Indiana Meanders .4 The Photo /  by Dave Hileman

I was out for the day with no real agenda but to take photos, a nice rare day. I was determined to get a photo that was as good as I could do “under the conditions” that presented themselves. As I looked at a few places I came across McCormick’s Creek State Park. The entry fee was $9 but the promise of a waterfall that was the main feature of the park, drew me in. There were some wild flowers, some nice vistas, an old inn that still offered rooms and meals and the waterfall. There were other options but most of them were closed because of tornado damage from the previous year. I found the falls easily enough and it was down about 60 stairs and then down a tight spiral, 30 step stone staircase to the level of the creek. I first saw the falls from the overlook and it did not look too promising. This is Indiana after all and we have the Smokies and the Blue Ridge so by those standards it was a pretty but small falls. It was also in a narrow canyon with fences to keep you from accessing it anyplace but the two viewing platforms or the base of the stairs. None of those places were going to get the best shot of the falls. I tried. I noticed a Red Bud tree framing a bit of the falls but only from the other side of the creek. So I nimbly (Ha!) crossed the fast flowing creek on some shaky rocks and then scrambled up a back to get the shot. Not good enough, some other branches were in front of the shot, so repositioned on a ledge about another 15 feet up the clay and rock bank. I set up the tripod and took 9 shots with various settings. Crossing back over the creek I had an audience of about 8 people on the viewing platforms, It was a question if I were to make it across before falling in. I don’t know what the betting odds were but they applauded when I made it to the stone steps.

S0, first up the best shot - my opinion, some of the surrounding area and two other approaches to the processing.

halfway across

From the viewing platform

Frist set-up, too many branches, more water to cross and a hill to climb.

Tuesday Post, Rest of the story from this morning. Indiana Meanders .2+ /  by Dave Hileman

This is the Tulip Trestle in Central Indiana. It was built in 1905 and is 157 feet hight and spans this valley for almost a half mile. Impressive piece of work and both passenger and freight trains traversed this high in the sky track. I approached it after getting directions from someone at a coffee shop. It was threatening rain and so I drove past the overlook to the base and took a couple quick shots and then back to the overlook where I sat in the car for 10 minutes as the storm passed quickly . There were a couple of lightening bolts in the fast moving storm. Sun came out and I took some from the overlook and stayed there about 15 more minutes than back to the base. There I saw two college aged men up under the trestle on the eastern back of the valley.. They came down to the road and asked if I were a “tourist.” I think they were worried that it was not permitted to climb up there but there were no signs and a bit of a rough path. After a few minutes they told me that you could see under the bridge a long way from about 60 feet up the bank. So up I went and they did too. Then as I was taking the first shot of the bridge lightning - with no hint of a storm or clouds, struck the trestle right over our heads. The sound set my ears ringing for 3 -5 minutes and the air smelled acrid, ozone I am told. We three scrambled down the steep hill and into our respective cars. Scary..

More about the Tulip Tresstle here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_Viaduct

BOOM!

Indiana Meanders .2 /  by Dave Hileman

Well promise made yesterday, broken today. Got home late afternoon from Indiana and forgot we had a study Monday night. So, out shortly after arriving back in Knoxville and home again, it is now 10:22 and it has been a LONG day with a tough barely can see drive in the hard rain and occasional hail. So I will post later on Tuesday about the adventure that provided this series of photos, one now - a rare one in B&W, more later today.

Indiana Meanders /  by Dave Hileman

I was in Indiana for a week and took a couple of days to just meander around the area. Meander not wander which is copywrited! I set off the first day with no agenda and no itinerary. I found some cool things to photograph. First up was this covered bridge that has been in situ for more than 130 years. It was on a road that had little traffic, I was there for 30 minutes plus the five mile drive and saw no other car. Long and dangerous story tomorrow.

Oh no, Birds .4 (plus some notes) /  by Dave Hileman

First, let me say that new photos while not ignored have been few and far between. I now have about 3 weeks, maybe four, of posts with new photos and I am heading into a couple of weeks where I will also take some more photos. No birds for a while. I also finally have three Saturday posts - not done but visited and some photos for restaurants which I will start again on the 26th of April. Life has been very busy and travel restricted a bit because of same. There will be some family shots too, graduations, marriages et al. And, finally, Jill and I will be in Scotland for two weeks and that will provide many photos I hope. Anyway thanks for reading/ looking in the lean times. Blessings to all.

This is like yesterday’s bird in that this is the first time I ever saw a Lark Sparrow. Very bright and colorful songster. This bird was photographed in South Dakota. But never appreared in TLT, so it is a “new” photo..

Oh no, Birds! .3 /  by Dave Hileman

This is not only my first photo of a Horned Lark it is my first sighting of a Horned Lark. This is a common, relatively common, bird in the east, as in Virginia for example but I did not see one until I was in Arkansas along a river seven yeas ago.