Pictures 8: Tennessee Fishing Camp

Patrick's dad and his friend Brad learned about this fishing camp through a Google search; Brad looked for camping on the South Holston River, and this site was "like, the 200th result" (Brad said). It is a small farm in Bristol, Tennessee that a farmer allows fishermen to use, whether to park their car for the day or to camp overnight, on an honor system of paying whatever they think is fair.

The farm is beautiful, and it is also full of a bunch of weird-ass Americana stuff that this guy must have been collecting for decades. I didn't meet the farmer while I was there, but I did become acquainted with his cows. Or his neighbor's cows. One or the other.

Click any image to see a larger version on Photobucket.


Our little Hooverville


The river one rainy afternoon when the mist was coming off the water

35 more pictures after the jump...




Blake hangs out on our day alone at camp


This is the chair from which I blogged.


Darrell's shower, the pump for which plugged into the car cigarette lighter and the heater for which was powered by propane. Best shower OF MY LIFE. Or most necessary. Same diff.


Looking from camp, back toward the barns and farmhouse


ditto


The pasture next to the field where we camped


Oxidization at its finest


Pasture


My cow friend


My cow friend was really into me


Zoe, Darrell's dog, chills by the river after a day of fishing.


Looking from the road, down toward camp


MOST DELICIOUS FISH OF EVER


YUMMMMMMMMMMM


Darrell ties flies while Pat texts


Flies


They look so real! You think fish are stupid, but it's amazing how accurate your flies have to be to get them to bite.


Zoe is very sneaky when it comes to getting into laps... Pat fell for it, hook, line and sinker.


Feets


I don't think he stopped tying flies til after midnight.

Frowahs

mo' frowahs


Down on the river... Darrell on the left, Pat on the right


Trees along the riverbank


My gross feet! Before I busted my toe, of course.


I HAVE THE CUTEST DOG EVER.


Blake had such a great time, he just passed out on the bank! (And yes, it's a coincidence that the harness I have had for him for 4 years has trout on it...)

And now for some pics of the weird stuff this guy has around the property... This sign faces you as you walk toward the road out of camp... I have NO idea what it's supposed to mean, but I think I love it.

Lots of spiderwebs

It seems like this shower would have an awfully low wall, til you see that the hole actually goes 5 feet down.

do the penguins tell you to slide?

Lantern

it don't work no mo

amazing patina

lines

boat

My friend, Pat's aunt Linda likes to do things to Barbie dolls... so I knew I had to capture this hooked Barbie (hooker Barbie?) for her.

Okay, the drop box for money I get. The weathervane I get. But the tractor chair for "free riders" I don't get. The raccoon I don't get. "Respect the children" I don't get. But I still love it.

Rock me mama like a wagon wheel

What would a Southern farm on a river be without a little black boy with a fishing pole?