Our explorations took us east of Saulsbury today. We have to go somewhere other than Saulsbury because there is no there there. The closest town is Middleton so we started by stopping for fuel and then headed east on TN-57 through Pocahontas, Ramer, Eastview and Michie before arriving at the Pickwick Dam and Lock on the Tennessee River. It was a big project during the TVA days back in the Roosevelt administration and it is pretty impressive with a hydroelectric facility, the lock, and adjacent earthen dam, a bridge across the river and boat ramps, campgrounds, and overlooks near the dam. While we were there, we spotted a mobile home half that was being towed across the bridge that had lost an axle and was effectively blocking one of the two lanes on the bridge, irritating numerous drivers.
There are a passel of birds here. We have spotted wild turkeys, geese, eastern jays and tiny sparrows along with rose breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings, red bellied woodpeckers, king birds and American goldfinches that we have added to our list. There are ground hogs foraging alongside the roads. On the way back from the dam, we drove through the Shiloh National Military Park where another very nasty Civil War battle occurred. The soldiers must have been ballsy troops because they were shooting at each other from distances where even thrown rocks would have been effective. About 5,000 never walked away.
We also stopped in at Big Hill Pond, another Tennessee State Park. It was just as gorgeous as Chickasaw State Park that we visited yesterday. The folks in Tennessee have really done state parks correctly. They are attractive and welcoming.
There are pictures. Click here