Forks of the River

Just as the mountains define our horizon, the rivers of East Tennessee flow through our lives. This is the Forks of the River: the place where the Holston and French Broad Rivers merge to form the Tennessee River. The Holston is at the top of the photo, and the French Broad is in the foreground. They meet under that railroad bridge.

The Wearing of the Green

Yes, it's St. Patrick's Day, a big old party day here in the US. I hear everyone is honorary Irish today. Even me.

So, not to be too tedious, but the biggest green thing I could think of in Knoxville is the Gay St Bridge. Does this make it officially a series?

And also, lots of beer drinkin' goes on today, including here on the lovely waterfront deck at Calhoun's. If this photo listed any more to port, all those chairs would be virtually sliding across the deck.

Slainte, y'all!

Where Seagulls Dare

I will never understand how seagulls find their way this far inland - we're eight hours from the nearest coast - but there's another one soaring above the Gay Street Bridge.

I've been kind of scarce on the Internets these days again, I know - work, work, work. And glad that I have a job.

Trusses and Coffee

I'm glad that Newton's Laws of Motion keep the trusses of the Gay Street Bridge from falling on my head. Good job, Sir Isaac. But even better - look at their lattices and triangles and arches! And those solid stone pillars from 1890 anchor them all to the earth.

And here's the bonus: if you stand at just the right spot, they all frame the JFG Coffee sign quite nicely.

Arches and Branches

A forest of arches as seen through a tangle of branches.

River Flow

A warm, sunny afternoon is perfect for sitting, swinging, and watching the river flow. This is at Volunteer Landing under the Gay Street Bridge.

Out For a Walk

There's nothing as satisfying as a brisk walk on a sunny winter morning for dog and owner.
The Gay Street Bridge downtown is the backdrop for this little stroll.

Theme Day: Circles and Spheres

I didn't officially sign up for Theme Day today because I wasn't sure I'd be back from the Land That Internet Access Forgot. But here I am with another last minute entry, all full of Zen and solitude. It is what it is : an arch, a reflection, an illusion, a circle at last.

Pressing Matters

Ever wonder how they get those designs in concrete? Well, wonder no more, here's the secret: they press a mold into the wet concrete. This is an archive shot of the reconstruction of the Church Street viaduct downtown.

Perspective 2

This is the pedestrian bridge over Henley Street. There is also a pedestrian crosswalk at street level, but I fail to understand why anyone would want to brave eight lanes of rip-roaring traffic that has little to no respect for pedestrians.
This is another experiment with perspective. Look at the design the lines create! Look at those tiny, tiny people going through the eye of the needle! Also, I decided to leave the photo as is with a bit of a tilt so it looks like the bridge is listing to port. Uh-oh.
Friends, I am dealing with some big events in my life right now, so I'll be on autopilot and timed posts until things settle down. I miss visiting your blogs and commenting on all your creative photos, but I'll at least scan the portal to see what's going on in CDP-land!

Big Wheel

The Star of Knoxville paddlewheel riverboat cruises down the Tennessee River on a misty autumn morning. It's time for the fall colors sightseeing cruise, and once the mist burns off, you may actually see some color.

Henley's Arch

When I'm walking under the great concrete arches of the Henley Street Bridge on the waterfront, I often feel like I'm in an abandoned cathedral where only the pigeons and graffiti artists worship.

Framework

It's a busy day for me today, so I'm giving you a shot from my recent archives. Here's a railroad bridge framed by another railroad bridge framed by the Henley Street Bridge over the Tennessee River. The railroad bridge farthest away dates back to the 1800s. I took this shot in May of this year.

Panorama

Well, here's the panorama I promised. You're looking at downtown Knoxville from the south bank of the Tennessee River. The Gay Street Bridge is in the foreground, and it's a beautiful day.

River Town

When I first found the Daily City Photo Blogs, I enjoyed visiting them so much, that I thought maybe someday I would start a photoblog too. Well, I finally realized that I might wait forever for "someday" to arrive, so I gave myself a deadline. That happens to be today, on my birthday. No foolin'.

This is the Tennessee River, looking southwest with the Henley Street Bridge in the background. Downtown Knoxville is sitting quite prettily on the north bank just out of range of this shot.