Just a Rambling Around

Tuesday, November 24, 2015.  Temp at 7 a.m. was 26 degrees.  Woke up early so I started watching the news, East TN it starts at 5 a.m.  Nothing good, killings, ISIS guys still on the run, Turkey shoots down Russian fighter, robberies, etc., etc., etc.  Finally rolled out of bed at 7:30.  Got dressed, fed the dog, put coffee water on to heat, picked up the newspaper, let the dog outside, dressed and ready.  Grab a bite of breakfast, down a cup of coffee, read the paper and work the crossword puzzle then put on riding clothes to meet Paul at 10 a.m.  Temp, 40 degrees at 10 a.m.  First meet-up.

It was going to be one of those days.  Paul and I would ramble around to finally get to Smoky Mtn. Harley Davidson in Maryville, TN for 1:00 p.m. meet-up with Terry and others.  At 10 a.m. Paul and I was on our way.

Heading East out of Seymour for a short distance.

Then right on Titsworth Springs Rd.

Saw this folk art on the side of the highway.  All made from rolls of hay.  Apparently a Univ. of TN fan.

Change the road, change the scenery.  Notice the absence of leaves?  Winter must be coming.

Once a farm settlement, probably with a bunch of kids, a few hound dogs, and smoke coming from an early morning fire.  Now just a relic of past years.

Facing the morning sun doesn't do your photography any favors and since this camera is set on automatic, I am not about to stop and re-set it every time the direction changes.  Anyway, it was cold enough that the cattle were not moving around much this morning.  A rather heavy frost again today.

Still a few trees holding on where there's heavy growth.  Those trees out in the open have just about lost all of their leaves.

Blue sky, contrails from high flying aircraft and an old farm house just seem to go together.

This house was on a hill high above the highway level.  Didn't have a place to pull off to take a good pic but you can see that it is a very nice place and has a great view of the mountains.

Another road, a different direction and now we're crossing fingers of Tellico Lake, a spur off the TN River.

Still waters this morning offer a good reflection.

Another one of those secret government missile silo stations.  They advertise this as a dairy farm.  But you know you can't believe what the government tells you.

This was the house across from the above picture.  Probably their office disguised as a house.

The old Railroad Station in Greenback, TN is now a tourist attraction.  Completely restored and across the highway is a museum of the area featuring loom mills.  And a decent little cafe next door.

A beautiful old house exiting north out of Greenback, TN.

And just down the road and on the left is another old farm structure.  Love these old houses but would not want to upgrade them.  Too costly.

Later on we passed this place with steaks, ribs, hamburger, roast, etc., but it was all still on the hoof.  Registered Black Angus, hhhmmmm.

Lots of leaves on the sides of the road gives the area a real country look.  Well, it was really in the country so it had to have a country look.

When Terry rode by this pasture the two horses started running along like they were racing him.  By the time I got close to the end of the pasture they turned around and started trotting back, tails high in the air.  Both were very pretty.

There are quite a few horse farms in this area.

Another old farmstead growing up in weeds.  Sure hate to see these old places go to seed.

Another turn and we're now crossing another body of water, still part of the TN River.

At this point we were crossing a mountain with several nice sharp switchbacks.  And the leaves didn't help matters either.

The area we rode had a lot of rolling hills, large farms and horse and cattle ranches.  Every once in a while you would ride by what had been a very large dairy farm.

A view from the side of the mountain looking into the valley below.

Another horse farm.  Their coats were thick.  Old Timers say the thicker the coat the harsher the winter.

This fence ran forever.  I'd sure hate to have to paint it.

Soy beans gathered.  This combine looks all alone out in the middle of the field.  Hopefully it will get moved closer to the farm house.

An old homestead has reached its end of time, slowly collapsing into itself.  Ghostly trees standing as sentinels to watch over the place once active and vibrant.

There's just something quaint about a country lane.  This one is about a lane and a half wide.  Leaves on the side make you get a little tense meeting another vehicle.








A pretty picture if I do say so myself.  The clouds are high and whispy showing the air currents at high altitudes.  Just enough green in the foreground to off-set the browns and grays of winter and all pasted below that blue sky.






One of the last winding country roads we were on before we split from Terry, Kevin and Ken.










I know it's difficult to see but if you enlarge this picture you will see little houses on the side of the hill.  Some are white roofed and some red.  Each little house, more like an upside down "V", contains a fighting cock.  Imagine, it's against the law to fight them but not to raise them.  I'm sure they aren't being raised to go in the stewing pot.



Paul and I heading toward Seymour the back way.  In fact, I don't know if Paul knows how to get there any other way.

Hitting the Pellissippi Parkway or I-140 to catch another road to another road to eventually catch another road until we finally get to US 411 that will take us into Seymour. 

But before we get to Seymour we spot far off over the rise, two more of those missile silos.  Almost missed this one.

Arriving back at the house just before 5 p.m.  It is the ending of a great day.  Good weather, nice scenery, fun friends and 200 miles door to door.  And a short time later I took the dog outside and looked to the west to see a very bright red sky.  Sailor's delight.

One more day and it will be Thanksgiving.  I hope each and every one will truly give thanks for what we have.  There's a lot of people that would like to have it as good.

Then there are those that would like to take it away from us.  Pray a prayer of Thanksgiving and Peace.  The world is in such a turmoil.  The United States of America is absolutely the greatest and don't ever forget it.  So until the next Valkyrie Adventure, enjoy your holiday, love your family, and stay safe.