after lots of laughs...picture added!

... and  a couple of walks we left TN about 4:30 on Thurs to drive home. The first walk was up on the edge of Lookout Mountain on an old trail that was really interesting, especially with a guy who knows a lot about the history of the area as it developed after the Big War. He often runs along the trail, and is very familiar with the way it changed over time, as people moved up to the top of the mountain, and inclined railways were built to help transport people from bottom to top and back again.

We drove a little way up the mountain, parked and got out to walk on a trail that runs parallel, rather than horizontal. So thankful it was  not vertical, with my ailing knee.  A mostly smooth path, with gravel, just a little 'grade', not too steep to comfortably walk. One reason it is so accessible is there are buried utilities under the path, so they keep digging it up and are required to put it back just like they found it. I expect there are places it borders, or possibly crosses federal land boundaries, where the National Parks preserves the site of the Battle of Chattanooga from the top of Lookout down into the valley.

A pretty view from the top, looking across a horseshoe bend in the river and off into the valley. But a steep climb, with sheer drop-offs if you are a young tired, hungry Union solider trying to scrabble up the face of the mountain. Under constant fire from the Confederates on the high ground, trying to protect themselves and a doomed way of life.

Then we went for a walk around the neighborhood, to stir up all the dogs and get everyone's defense system barking. As well as a goose that apparently acts as a burglar alarm for a home near the state line. I guess a loud, irritated goose would be a good as a barking dog, but only if there was someone around who would pay attention, and respond to see if there was a problem that needed attention.

I did not want to leave, and spend four hours getting back to Columbus, but knew I had to work on Friday. So we got on the road in time to have a couple of hours of daylight to read on my library book. Making the trip a bit more tolerable. I don't know why he thought he could pull off the interstate and find something to eat, places that would be open to provide a meal.

I remember going to Florida once on Christmas Day, and driving for hours looking for food. We were in the pickup truck, and probably had brand new bicycles in the back. No where to stop for gas or eats. Finally stopping at a grungy country store and probably getting sodas and crackers for lunch. Absolutely nothing was open. None of those places that you expect to be able to swing into and be fed, in-and-out in twenty minutes. All the chicken and burger joints were dark.  Proving that Christmas is the one day of the year that everyone gets a day off.