From Rally's to Valley's
10/14/2018
The President Donald Trump came to Johnson City, TN to promote Marsha Blackburn and the mid term elections. Was a big event for our area. Rare for any presidents to actually visit and do a public rally here. Tickets where given out on one of Donald Trumps web sites. I got mine and printed them out put one in a keep sake box. Local news covered the event but little details was given out about the amount of seats available. More tickets where given out than Freedom Hall could seat. First come first serve type basis. That was never mentioned until the day of event. Air traffic to Tri-Cities airport was stopped for the arrival of the presidents plane. Security was increased all around the area to secure his visit. The secret service of course was there. Local's all wanting to get a glimpse of the presidents plane as it arrived and the motorcade. The airport was secured and only friends and family of the president was allowed in. The local news was there of course. He signed hats and other items at the airport. Even one of the local constables was background checked and had the pleasure of playing secret service agent for the event.
I gathered up camera, tickets, cell phones went off to see if I cold catch a glimpse of the president. Took over an hour in line just to find a parking place. Then ended up paying to park. One good thing about paying to park is it went to trail days which is a local event. After parking in the newly mowed hay field that was not yet raked I stomped over piles of hay up the hill to Freedom Hall. I'm sure the money raised from parking paid for the lost hay due to being converted to a parking lot.
Lines of people leading to the entrance of Freedom Hall and down the road. I was able to maneuver to the front of the gate and got a few pictures of the secret service, the lines and police. Realizing that I may have left the car unlocked. I decided to head back to the hay field to check my car. After arriving back at my car being tired and hot I decided to turn back around and go home. I know wasted time some might say. I'm not very political person anyway it was the excitement about the event. But in the end the excitement turn to boredom. It was still nice to just go see all the people lined up and the activities.
Once I got back home while sitting on the front porch. The president's plane flew directly over my house. Yes, camera in hand got a few pictures of his plane. That's about all the memorabilia I got from the whole thing. Watched the rest inside my house in the comfort of air conditioning.
Yesterday, Did the "river run" and picture taking again. Through the valley's and hills leading up to South Holston Dam.
Had several mini adventures on this day. Driving across the bridge to the entrance I looked up and seen a small osprey flying above. If only I was able to get my camera and drive at the same time it would have made an excellent picture because he was flying low.
Then next I seen my old friend of the summer the great blue heron again in the marshes. I told myself before I left I wasn't going to get out and hike but I did a little. That heron lured me out of my car again. He's been good at doing that all summer. Took several blurry pictures was having difficulty holding the camera still but got a few good pictures.
Walked further up the trail and the sun was at an angle that just looking at the lake made it very hard to see due to bright sun glaring off the water and through the tree's along the path. It was nice and made me think about photography, nature and art. I took a few pictures it would have been better if I didn't forget my lens hood for my camera. Walked a while seeing either hawk or osprey again at different points but not able to get a snap shot of hit. At one point it was behind me and could here it's call just couldn't locate it.
One the way back down the trail while looking at several small birds high up the tree's near a clearing I see a small grouping of deer. They where quite a distance away but the zoom camera brought them in a little closer. I walked up the clearing a little at a time getting closer. They noticed me a few times. One was watching me quite a bit. Then took a few quick steps towards me and I was afraid it might come after me. Several times it looked like a small baby was lower in the grass reaching up to nurse on it's mother. Not knowing what the reactions of deer would be to an intruder I stood still for a while then a larger deer started to pay more attention. After taking a few pictures I decided to go and avoid any confrontations. It was exciting being that close to the deer and not shielded by a car or anything. The pictures make them look as if fenced in but the are not just something that was in the clearing. I thought about bear to hoping to get a picture but not wanting to get eaten by one. There's been several bear sightings this year due to not enough acorns. They are coming out more into view. That's one thing that didn't happen. My small pocket knife wouldn't have made any type of defense against either of these animals.
Further into the TVA dam area at the osculating island a picnic area I spot a few more birds. The standard Canadian Geese, a couple of smaller ducks and up the river was the commorant I talked about in previous post and another great blue heron. It was a surprise seeing the commorant again. A few other photographers was there when I arrived. I heard one say that the dam was one their favorite spots. They had more advance equipment than I have. This past summer it's been one of my favorite places to.
A week before a lady was in the same area with a small hound dog puppy. She said her daughter was going to sell it. We exchanged phone numbers she was adamant that the puppy needed a place where he could run free. I couldn't provide that. I wanted him more for a house dog and walks in the park. She never called and the thought of a new puppy kinda faded out of mind. I still miss my other dogs that has past away. Maybe one day I'll be in a better place in my life to have another puppy. Now probably not a good time.
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