Just a couple pictures

I spent Wed-Fri last week in upper east TN in the mountains doing some "field work". I mostly went birding, but did do some official work. This area is probably my favorite part of the state. The views are spectacular, the mountains to bike up are brutal but fun, and the birds that breed here are unique in the state. This area is near Johnson City and a fair amount north of the touristy Smoky Mtns National Park.

I always end up driving up (and sometimes biking up) to Roan Mountain and Carver's Gap, which is at the top. The AT (Appalachian Trail) crosses here and the AT is the state line with NC. This is probably one of favorite places in the world (so far). If you hike the AT for 20 min to get to Round Bald (a few hundred feet higher than the gap). It is totally worth it.


This is a Vesper Sparrow, which breeds at the top of the mountain in what are called "Balds", which are basically big grassy fields at the top. No one is really sure why there are grassy fields at 5600 ft of elevation, but they are there. Vesper's only nest in TN at this one place.



These are Flaming Azaleas. This is the time of the year that the azaleas and rhododendrons bloom, but the blooms this year weren't very good for some reason. This spot with the azaleas was really nice.



another view. The mountains in the distance are in NC



Here is Round Bald at Carver's Gap. Lots of people hiking the trail on a random Thursday, so it wasn't as serene as usual. I've been here in fall (I think), wearing 2-3 layers of clothes late in the day towards sunset and just sitting on a rock up here for an hour and a half, seeing no one, seeing no cars come over the mountain, hearing nothing but a few birds and the wind. Simply spectacular.

I did bike up the mountain this time. I'm not in very good shape for going uphill for 9.1 miles, but I did it. I was completely fatigued at the very top (and cold), but it was great training. I rode 110 miles this weekend and was way stronger than I thought I should be!

2 months have past......

......since we updated something on here. Bec is a slacker!

Here are pics in various order of timing of events. This blogging program is annoying with uploading pics and ordering them, scrolling, etc. Just live with it.

I did some bird surveys along creeks like this for 3 days. Some gorgeous places.

I also fell at this spot. Landed on the front of my right calf, >2 weeks ago, and it still hurts like heck if I kneel down on that part of my leg. Nasty deep bruise I guess.

My flower garden is growing awesome this year. I love it. Now if I can keep the neighbors cat from getting in there and killing things.

Purple coneflowers at sunrise today (13 June 10)

Butterfly milkweed. I want a lot more of this. It is native and a favorite food for, well you know, butterflies.

My Tennessee Coneflowers, yup, the Federally Endangered ones. Yes, this plant is on the endangered species list.

Grand view of one side.


At some point in Apr, B brought the kids for a night.

S doing something.



M making a good face.

M again.

J not sure if he likes girls or not yet. Girls are yucky and have cooties.

Since Bec works in an ER, I see this pic and think that a trip to the hospital is coming soon, but they were fine.

We went to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens on free day, along with a million other people.

Bec framing herself.

Wrens built a nest and fledged young in my "wren-proof" workshop. Humph! This actually resulted in the babies fledging and flying up into the carport above the screen (to keep birds out). It took 90 min and a butterfly net to get the dumb babies down and out. I also pulled out a lot of the screen to encourage them. It did result in me cleaning out all the junk the last owners of the house left in the carport "attic."

We went camping and hiking at Frozen Head State Park in early April. This is the view from the firetower. About 3 miles straight up to get there. Worth it though.

Me posing. This is the long hike day when I forgot deodorant. Lovely.


Spindlehead.

Bec at trailhead sign. We'd already put in ~4 miles at this point. Going down was way more difficult!