Little visit

 Our son built a new trellis for the Wisteria vine.

Between the flowers and plantings there when they arrived and what they have added, it is quite well landscaped.

Mamaw likes those grandbabies best. It is fun to watch them explore and experiment.

There were several varieties of Peonies.

I would have said that she smiles non-stop but she gave me some serious looks when I aimed the camera toward her. She loved it when I read Dr. Seuss about the Wumps going bump!

Our son said we were there at the perfect time for blooming since they don't last long.

Sunday morning the sun came out and little one was cruising around before breakfast.

After breakfast dad helped her get dressed for church. She loves to go to nursery.

I end our little picture gallery with thankfulness to God for family and health to enjoy them. We desire to have a godly influence on our posterity through time with them and prayer for them. Our present circumstances don't allow near so much time as we would like, so we have to try to make the precious hours special. Mom was behind the camera and brought out the big smile. She is usually quite the smiley little girl.

Pond Mountain

 Finding the beginning of the trail was challenging enough. All that marked it was a brown, fiberglass National Forest trail marker up on a bank by the road- no parking, little evidence of a trail, another unrelated sign drawing attention away from it. So, we took a 1 mile walk on a nearby gravel road, not finding it. We knew that if it could be found that it would have to be between the gravel road and a nearby turn. The trail was wholly unmaintained and its developers knew nothing of grading or switchbacks. Locals had provided occasional pieces of survey tape to mark difficult turns and plunges into thickets. We began to understand that the blazes are on the opposite side of trees from the way we were going. With a few trials and error and many assumptions, we threaded our way up the mountain. Between thickets the woods were very open and carpeted with wildflowers, all white.

The small, wild irises, or flags, are the state flower of Tennessee.

Power grid takes precedence over wilderness area, especially above a hydroelectric generation facility. It also provided decent views of the lake.

As best as I can discover, these are groundcones, a parasitic plant, not mushroom. I have seen them for years but did not know what they were. If I am mistaken, please inform me.

Despite all of the steep, brambled sections, there were also relatively flat, open areas. I took this picture of the tree barks, thinking that it would not come out well since it was backlit.

So, I moved about the same distance on the other side of the trees and tried again. It is amazing what difference lighting makes.

The Maple sprout, lichen, and aster at the base of this Black Oak tree appeared to be in less than ideal growing conditions but still making a go of it.

Clumps of moss grew here and there, not near a creek or other consistent moisture source.

At one false peak about halfway up was a rock outcropping. Later in the day we would struggle over a long stretch of rock outcroppings to avoid rhododendron thickets. While I waited for my friend, I tried a timed picture. 

When he arrived, I took one of him with his phone. His camera takes much better pictures, but having them texted to you loses a considerable amount in quality.

Without a SLR camera wildflowers are quite difficult to capture. The pictures mostly just give you the idea that wildflowers were abundant and varied.

There were many beauties along the way.

I had someone just today tell me that they had a red oak in their yard. "What kind?" I asked. "There are 8 to 10 species in this part of the state." This one from when this leaf fell is probably Black Oak.

Having left our vehicle at about 8:30, we reached the top of the ridge at around noon. As is my tradition, I take a picture of the benchmark with a hand in view. We hiked about 2 1/2 miles from Watauga Lake (elevation 1959') to the top of Pond Mountain (4329'), about a 2300' elevation gain. We were amazed at how good of shape this 1934 bronze benchmark is. Lack of people scoring it helps.

After the ridgetop we left the trail and followed the ridge for about 3 miles, successfully navigating the forks in the ridge that would have led us down into deep draws. The way was thick or rocky but sometimes open. Thankfully the open areas were just when we needed them to negotiate the splits in the ridge.

I saw several trillium with seed but only this one Painted Trillium with flower.

It is quite amazing the difference between what the eye sees and what the camera sees at times. To my eye these fungi were the brightest white.

A pair of flaming azaleas brightened the descent.

After crossing a surprisingly flat area we came to what we expected to be the Appalachian Trail. My friend asked it was. Just then a fully loaded backpack came gliding through the forest. "I think so," was my reply. The descent on a well-traveled and well graded trail was a cruise. We estimate that we hiked about 10 miles over some rough ground. The challenge, the weather, and the comradery were all good.

