TTA 2018 Annual Meeting

This year's TTA annual meeting was held in Land Between the Lakes and hosted by the Clarksville Chapter. We were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Tennessee Trails Association. 

Lora drove there Friday afternoon, set up a hammock in the trees by the cemetery. Had a great dinner served by the lunchroom ladies, then listened to some music by the Friendship Band that had some of us dancing in our seats, but no one would get out on the dance floor. Ski Witzofski an early day Ranger in Brandon Springs, an accomplished speaker told stories and history of the LBL. The t shirt contest had contestants wearing old t shirts from TTA past events, some trail work days, and J.R. had stated the judges could be bribed.
My night in the hammock by the cemetery. Listen to owls, sleep, listen to scuffling in the leaves going to the lake, (haints or deer?) The Friendship Band sang a song about Ain't no Haint gonna run me off. But I heard no chains rattling, so I think it was deer. Sleep, listen to owls. Get up.

Lora's Saturday hike was at the North Welcome Center, an 8.8 mile segment of the Canal Loop Trail, led by Paul Schwab. He kept a good pace that warmed us up as we did the ups and downs with views of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. We were blessed by the appearance of a bald eagle soaring low over Kentucky Lake. Ooohs and Ahhhhs as he climbed higher and soared. After the hike we drove the Loop Road to see bison and elk. And a coyote. 700 acres of scenic prairie. $5 per car.

Craig's Saturday hike was taking the trails around Brandon Springs. The blue trail runs around the lake which I wasn't sure about so after halfway I turned around and took the white trail back.

The evening was filled with awards for George Bonneau and Bob Lyons with the Bill Stutz Award, and TVA for the TTA Award, and Mack Prichard for the Bob Brown Award. Jim Poteet gave a great presentation of the 50 year History of TTA.

Sunday we enjoyed a good breakfast at the dinner hall, packed up camp, and then Lora and I headed up to the Golden Pond visitor center. We did a five mile day hike on the North/South trail from Dead Beaver Camp back to the visitor center.

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