Sixteen Miles of Water

I got the chance to hit the river and kayak today, first time this year. I may have been a little over confindent in my planning of this trip. I put in the river at mile 143 of the Cumberland River, just north of Cheatham Dam. My destination was McGregor Park at mile 127. With all my charts, planning and GPS, I did not plan on the wind.

The wind blew straight in my face no matter what direction or curve in the river I was heading.

I was traveling lite, as today was only a day trip. I am thankful that I had my favorite protein and carb sandwiches with me. AKA, peanutbutter and Strawberry Jelly.

Other supplies, cigars, Camelbak full of water, 4 additional bottles of water and 2 Diet Dews, and my emergency/survival stuff.

Familiar face, the kayak guy, complete with Cuban.

Downed trees along the shore.
Nice wide open river.

More river.

Yes, more river.

This is the McAdoo Creek inlet to the Cumberland.

River mile 135.6 is the at the mouth of McAdoo Creek.

Everytime I hit the river the cows follow me.

I heard a horn blow, loud, real loud.

I turned around just in time to see a barge taking a short cut around the river's bend. That's also where I happend to be floating at the time. I paddled backward as hard as I could and jumped out just as it passed by.

Hugging the shore line to get out of the wind.

Using the Clarksville Conservation Club as a windbreak.

The fishing was pretty good as well. Bluegill.

Large Mouth Bass.

And even turtles.

Fishing with everything tied down, learned a lesson last year when one of my poles went airborne after a vicious hit.

The Highway 13 bridge.

What's left of the boat ramp at Fairground's Park, I had to paddle farther down to McGregor Park for Stacy to pick me up.

A different view of the Corman Railroad bridge. Never seen anyone use a dog for bait before.

All finished and back on dry land. My arms ache, but all in all was a great day of kayaking the river, fishing and a great workout.

Of course, no fishing trip would not be the same if I didn't catch some of David Morey's favorities.

Tree Bass.

No More Golf!

Yesterday after wandering downtown Clarksville, with rain threatning, Stacy wanted to go golfing.

She must have known it was going to be a good day.

Here she is coming out of work all ready to hit the links.

She started taking lessons as a surprise 50th birthday present to me. Who would have thought that after only two years she would beat me.

When she saw her score after we finished the nine holes, a 48, she could not talk, I wish it had stayed that way.

Her game like always was persistent and straight, I was all over the place. Not taking anything away from her, but I could not hit a volleyball with a stick yesterday.

After repeatedly seeing Stacy with her fingers forming the letter "L" on her forehead and mouthing the word loser, she said she would take me to CiCi's so I could gorge myself in Pizza.

And I did.

Goofing off in Clarksville

I was goofing off downtown Clarskville today doing some errands and looking for some geocaches as well.

One of the geocaches had to do with exhibits inside the Customs House. If you have never been inside you need to visit. Interesting exhibit about Clarksville's roll and preperation during the cold war.One of two scale train sets, this one a replica of Clarksville.

The bronze guy and I in front of the courthouse.The newspaper, "The Day After" the bronze dude is reading about the 1999 tornado.

The courthouse. There is an awesome hotdog vendor here.

When I walk around downtown, no matter what city I am in, I always like to look up. You would not believe what you can miss if you don't look up once in awhile.

I'm sure most locals have seen this mural, but did you know there are 15 historic places listed?

One of the caches I was looking for had to include a photo of my GPS and the cache. This was an extremely cropped photo as to not give away it's location.

Strawberry Field Bird Bath.

Never stop and take photos on the tracks. Especially if you have a Ford with 246,545 miles on it.

Saturday with Pop

Nichole planned a wedding shower for Mandy today, so I got to find something for Emma and I to do while all those ladies were at our house. There would be cucumber sandwiches, veggie trays, foo foo punch and little party games. We were going to need more then that on a Saturday.

We started out at about 9am, our first stop? The park. Emma no longer needed any help when climbing on the outdoor equipment.
The slide had a little dew on it, but that didn't stop Emma. She was doin' the dew.
Wow, steel cars.
Nana, Auntie Coco and DeDe need cars like this. They don't go to fast, have no bumbers to crush, and they have standard Flintsone brakes.

Then it was on to Rural King so Emma and I could check out the power tools and man stuff.

Then we headed to Ft. Campbell so Pop could pick up some cigars.

First we had to stop and get something to eat at the PX's food court. I got Emma the chicken fingers, they looked like chicken shaped like little crowns. Growing up my chicken never looked like that. Before I could get Emma's chicken cooled down a little, she was all over my fries.

Fries in the left and chicken crowns in the right, my two fisted eater.

Bellies full and cigars in tow we headed out toward the mall to see the balloon making clowns, inflatibles and face painting.

Emma made it to the Mall, but except for the stroller ride, that's all she did.

At Border's books.

At Verizon.

Enjoying the inflatibles.

She slept through the face painting.

Still sleeping while the clown made the animal balloons.

Emma! Your missing the Chic Fil A Cow!

So, since it's Saturday we have got to go to Wally's. I must have thought it outloud, because as soon as I did Emma woke up and was ready to go.

We went to Wally's with no list, only got a basket to put Emma in. Came out with Strawberry Whoppers.

Life is good.

Now it's time to go home and get all those ladies out of the house.

The Heart of Dixie

I was traveling back from Chattanooga and decided to take the long way home as I like to do when I take the bike on a business trip. This time it was through Alabama.

Now before you start thinking about geography, I dropped down I-59 just outside of Chattanooga. I spent about 20 miles in western Georgia before I hit the Alabama state line.

I stopped at the visitor's center when I entered the state and found this plaque dedicated to the Armed Forces of the United States, nice.

Following back roads, I came to Russell Cave. I was trying to make my way up to Monteage from the backside of the mountain then get back on I-24.

After Russell Cave I roared back down the small country roads, the road I was on kept getting smaller, tree covered and had more bumps than I cared for.

After negotiating a sharp turn, the road I was on turned to gravel and ended. Because of the shadows of the trees I did not realize it until I was in it. Scary moment, especially when the banjo music started. I did not notice I was in Tennessee until I finally got turned around and headed back out.

Never thought I would ever be thankful to be back in the Heart of Dixie again.