1-15-17 --- 7 birds park--I mean 7 islands birding park!

Since the kids have moved to Knoxville, they have become hikers.  Even plan on going on an overnight hike in the Smokey's this summer.  So they asked if I'd like to go to 7 Islands birding park about 30 miles away.  Of course I said yes.  We knew Ken wouldn't do it, but he's content to sit at home with the animals.  But first----breakfast was in order.  So we headed to First Watch and had a great breakfast.

My first quinoa blueberry pancake and hopefully not my last.  Yummmm!

Then we took Ken back to the house and were on our way.  Our first glimpses of the river.

nice looking neighborhood over there.

Faith's intriguing photo.

along the river

interesting trunk of this tree.

then we drove over to another part of the park and started our hike.  There by the parking lot is this old barn.  We tried to go check it out, but there was some sort of women's meeting going on in there.

close up of some of the flora along the walk.

Faith leading the way. 

Suddenly we heard a rustling in the bushes and out jumped this fauna. 

It was in a hurry

Never seen one with such a bushy tail before.

Hark---a well hidden bird.

and another barn.  Love the barn quilts on the sides of so many barns now a days.

the first part of the stroll (I don't hike, I stroll).

Finally reached the river.

couple people enjoying a bit of kayaking.

proof that I was there.

one of the trees downed by a busy beaver.

looking down the river.

Tim found what would make an interesting walking stick, but he said you aren't allowed to take anything from the park.

an the occasional bench.

another weird piece of flora.

The only islands we saw.

I remember when my knees use to let me do that!

There was a little wetlands area, but no birds.

cattails

walking along the wetlands

Tim commented that the bird living here is a sinner.

some cliffs near the river

the trail took us inland to the wetlands, now cut back to the river.

The end of the trail.  Now we had to back track back to the wetlands.

Getting adjusted to their new packs before their big hike this summer.

pretty nice trail

some fungi

the trail made a big circle back to the barn

close up of the side of the barn

From there we went to downtown Knoxville---actually saw some birds on the river there.

from the park along the river looking over towards the city.

the park walkway and the bridge going over to the city.

We stopped at a little brewery nearby which had this interesting painting on the side of it. 

We each had a brew or 2. 

Then it was time to head back to their place.  Picked up Ken and went out to dinner at a really interesting little Italian restaurant.

Food was very good.  I believe they'll be going back there.

They live in a really neat area---not too crowded, but enough around to keep you busy.