MY “LAUGH & TIMES” FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES

“There’s the neatest little waterfall over here Mushy (not his real name),” Judy said.

“Look at those “Bluets” down on the side of that rock,” Ron added.

Earlier, Judy had been miffed at me for not coming across to the big rock she and Neena were exploring. I have a camera and anything I can’t see from there I blow up with the zoom, so I saw no need to jump the gap.

However, after their insistence, I hopped over onto the first of a series of boulders that formed the right side of the waterfall we had been admiring along the Middle Prong Trail near Cades Cove in the Smokies. Between two smaller rocks, was a tiny little waterfall with a lot of velocity that caused the stream of water leaking through to explode in a spray on a rock about 2 feet below.

I carefully made the “Bluet” shot and then made my way over to the mossy dark spot that can be seen the photo of Neena and Judy, just to Neena’s left. I noted and was careful of an area was a small depression, where water stood and feed the surrounding moss. I took the little fall shot and looped the strap on my camera around my right wrest for the trip back across to the boulder where Neena, Judy, and Ron stood watching.

Under her breath Judy said to the others, “I’d have to laugh if he fell in,” which elicited giggles from her sister!

As I crossed my left foot behind my planted right foot, my right foot shot forward about 3 inches causing me to arch backward and away from the top of the rock.

Now at this moment, I began trying to remember what the area directly below me looked like, and all I could picture in my mind was sharp rocks. I mentally prepared myself for the coming pain of smashing 8 feet below me into jagged rocks sticking up out of the rushing cold water below the fall.

As I hit the water, across the top part of my back first, I felt no immediate pain. I then noticed that I was being swept down stream through the natural flume created by the surrounding rocks. I started to panic at being swept far down stream and dashed against boulders along the way, but as I planted my feet on the bottom, and stopped my tumbling, I realized that I could steady myself and support myself against the large boulder on which my now screaming family stood.

As quickly has the second fear subsided, I began to think about hypothermia! I frantically began to look for a way up and out of the freezing water. There was no way I could get up to my left, nor could Ron reach my hand from above.

Finally, I moved to my right, almost stumbled over a larger rock hidden under the water, and made it to a small eddy where dead branches had collected. Luckily, there was a small tree about 2 inches in diameter that was still rooted to the bank that projected out over the debris. Using this aid, I made it up out of the water, but still could not make the huge step up to the top.

About that time Mike Hagney (send an email Mike if this isn’t correct) (Mike is at left with the great Van Morrison t-shirt) from Florida just happened by with his family. He and Ron grabbed an arm and I was finally firmly planted on higher ground. I stood there draining and suddenly remembering my camera!

“No, it’s okay,” Ron told me as he handed it to me. It was actually still on and had suffered no harm as I apparently flung it off my wrist and onto the top of the rock from which I fell!

I did lose my cap and sunglasses, and everything in my pockets: my cellphone, wallet, keys, and camera case were drenched.

I removed my hiking boots, drained them, and rung out my socks, but the walk back was a little sloshy!

At the car, where the butterflies constantly buzzed by after feeding on a nearby “horse muffin”, I removed my wet shirt and zipped off the legs of my hiking pants. Ron gave me a dry pair of socks and a large towel to sit on.

We made a pit-stop at the Townsend Visitor’s Center, where I decided I would go “commando” the rest of the way! “I was out there, Jerry!” (For you Seinfeld fans!)

I finally relaxed and talked over the event with my companions at Uno’s in Maryville, where we had Uno’s Amber Ale and a very good pizza!

It was not until after I looked closely at the attached photos that I realized just how seriously I could have been hurt or killed! There are rocks peeping up above the water just to the left of and directly under where I fell! However, I was only very sore in my left arm and leg, and moved very slowly that night and this morning. There were no bruises (found two since this was written), scraps, or contusions like I expected.

Each night, especially before such outing, I pray that the good Lord will watch over us. Some may say it’s just luck, but to me it was an answered prayer.

So, thank you Lord, and you too Ron and Mike! I also appreciate the concern shown by Neena and Judy.

BURGESS FALLS IN THE SPRING

Ron, Neena, Judy, and I took another road trip this week to the Burgess Falls State Natural Area (State Park), where we found lots of water flowing, for a change, and many wildflowers.

The area is named for Tom Burgess who started a lumber and grist mill that used the power of the water flowing in the Falling Water River, near Cookeville, Tennessee. He received the land grant here in 1793 as payment for his service in the Revolutionary War.

In the early 20^th Century, a dam was added and a hydroelectric plant was built that supplied electricity to Cookeville. A flood in 1928 washed the dam and power plant away, but was rebuilt and served the area until 1944, at which time the TVA Dam network made these small plants obsolete.

Today, you can still see the old dam, the base of the old grist mill wheel, and remnants of the hydroelectric plant. However, the 350 acres is now being allowed to return to its natural state, and it is beautiful!

The hike was 1.2 miles, and was rated as moderate, with lots of steps. Along the way I found a “clump” of Jack-in-the-pulpits, which is my favorite wildflower, mostly because they are so rare, and a lovely bunch of Foamflowers surrounded by Wild Blue Violets. There are basically three falls, Little, Middle, and Big Falls, along the way, with tow grand overlooks.

On the way back to Cookeville, we stopped for Ron to buy us a Sam Adams for the trip into town. The Frenchman’s Market boasted of selling 765 gallons of beer weekly, and our two were just drops in the bucket. They had no opener, so I improvised like I did “back in the day” and popped the tops off on the door mechanism of the car! They were good and cold!

We ordered a couple more Killian’s at Puleo's Restaurant! I had this wonderful lasagna – they others had less exciting fare like chicken sandwich, chicken pot-pie, and a salad!

On the way home we visited a little roadside market run by some of the local Mennonites in the Crossville/Jamestown area. Ron and Neena stocked up on cheese, apple butter, and soup mixes.

We thoroughly enjoy our free time, our hikes and adventures, and each other.

HIKING IN THE BIG SOUTH FORK

Most of you know I love to hike and that I have missed several lately because of my shoulder operation. You also now how I hated that I missed one with Dragons just last week, so Friday I made up for it!

The eight of us, 4 Dragons and 4 Knights, hiked a portion of the Grand Gap Loop in the Brandy Creek area, of the Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area, near Oneida, Tennessee. I would bet you that the small animals have only started working their way back into the canyon area today. There was more cackling going on than in a flight of black crows! I actually stopped once to try and determine if what I was hearing back down the trail were crows or my wife and her three sisters!

The Knights had a tendency to move out ahead of the Dragons, not simply to get away from them so we could hear the wildlife, but because we are a little more seasoned at hiking. So, every now and then we would stop and wait for them get into view, before heading off again. The return trip ended up being, one Knight and one Dragon, for the most part, stopping frequently to rest and help each other up the ladders.

The goal was to make it to Fall Branch Falls, about 2 miles, before doubling back to the parking lot for a picnic. We were probably on the trail about three hours. There was a lot of rock formations to exam, some wildflowers, and, of course, the falls to photograph. The trail itself is fairly level, with two places where you have to descend ladders to transfer from a higher trail to a lower one.

The rocky outcrops took thousands of years to form and they were laid down in easily discernable strata, some being deposited in opposite directions. The water running round and over the formations cut many hydraulic holes and other designs in the various strata over the eons.

It was a good day, but the temperature on the cool side. It was perfect for the hike, but when we tried to settle in for some food and beer, we ate as if we were starved so we could get back in the vehicles and warm up!

Click on the shots above to see a larger view, and there are more photos at Flickr!

See ya on the trail!