Star One Smart Blog's

I know it's not Friday, but I've missed so many lately, and I feel privileged enough to call this post whatever I damn well please. So there.

Muddy Turtle on Brush Creek

Overloaded Boat, filled with young beer drinkers. No Worries!

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Well, maybe you didn't ask. But I find this photo fascinating. And it is my blog, after all.

In this photo provided by China's Xinhua News Agency, flood water gushes from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir in Jiyuan, central China's Henan Province, Tuesday, July 27, 2010. The Xiaolangdi Reservoir on the Yellow River launched a sluice with the water outflux monitored at 15,000 cubic meters per second on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Miao Qiunao)

The Xiaolangdi Reservoir holds back the Yellow River, China's second largest. Floods across China are sweeping people to their deaths...

At least 21 people are missing after a landslide in southern China caused by relentless rain buried dozens of apartments in Shauanghe.

Rescuers have been searching for the missing people as more than 4,000 were evacuated from their homes on Tuesday.

Flooding in the area has already caused the deaths of at least 823 people this year, keeping the flooding disaster in the Google trends and a big topic on the web for months.

It's always good to pull back and view our own problems with a little different perspective I think.

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Pleasure boating the Stones River, East and West forks thereof.

Photos after the break.
clicky to embiggen.

Just past the put-in at the West Fork.

Great Blue Heron, tried to shit on the boat because we were near it's nesting place. This area has a remarkable population of these prehistoric-looking critters.


The water wasn't as cold as you'd think. If you stayed above it. )

Approximate photo locations, courtesy google maps.

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..because I'm really missing my boating. And warm weather. And, bikinis!

Originally posted in summer 2007; taken at the Country Music Festival in downtown Nashville, whilst floating the Cumberland River. Free concert &c.

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Just after the rains yesterday.

The guy took his sweet time recovering from this run. You'd think he enjoyed this episode of self-waterboarding or something.

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Had to shoot 'em first.

Part of my ka-tet. I see him every time I'm out there.


So, do you see the 707 and the holy clouds? Or something like that.

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Fishermen hit the water year 'round. I only hit the water when I can play in it.

Water temps are tolerable. Far from mid-summer, but not breath-takingly cold either.


At least the boat runs.

More later. Al Gore promised us earlier and longer boating seasons. He lied.

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One of my favorite boating shots...and I wasn't even in the boat!

You've got to get a shot like this before the cheap little plastic disposable waterproof camera's lens gets wet.

I'm so ready for spring...

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Gimme a break, this was 20 years ago. Global warming wasn't invented yet; I was still just having fun.

But strong even then in the ironing...

If you thing I sit around on my arse watching college football all day on Saturdays, guess again.

The Boat Lives. Although we spent about an hour wrenching on the motor, in the middle of the lake, at least it wasn't overly hot. Nor did we have to paddle...very far...

I haven't seen many days where the water was perfectly glass and the sky was perfectly blue since...well, Spring. But Fall is in the air, in the water, and

This is the I-840 Overpass, near Lebanon's



Recognize the rock? I tend to revisit that spot every time I'm on the Stones River. Since it's less than a quarter mile upstream from the put-in, it's a natural.



Near Jefferson Springs, Smyrna, returning from Percy Priest Proper (where I managed to ding my prop.)



My view while holding the rope...




Boston has to win this game tonight. Or the TV ratings for the World Serious will suck.

Cleveland? They have a team?

There's nothing better than a good day on the river.

Location: Stones River, East and West Forks, Rutherford County, Tennessee.





The water was cooler than last week (and a bit higher level, thanks to the rains.)

There won't be many more days left in FY 2007 Boating Season. Unfortunately.

Kid's first action boating run, with his Favorite Uncle, and includes his first complete (without wipeout) 360 on the trainer knee board.

Now, that's satisfaction....

Hey, we're back on the Stones River, everything is working well (including my leg) and the fisherfolk are on the lookout for crazed boaters with masks, doing high-speed maneuvers on narrow river channels, and generally having too much fun...
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This is a 'cave' of sorts, just a cut-out in the rock that isn't much over 15 feet deep. Boone wants to check it out.





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I did find a couple interesting macro shots in there; this little guy is either the predator or the prey, it wasn't moving, much. Fish food.

Back out there, tomorrow.
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