Over the next couple of days, I’ll post photos I took this weekend while canoeing on the Tugaloo Corridor. Did I say canoeing? Yes! It was so much fun that I may have found a new activity. From what I gather from college friend and registrar Kelly Vickers, this is an annual event. He led the group on a five hour adventure along the Corridor that ended in a portion of Lake Harwell.

Here’s a little info about this historical area: “The Tugaloo Corridor is the eastern portion of the county adjacent to the upper reaches of Lake Hartwell and abuts the Tugaloo River to form the eastern boundary of the county. The Corridor extends from US 123 in the south, to Habersham County, in the north. The 6 mile section of the river is the last un-impounded section. Within the Corridor are a number of historical structures, including Travelers’ Rest, Providence United Methodist Church, the Prather Home, and Tugaloo Bend, an 87-acre heritage site owned by The Stephens County Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation which is credited with identifying the Tugaloo Corridor and its potential. On the Tugaloo Bend property is the site of the old Estatoe Native American village. The Foundation plans nature trails, educational facilities, and a heritage education center highlighting Native American and 19th and 20th century settler lifestyles. The goal of The Foundation is to preserve and protect the area, so generations to come will enjoy the educational and recreational opportunities.” This group’s office web site is http://tugaloocorridor.org.

Some of the people that went with us were from the college, which gave me the opportunity to get to know them a little better.

This is the view I had for most of the trip—middle to back, but that’s ok. I had to pull up canoeing instructions from the past. And even then, I had to ask others how to do simple things—like how to keep the canoe going in a straight line. I thought for sure that I would be sore “to the bone” as my grandmother used to say, but I’m not. So, I’m ready to go again!

I live here—five minutes—if that from this sight. Do I miss the city? Yes, I do at times. I miss friends and wish they were closer. Friday night with Delores was lots of fun. We laughed like crazy and I wish Judy was working with me again, but life changes and we go on. I truly think they would agree: if I had to be some place other than in the city, this is a very good place to be. I’ll post more photos over the next day or so. Thanks Kelly for a great trip and for all the historical stories and facts you shared with us.

You know how I often say that the college owns over 1,100 acres of land that back up to a National Forest? Well, we also have an original Indian footpath that runs through part of our campus. It called the Unicoi Trail and at one time it was used only by the Cherokee Indians. Later, thousands of settlers traveled it as they moved north. It even became a “toll” path.Today, it leads to a couple of beautiful waterfalls and then on to Helen, Georgia.

John Pruitt and the WSB TV team drove up to the mountains and filmed the falls today. In June the Falls will be featured along with other Georgia destinations on a special called “Hidden Treasures in Georgia.” So for a day, guess who was a “rock star”? You got it: Toccoa Falls!

The producer told me John has been in the news business for around forty years. He was extremely kind and so comfortable to be around. I never told him that I have been watching him since I was a teenager.

Lots of light: news people with cameras love light and they even bring their own light sources. One, not in this photo, was a portable light with a huge battery pack. It was solely for back lighting.

Margaret Pinney explains to WSB-TV anchor John Pruitt what took place the night of the flood on the Toccoa Falls College campus in November 1977. Her husband lost his life but later she remarried a college alum who is a really wonderful guy.

Classic shot. I remember last year when I first started working on the campus, I loved to film the students on the rocks at the base of the falls. Everyone wants to climb around at the falls and John was no different.

Even from this point the falls are still in the background. Before the photographer arrived earlier this week to shoot B-roll, I told her that I had walked back up to the falls just to make sure that everything was okay and all was well. She laughed a little and then I realized, what could go wrong with a 186-foot waterfall. Not much, but then it is located on a college campus, which introduces an entirely new set of challenges.

The falls insisted on totally showing off for the camera this morning as a news crew from Atlanta drove up to film. Everything was perfect. Just enough water coming over the top, beautiful light, and even a reflection in the stream.

Saturday evening I drove out along a country road (most are country up here) and saw this little gate. This setting seemed perfect for a late afternoon photograph. And then there was time to take a quick photo of Cocoa Joy smiling. (smile)