Between the two marks on this online map, you can see the off-trail part of the hike along the ridgetop.

Maps can be so deceiving. The blue "trail" at right-center barely exists and the terrain is much rougher than the contour lines suggest.

But if there was no challenge, we would have been disappointed or bored, and there ain't nobody got time for that. We were thankful to God for the beautiful day, challenging hike, and safe and successful traverse of the land we picked out. 

Multiple Surfaces

The goal of a ride is not to record pictures, but to exercise, enjoy the company, and take in the scenery. So, I quickly snapped a few photos when the pace slowed and the traffic and terrain were forgiving. After coasting down the hill from his house, past the school, and onto the greenway terminus which immediately goes under the highway bridges at the Doe River, and traversing a park, we were in downtown on Main St. headed towards the Veteran's Monument.

Before we got to the Monument, we turned left and crossed the Covered Bridge, built in 1882. When I had lived there formally (~30 years ago), you could still drive a car across it. Now it is pedestrian and bicycle traffic only.

We got on another pathway under the next bridge, back onto the street, back onto a pathway under the 4-lane Broad St. and onto neighborhood streets to a pathway down by the Watauga River. Enough of the paved trails and streets. Down river just before Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park is a small piece of land owned by the state with woods and trails. Here we road a little single track through the woods.

Several places along the line my son practiced jumps. I mostly avoid them.

After cycling around in the woods for awhile, we got onto the Tweetsie Trail headed in the direction of Hampton. It doesn't even leave Elizabethton, ending at 9.7 miles from the Johnson City end. The pea gravel might be a problem on roadbike tires, but it is not a problem on mountain bike tires. I thought we were going to cruise back to his house after this turn around. Just before we reached his house, he continued past the turn-off up a hill. Then he turned left onto a steep narrow street, saying, "This is fun back way to my house." Well, it tested and hopefully extended my endurance while proving my power. I might get good at this if I keep it up.

When we got back to his house, there was a treat. His 2-month-old daughter was awake and concentrating on my face. She made little noises. You know she wants to communicate even though that is many months away.

I am thankful to God for making more connection with my son and granddaughter. I hope to make it more frequent and that I won't be too sore from this time.

Grins and Giggles

 On a recent Saturday my wife and I traveled two hours to visit family in Knoxville. Our first stop was our oldest son and his brood. Here he stands, in fact, with his youngest of seven. During the visit we enjoyed a big meal. The children were so well behaved and content. It so heartening to see.

I have purposely arranged the photos in reverse birth order. Since we moved last year, we have seen them more. This means that these little guys recognize and acknowledge us more. That means lots of smiles. Some of the children are all grins and giggles while others are more serious and diligent. There is no doubt about which category this little guy falls into:

And number five is Little Miss Gregarious. I have seen her go up to complete strangers in a park, sit down, and talk away. Of course, this is always done under Dad and Mom's watchful eyes.

This guy is all boy, always ready to play hard. He is heavy as lead and way off the growth charts for his age. He does have an uncle who is 6' 4". It will be interesting to see how his oldest brother and he grow. Though rough and tumble, he also has a very warm side that I enjoy.

Coming in at number three is Miss Diligence and second mother. It doesn't seem as though her and her sister could be any more different. She is also quite articulate.

The two oldest brothers are only 19 months apart, but their difference in size suggests several years separation. Their father had taken them to three Revolutionary battlefields in SC and NC the weekend before. So now they are all about reenacting. Big brother led a drill with muskets; they showed off their colonial accoutrements and did several period demonstrations. Later we had a family wide race to see who could pick the most violet blooms in one minute for use in a salad later on.

Number two child is a detail guy. He sews and uses hand tools and even plants flowers.

In late afternoon we drove across town to meet three of my wife's sisters for a visit and celebration of her younger sister's birthday. Here is the birthday girl at the Mexican Restuarant. Her son is barely in the picture.

My wife always perks up when she gets around her sisters.

There are five sisters and three brothers in the family. Here is the fourth born and sister number two.

The second born and oldest sister is still hanging in there. It is amazing that all eight siblings are still alive. The youngest sister's boyfriend is in the background.

I don't name people on my blog, so third person identification of relatives is a little awkward. But I can say without equivocation that I am thankful to God for family. I am still praying for the salvation of some, but I am thankful for them all.