Isengard

Here's another moody scene: the smokestack at the Lakeshore Mental Health Facility towers over me and touches the stormclouds. The angle I photographed makes it look like the smokestack is curved, but it's really not. We're in for more stormy weather today.

Out Like a Lion

You know the old saying: if March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion. Actually, I don't remember how March came in, but yesterday, we got whacked upside the head by the lion's paw. Knoxville was cold, wet, windy, and gray. Only a lunatic would be out in this weather.

So naturally, I went out to take some photos at my beloved Lakeshore Park.

I'm telling you, this one would have looked the same in monochrome or in color.
I love a leaden sky, in a makes-a-dramatic-image kind of way. Not so much in an about-to-rain-on-my-head kind of way.

Treaty of the Holston

The Treaty of the Holston was signed in 1791 by representatives of the United States and the Cherokee Nation. It ended the hostilities between the two nations, set boundaries, and allowed settlers to travel down the Tennessee River. In return for safe travel, the Cherokee nation received a one thousand dollar annuity and trade goods.

This monument by the point where First Creek empties into the Tennessee River is very close to the actual spot of the treaty signing. Here is the full view:

This speaks to the people of East Tennessee, as many native East Tennesseans today have a mixture of Scots-Irish and Cherokee ancestry.

Ornamental

This tree at Lakeshore Park hasn't leafed out yet, but it looks like it forgot to take down its holiday ornaments.

Picnic

Although Ijams Nature Center is primarily a natural area with woodland trails, there are a few places for a nice picnic. This little area used to be a homestead. All that's left now is a bit of a stone foundation wall and some steps. But in spring, clumps of dafodils return, planted by the homesteaders so long ago.
These folks are having a picnic on a perfect spring afternoon. Look at the size of that picnic basket!

Trail's End

We're at the end of the greenway river trail at Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area. And look, here's a park bench so thoughtfully provided for us to rest our feet for the two mile (that's 3.2 kilometers) walk back.

There are trails that go inland, but I prefer to stick to the river during hunting season, as the greenway is off limits to hunters. So let's enjoy the river view and then go back and have a picnic lunch at Ijams Nature Center.

Opposites

We're still on the trail at the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, now following the French Broad River upstream. Although this is a protected natural area, industry is never far away. A barge full of scrap metal sits on the opposite bank of the river.