This was a couple of years ago but something reminded me to go looking for it. Back on November 30, 2014 we had some nice weather so I took a ride.
For those tempted to look at Satellite view look here: 36°04’44.9″N 83°14’23.6″W
Looks like a rocket.
I just thought this was cool. I don’t know what date it was built but it’s been a while since we had steam engines running around. The train tracks were relocated in the 40’s when the dam forming Douglas Lake was built.
Turns out back in October that year I got a couple pictures of the new RR bridge that carried the relocated train tracks. My bike is sitting on the old bed for the abandoned tracks.
I drove Nat’s Camaro over to see the progress on replacing the old bridge in Dandridge. The new span is open, the old span is closed, and the decking has been removed. I suspect the bridge is about to be fully removed.
Nat’s Camaro near the old bridge in Dandridge. Near the end of the bridge’s life.
The new bridge has been completed for a little while now and much work has been done stripping stuff off the old steel bridge. I saw something indicating that the old bridge was going to be dynamited at noon on March 20. I planned to go out and get some pictures.
As I was getting out of the shower and dressed around 9:30 I heard a powerful bang. I knew what it was right away. Dang.
Walter’s Bridge just after being dynamited into the water.
As TVA is bringing up our lake levels we had widespread heavy rains last night. It will take days for the rain to drain down into the lake but that should jump up the levels. These were taken the morning of 4/3/2014. I’ll try to add some more pics in about a week or so.
I took 4 pictures and let Google+ stitch them into a panoramic view of our little slice of the lake.
Our lake level should jump up over the next few days. We had heavy storms through much of the night and it takes a few days to drain down into the lake. It should be fun to see how fast the lake rises. Taken 4/3/2014
I had other things to do including replacing the cable on my dock so I figured I’d burn the wood. I’ve noticed that the water level is starting to come up.
I had an errand to run so I chose to use the bike. After that was done I took the long way home and paused at Panther Creek state park.
Long distance views were good today.It was just a beautiful day for riding.
A recent cold snap had really kicked the fall colors into gear and roads everywhere look like this only maybe not this shady and empty.
Some vivid colors along the roads.Beautiful road
I stood on the overlook listening to jazz playing from my bike and watching the water. I noticed a series of ripples dancing in a criss-cross manner across the surface left behind by a boat that had long since passed. The ripples were reflecting off of the various islands and shores. Presently another boat created a fresh set and I felt compelled to watch those progress for a while. Very peaceful.
Ripples left by passing boats were mesmerizing.
As I headed out to the exit I spotted this tree and had to stop for a picture or two. Such amazing color as it embraced the tree next to it with its limbs.
Beautiful maple tangled with another tree.Fantastic colors at Panther Creek
The lake levels are very high once again this year. I decided to try to get up to the golf course. We went up earlier in the year but only after lake levels had dropped a ways.
Starting up the channel it looks nice.
Looking up the channel from next to our dock
As I cruised up the channel I decided to hug the right side to get some shade. Doing so disturbed several blue herons and a white one that kept going up the way I was going. I disturbed him several times.
Farther up the channel past Brian and Anne
The humidity was definitely up. I know I was over places that normally don’t have water.
Getting to where water is rare
I’m past Bob and Kate’s place looking at the house next to them for sale. Some people were out there and I might appear in photos of the listing showing that you can kayak out back. Normally there’s not this much water here though they may have a channel they can use.
Getting close to the bridge on the cart path
I’ve been sparing in my photos because my camera’s battery was low. I didn’t want to get to the bridge and not have a working camera. I’m almost there now. Some random weeds I’ll cross then a bunch of mint growing as well. I didn’t realize it until I went over it and broke it some.
Paddling up to touch the cart path bridge
Proof that I got to the bridge.
Getting through the trees between this point and the main channel was a very buggy experience. I should have remembered to take some shots coming back down. I was covered with spiders and various flying insects. I was being escorted by a pair of large dragonflies for a while looking for bugs I disturbed. I think they got their fill quickly behind me.
On the way back to my dock I encountered a cool looking piece of tree floating and pushed it up to our shore with my boat. It’ll make some good natural art when waters recede. I also spent a while unclogging my dock only to look out and see it covered today.
