Red-winged Blackbirds Today

On my morning 16 mile bike ride I saw a lot of Red-winged Blackbirds on the Shelby Bottoms portion of the ride, mostly flying. The one photo I made of one perched is not close enough to post. So I'm posting a photo of my bike at my usual turn around spot, The Shelby Bottoms Nature Center where there is a special water fountain for filling water bottles and even one for dogs - a first for me. There are also restrooms at the Nature Center, so a practical halfway point in my three-day a week ride.

Another cell phone photo

7 More State Parks + Rugby This Week!

In my effort to personally visit and photograph all 53 or 54 Tennessee State Parks, I checked off seven more this week, all near Knoxville: Panther Creek, Norris Dam, Big Ridge, Cove Lake, Indian Mountain, Pickett, and Cumberland Mountain where I am now. Here is just one of hundreds of photos, this of one of the natural arches or natural bridges in Pickett State Park.

That was one of the parks I saw today after waking up in a motel across the highway from Cove Lake State Park which had a herd of Llamas behind the motel. Hmmm! Grass mowing? Made on my new cell phone and first ever smart phone for me, a Galaxy S4 - another adventure I'm own and loving it!

Rugby has some really neat architecture which I photographed, but nothing is open on Monday!

Going home tomorrow!

Doggett Reunion & JC Memorial Service

Today the dwindling Wood Doggett family Reunion was conducted on the usual first weekend of the month of June, just on Saturday instead of Sunday as in past. Some came because the potluck lunch was followed by a memorial service for my Uncle J.C. Doggett (James Clarence but always went by JC). Both were at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas. I had a speaking part in the memorial service but did not go to the old home place afterwards for the spreading of 1/3 of his ashes because I don't drive after dark and would have had to with my tight schedule. Another 3rd of ashes were spread in Tulsa and another on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Here's the group before eating our potluck lunch.

This is one of the first photos made on my new Galaxy s4 phone.

Night before last on my way to Warren, I spent the night on Beale Street in Memphis.

This is inside the Blues City Cafe where I ate dinner. Last night I ate Ronnie Miller's catfish and Joan's trimmings!

Tonight I'in the Bartlett area of Memphis on my way back home. 

I'm tired but glad I came. I used to make the 9 hour drive in one day, but it is too much for my back, legs and feet now, so I break it into two 4-5 hour drives, adding some fun!