Introduction
Greetings, dear reader! Yesterday, in warm and sunny weather, I only ate dinner (or lunch, as Yankees call it) at Zaxby's and bought seven items at Lowe's. The chicken sandwich, fries, and small drink cost $8.73, including tax. The Lowe's pre-tax total was four fluorescent bulbs ($43.92), two “micro” air filters ($22.97), one “maximum” air filter ($22.97), and “assorted O rings” ($3.36). Well, you can figure the total cost by adding 9.25% sales tax. “A dollar ain't worth much these days.”
At least one of the O rings fits my ol' canteen! The cap needed a new seal. My “bionic” right foot “enjoyed” pounding around that big box store on concrete and tile, but it got over it. Buying the O rings leads into this fiftieth article in the hiking topic section.
Two days ago, on Wednesday, a warm, sunny, and windy day, my 2006 Frontier and I visited Norris Dam State Park! The article from 3/31/2023 (about hiking House Mountain for the 179th time on 3-29-2023) includes the section “Hiking Records: Grand Total of All Hikes, Since 4/23/2000.” I'd mentioned twenty-one hikes so far at Norris. Wednesday was hike twenty-two so far at that state park. It also marked 232 total hikes in various locations, since 4/23/2000, when I started my hiking record.
I am sandwiching in this article, before publishing the seventh article in the Christian Evidences series. I haven't lost interest in that series! The draft is mostly complete. Let's first hike Norris, shall we? Let's hike!
Norris Hike #22 on 4/19/2023
Norris Dam State Park has about fifteen trails that cover about twenty-one miles. I've hiked most, if not all, of them several times. Searching this website by “Norris” finds various previous articles with photographs. The one-way drive takes about thirty minutes. That's why I don't hike there as often. House Mountain is only seven or ten miles from the house, depending on the route.
Wednesday, at Norris, I decided to hike the short and “civilized” trail that is above and west of the west overlook. It took more time to drive to the park than to hike the trail. From the road, the trail starts up as a rough service road to a water tower. Poison oak was along the trail. I paused at the water tower briefly, to moisten the ground and read the mildly interesting graffiti. I continued as the service road became a trail to the top of the ridge.
Near the top, I paused to view the scene below and to the north. The following is the first frame of my video, started at 1:43 PM. The sun was behind me. The temperature was in the low 80s Fahrenheit. I sweated enough.
I had the moment in time to myself. Two or three vehicles were in the parking lot below me. The lake was calm, with no boats visible on the water. The wind, however, was blowing behind me from the west at a good clip. Enjoy the view!
Norris Podcast
The eighth episode of Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts (YouTube) is “Norris Dam State Park: Hike 22 on 4-19-2023 (published 4-21-2023; episode 8).” The strong wind muffled some of the audio, when I panned the view. I was using the video camera on my “semi-intelligent” phone. I panned a little too quickly at one point. I hope that you don't get dizzy watching that part!
As I'd said in the audio, being there “was better than working for a living.” I was “working” by enjoying a hike in my retirement! Enjoy the video!
Conclusion
Even a short time in the woods is better than not being there. Getting out into the woods, even on a “civilized” and short hike, is relaxing. The views are great. A man has time alone with the Good Lord.
That's about all. This is the Appalachian Irishman, signing off.
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