Wilbur

Moment

Memory

Higher power

Tweetsie

Second lesson in photography:

• Shoot it. If it attracts your eye or curiosity in any way, try to get at least one decent shot; it may end up being one of your best
  

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I must have some kind of flu bug; since Friday morning I've had something keeping me just a bit uncomfortably nauseous, and when I eat, it becomes worse. Doesn't seem as bad since yesterday afternoon, so I may just pull through. The Tennessee Vol's being whipped in football by Mississippi didn't help, but the Lady Vols thumped a highly ranked team from Baylor University in basketball yesterday evening; one of the very few times they have beaten a team ranked higher than themselves since 2007-2008 season. They are still not near the same level as UConn or Stanford.
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Even though I wasn't my chipper self yesterday, I grabbed my camera and my Carolyn (priorities in that order) and headed for my favorite place in the nearby hills. We returned to Wilbur and the upper Watauga River valley. Being there makes the remainder of the world seem superfluous. I made a few photos in Elizabethton as we passed through, and at Wilbur, we mostly sat on our butts and reveled in warm sun and magnificent scenery. Few people use the area in winter, so we were happily alone except for a flock of passing Harley riders. The little bufflehead ducks have returned for winter, and are fun to watch as they argue amongst themselves and dive for dinner. I was hoping to catch sight of a bald eagle, but none graced the sky while we were there.
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By the time all the giveaways are done on the healthcare bill, the legislation will be quite useless to average Americans.
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I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend and that Blue Monday isn't so bad for you.
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A journey through the hills

Watauga Lake at Shook Branch

Saturday was a complete washout for photography, so we invited Kim over to watch the Tennessee Volunteers get beat by the Alabama Crimson Tide on tv. It was much better than sitting in a motel room in a strange town; I know that for a fact from my days as a tramp electrician.

Kim came back to our house at eight o'clock yesterday morning, and we immediately headed for the hills. She wanted to visit Doe River Gorge, but it was a waste of time. I've never been there, but knew about it. Apparently one must do some trekking to get into it which left me out, and she would have been pressed for time if she had tried it. I will find out more on the place and maybe we can go back there if she gets to come back next June for the rhododendrons atop Roan Mt.

We left there and I took a few minutes so she could get a "I've been there" photo of Watauga lake and dam. We then drove over the crooked mountain road to to Dennis Cove. I think the drive across the mountain scared her a bit; she was perturbed at looking out the car window and then straight down the mountainside. We finally got to the Dennis Cove camping and picnic area, and of course it was closed. I've been going in there for nearly thirty years, and that is the first time the gate has been locked. I found another place to park, and she was able to walk a little way on the Appalachian Trail and get some shots of Laurel Branch. We then began our assent of Walnut Mt. and Kim again made sure her seatbelt was snug; she definitely ain't a mountain girl. Due to lack of time, I wasn't able to take her down the mountainside to Frog Level; it is mighty pretty there in autumn. We continued on to the Walnut Mountain Church of Christ and I think it tickled her pretty good. The light was good and the leaves were perfect; I can't wait to see her photos of the old place. She even went inside the building and made some shots; much as I did in '07. We proceeded from there to the Christmas tree farms atop the mountain, and I think she liked them a lot; she made many photos of the rows of future joy. We drove from there into the edge of North Carolina, through the town of Roan Mountain, Tenn. and back to my house. Kim left immediately to return toward home. She had never before spent that much time on mountain roads; something Carolyn and I do for several hours at a time.

We had some disappointments due to weather over the weekend, but all-in-all, it wasn't bad. We enjoyed having Kim with us, and I hope we can keep her at the house next time she comes in; motel bills are expensive. Here is a link to her Flickr and there is another in the side bar; be sure to give her work some views and she likes comments, too.
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Please read this: http://www.mensjournal.com/you-get-old-2