High Cumberland Would You Believe?

It's been a fun last few weeks. My bike-wreck wounds are healing, I've been busy with my artwork and I've had a few chances to get out and fish a little. A couple of Saturday's ago, I participated in the 4th annual Greenway Arts Festival in Murfreesboro. This is a good little event; it's laid-back, a one-day deal and a great opportunity to show off my paintings to a wide array of people.

Of course, my part in this didn't exactly go smoothly. It was raining when we were attempting to set up the booth (it hasn't rained in weeks -- and hasn't rained since), and there were more than a few things that we forgot to bring with us -- including the sides of my tent and a painting or two -- but we managed to overcome the adversity, chase away the rain, get settled and enjoy a productive day on the banks of the Stones River. As usual, I had a great time meeting with new and existing customers and talking with them about art, fishing and football. I truly appreciate everyone who attended the event and made the time to stop by my tent. And, special thanks go to my Mom and Dad, who traveled up from Memphis to support me (in a bizarre way of thanking them, I made them help break down my booth -- what an appreciative and considerate son I am).

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Betsy and I attended a donor appreciation event sponsored by the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Association. This was held on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tenn., and about 250 of TPGA's friends gathered at Scott's Gulf, perched on a mountain-top high above an enormous gorge that hid the upper Caney Fork river. The scenery was incredible, of course, and I was honored to watch as several of my Brook Trout Study prints were awarded to major contributors to the TPGA. Here are some pics from the event:

Thanks to Steve Walsh and the rest of the TPGA crew. You've made sure that an absolutely beautiful part of Tennessee can be enjoyed and appreciated by generations to come.

Sadly, I have very little to report on the fishing front. Hopefully, the upcoming weekends will allow for more time to be spent on the rivers. I'll let you know ...

Road Rash and the Greenway Arts Festival

Earlier today, in an attempt to shed some poundage and to keep up the cardio, I went out bike-riding. While I’m certainly no Armstrong, I do manage to put several miles on my fixed-frame, old-school mountain bike each week and today seemed like a good day to hit the pavement, so to speak.

Unfortunately, 30 minutes into the ride, that exactly what I did. As I steered my bike to the sidewalk in advance of a traffic light, my front tire “caught an edge” on a driveway, causing the bike to fall over and skid – with me in tow – for about 30 feet. Sprawled out and cursing like a Lebowski, I checked myself for any life-threatening injuries and thankfully only found a few cuts and a very-prodigious “road rash,” which covered the right side of my body. Bruised but not broken, I hopped back on my bent-up bike and pedaled my way back home.

Upon arrival, I promptly set out to cleanse the open wounds, first taking a shower, then applying what-I-thought-was hydrogen pyroxide. It was not until several ibuprofen and ice bags later did my wife notice that a bottle of rubbing alcohol – and not hydrogen pyroxide – had been left on the bathroom vanity. Well, I said, that explains the screaming.

Switching gears to the art-front … I’m looking forward to Sept. 20, when I’ll be one of the many artists manning a booth at the 4th annual Greenway Arts Festival in Murfreesboro. This is a really cool, really laid-back art show on the banks of the Stones River. It runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and it takes place at the Thompson Lane trailhead. I’ll be offering some new, never-before-seen, original artwork, along with a selection of limited-edition giclee prints. Please stop by and say hello.

Oh, and I’ve been doing some fishing lately. Anthony, David and Mark have been the normal compatriots and we’ve found more than a few ways to fool some trout. To prove it, here’s a picture of yours truly with a nice brown. I swear I caught it.

Tight lines everyone.