Bob Wright
Hawkeye
Today was damp and overcast, temperature around 54*, and occasional gusty wind. I was up at 3:50 a.m. and had a quick breakfast with my niece and we went to Reelfoot. I had not been there since December of 2019, and tornados had ravaged the area last December (2021). For over twenty years, or more, we posed in front of the green awning at Lakeview Restaurant and made our pictures. Today I stood in that same spot and took a photo of the vacant lot where the restaurant once stood. Sort of sad. But a year has passed and clean up and rebuilding has progressed.
The famous restaurant Boyette's was open and we had lunch there, catfish, beans, French fries, cole slaw, onion rings and rolls or hush puppies.
As to bald eagles, were were to spot fifteen in the area. Other birds of note were pelicans, cormorants, mallards, northern shovelers, red tailed hawks. Jan, my niece was also taken with the sighting of a belted kingfisher and a pileated woodpecker.
Also noted a display in the newly refurbished visitor's center of items belonging to Slingshot Charley Taylor. He was noted for duck hunting with a slingshot. And further found that he was not the one for whom Slingshot Charlie's in Galaway, Tennessee was named. And another man named Sartain was equally proficient with the slingshot.
There seems to be no end to the lore surrounding Reelfoot Lake and the area.
I did make a few photos but have not yet downloaded them.
Bob Wright
And P.S.: This was the first real outing for the Ford Escape. It climbed up the road to the levee with about the same ease as my beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee. Also on top of the levee we did find two more eagle nests, but seemed to be unoccupied, at least for now.
The famous restaurant Boyette's was open and we had lunch there, catfish, beans, French fries, cole slaw, onion rings and rolls or hush puppies.
As to bald eagles, were were to spot fifteen in the area. Other birds of note were pelicans, cormorants, mallards, northern shovelers, red tailed hawks. Jan, my niece was also taken with the sighting of a belted kingfisher and a pileated woodpecker.
Also noted a display in the newly refurbished visitor's center of items belonging to Slingshot Charley Taylor. He was noted for duck hunting with a slingshot. And further found that he was not the one for whom Slingshot Charlie's in Galaway, Tennessee was named. And another man named Sartain was equally proficient with the slingshot.
There seems to be no end to the lore surrounding Reelfoot Lake and the area.
I did make a few photos but have not yet downloaded them.
Bob Wright
And P.S.: This was the first real outing for the Ford Escape. It climbed up the road to the levee with about the same ease as my beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee. Also on top of the levee we did find two more eagle nests, but seemed to be unoccupied, at least for now.
