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.

WHAT GOD HATH MADE

This spring marks the beginning of my new life. I retired in September (2005) and since then I have tried to stay active, in part, by hiking. I’m up to about 7 miles a trip, but have paid the price in aches, pains, and blisters. I could and may do more, if there is something of special interest at the end of the trail, but for now a good roundtrip hike is ideally around 5 miles.

Spring has matched my new lease on life by showing me its bounty of beautiful and varied wildflowers; signifying a new fresh start. The bounty has been especially good this year in the East Tennessee Mountains due to a wet late winter and early spring – really lush new green growth with contrasting vibrant colors.

I know that it’s up to me what I make of this retirement and, as of now; I am resolved to pushing through the oncoming pains of getting older to really enjoying myself. I have no desire, and for now, no need to ever work again. There is just so much out there to enjoy, and the least of them is hiking. I know of no other endeavor that offers you such peace as walking along quiet shaded little paths and feeling, as well as, seeing what God hath made – made personally for me to enjoy.

Oh, I know millions have probably walked the same paths before me, but have they really communed with it – smelled it – touched it? To me, as I walk along, it was just made the moment just before my eyes see it; just materializing around the next bend in the trail, and it’s all fresh and new and a gift made, with a personal touch, just for me.

I know it’s silly, but I often happen upon a little bird sitting on a nearby limb that seems to watch me and expect me to notice – to say hello. To me it’s God, in a form I’m not afraid of, waiting for me to thank. “Thank you God – thank you for what you hath made for me.”