Best of the fall photos '18

The fall was beautiful in Sewanee as usual.  One particular morning of Nov. 3 I took this photo and uploaded the time lapse video of the sunrise.  It was an amazing view of the 'alpenglow' of the morning sun on the ridge.  It was this morning that I made my last boat trip of the season on the TN River.  Second photo - click on it to see the whole view.

The following weekend, I had a great fall party, but it was much cooler.  About 30 friends showed up from Sewanee and Murfreesboro.  The deck wood stove cranked out enough heat in the 35º weather that many friends were hanging outside on the deck.  It was a fun time.

the magic hour

Just before sunset, when the trees catch that golden fire light...

Looking out over the Champion Cove Land Trust, there is not ever a single light at night to be seen in that great valley. The full moon this weekend was spectacular. Tales of mountain lions around here are a buzz. If there ever were any around here, they'd be down there, in that wilderness.

Just doing a little work on the deck in this photo, and now, just finished. It's as solid as rock. Thanks to Evan for helping with the verticle pillar replacement. A 6x6x16 is the single biggest and heaviest piece of lumber you can buy from Home Depot, it must weigh about 180 lbs. Hard to handle. 

I love how my tree hangs over and shades my deck.   Feels like a treehouse.  I love the Sewanee stone dodecagon, like a stout little castle.   I love the big windows and sliding glass doors facing the bluff, and the two fireplaces upstairs, and downstairs in the bedroom.

Still astonished at the view from my bed every morning... and every sunset. 

Fontana Lake - October 2011

On the boat for 5 nights on beautiful Fontana Lake.

Click on pics to enlarge

Fontana Lake, NC - in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

The weather was perfect. Two days got up near 80º. The other 3 days were around 70º and clear. I swam a little everyday.

The first day I was there, it was exceptionally windy... a Lake Wind Advisory was in effect for wind gusts to 45 mph. There were one to 2 foot waves with white caps on the main east-west stretch of lake. (see video below). In the many coves, it was a different world, completely sheltered from the wind. I was always comfortable with half my canvass up and my propane heater cranking. I even have an electric blanket for the cabin, so it was cozy.

Iska was able to be there for 3 nights - a real treat. We hiked the Lost Cove trail out of Eagle Creek to the Shuckstack Tower. It was a great hike. The last mile is great for 'firing the glutes' as it very steep.

The first photo shows what it looked like on Tues morning, my last day. It was spectacular. I saw a bald eagle fly over head as the fog was lifting and I was drinking my morning tea.

Awesome place.

Truly the best way to visit the Great Smoky Mountains - by boat.

This is the 21st year I've owned this 1987 SeaRay 230 Weekender. I wouldn't trade it for any other boat in it's class. It's a custom order boat with some unusual options. The teak appointed interior, the three deck hatches, the oversize water (36 gal.) and fuel (70 gal.) capacities give this cruiser a cruising range of about 200 miles. The 5.7 L. Mercruiser can push this boat to 43 mph. I may never need another boat.

Secret Place #1- Murfreesboro at my feet

Imagine a place...
in the flat city of Murfreesboro, just 3 miles from the MTSU campus where you can stand at the edge of a 300 foot cliff, overlooking a blue-green lake, with a commanding view of the sunset and the 'Boro city lights at night. A place that seems perpetually breezy, completely private, where mountain goats walk along the cliff edges and where it's so quiet, you can occasionally here voices from a mile away. On a clear day, you can see 25 miles from horizon to horizon. Yes, this place exists, I go there often.

We all need secret, quiet and beautiful places to go. It's especially nice when such places are 10 minutes from home. Only I have the secret passage to get there, and it's only accessible via my magic carpet ride.

Photo below - looking down at mountain goats on the cliff edges 150 feet above the lake.
Click to enlarge: