful.  I need to get some more bleached out drift wood for them to climb on.  

Above is one of 7 knock-out roses.  They are super beautiful!

Below is a shot of the climbing rose area I'm creating.  It will change as the roses grow.

Those are climbing roses between those poles where the yellow wire is spanning the distance over them.

I really like the bleached drift wood look.  You can see the climbers starting to come through the wood lattice above.  They all seem to be healthy even though I know nothing about roses.  You might notice the vines over near the upside down tub.  Ivy.

Clematis has climbed up onto the bleached wood and is spreading out nicely.  Can't wait to see the blooms, whenever they happen.  I need drift wood that will stand higher off the ground for all the stuff to climb upon.  I sit and pull out all the grass and weeds surrounding these plants every three days.  It grows back so fast!

Below is one of the forsythia plants I got from the old Scona Lodge area.  This is one of 14 plants I "borrowed" from Scona.  Every plant has survived and is very healthy.  They are growing tall and starting to widen, as I hoped they would.

Finally, here is one of the seven butterfly bushes.  They are growing very quickly and spreading out just as I hoped they would.  I'll never cut them back.  They can go where they wish,  and the forsythia can do the same.  I'm not sure when the butterflie bushes will bloom but I bet it will be pretty when they do.

So, that's about it for the morning.  I had these pictures and thought I'd just go ahead and put them on the blog.  Actually, I'm resting up after a shower to wash off the chiggers that I'm sure covered my clothing.  I'm thinking of tossing the canoe on the truck and heading for the flood plain.  I'll see how I feel in a little while.  Its noon now, so I better get it in gear.  Hope you enjoyed the entry.  See ya later.