I’ve seen a lot of mother nature’s creations all throughout earth and not one of them have ever been as welcoming and beautiful as Sinking Creek Valley.

Senator Frist has been featured in USA Today discussing the essential health benefits of preserving the earth’s natural resources and the importance of properly representing conservation programs in governmental policy. Time on our farms have instilled good values.

The hot, humid heat of summer is well upon us and this is the time when many daffodil experts are digging up bulbs to pass along or to reduce crowding and plant elsewhere.

Just got back from 9 days in the wilderness. My brief daily log just downloaded today, so it will follow daily, as if in real time.

Met Pat and Nickel early in this morning. They are strong. And experienced. And they can be trusted through easy and tough times. Loyal, too. They are the pros.

Big hike and a little fishing, as Tracy’s hat becomes more colorful as we traverse meadows, scale hillsides and descend to and through the crystal clear creeks.

First mountain goats observed high up to the left along the Chinese Wall (Swep said one was three–legged, which kept us looking).

Today we pass from deep gladed forests to open, steep avalanche slopes of rocks devoid of trees.

Trip was full of “learnings” and today was ranch knot tying. As others climbed peaks. Tracy and I found solitude.

Half way we came to Gooseberry cabin, literally the only man-made structure we have seen all week

Day 8. Sun River Pass Trail. Trace and I hang around camp today as others off to fish and hike.

This monument memorializes War of 1812 soldiers buried along the Old Natchez Trace, and it honors the service of all brave volunteers who marched on the Natchez Trace during the War of 1812 to help establish American Independence.

Day 9. Today is our last day on the trail – 14 miles. Billed as an “easy 14” but it seems a bit tougher, maybe because we “smelled the barn.”

Einstein had it right: “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything.”