Video: Motch Falls waterfall in Claiborne County, East Tennessee

Here is a waterfall in East Tennessee which is easy to walk to, but you have to drive into the middle of nowhere to find it.

I started in Middlesboro, KY and drove highway 186 west from town. After it crosses the Tennessee border, it becomes highway TN132. About two to three miles south of the state line, you'll be able to see the waterfall on the east side of the road and there will be a gravel parking pull-off.

Tennessee State Fair - Fair Food

Nothing says being on a midway like having a bunch of food options, all of which have no redeeming health qualities. That's why we like it so much. If you are trying to cut back on sweets, maybe a hot beef sundae will suit you better.

Tennessee State Fair - Beauty Pageant

On the 2nd Saturday of the fair, there is a beauty pageant for several age groups that lasted several hours. The youngsters go earliest in the day. Shown here is the oldest age division from a previous year, which I think was 17-18. After each contestant had a chance to be on the stage alone, they all went onstage at the end.

Tennessee State Fair - Sheep

If you like to see Sheep, and you were planning to go to the fair - this is your day to go, as many of the sheep will be gone tomorrow.

You can see kids take care of their sheep:


Sheep Shearing:


At night, ladies take the sheared wool and have a spinning contest:


You might even see a crazy sheep:

Tennessee State Fair - The Yoyo

The Yoyo is like a modern Wave Swinger, Tennessee Waltz type ride. It makes the most vibrant colors as it spins around, tilts off toward one direction and then the riders just look like a dark gray blur and the spin on past.

Tennessee State Fair - Pig

The state fair has lots of Pigs in all shapes and sizes. I take that back, pigs only come in one shape. They are in lots of sizes like this one, which is small.

Here's a large one:


and here's one you can pet in the petting zoo:

Tennessee State Fair - Cloggers

The Southern Country Cloggers spent an hour clogging at the Purity Stage in 2008. If you are not familiar with Clogging, it's a type of folk dancing popular in the south. The cloggers wear a special shoe that makes tapping the floor more prominent. There are several Clogging groups in the region and the performers in these groups usually are willing to take in all skill ranges, from novice to expert - anyone willing to learn.

Tennessee State Fair - African Acrobat

How low can he go?

The popular African Acrobats make a return to the 2010 State Fair. On opening night of the 2009 fair, there was an Opening Ceremony and the acrobats gave an abreviated performance.

They also have a fire eater:


And, someone who can contort into uncomfortable-looking shapes:


And they can do this and more:

Tennessee State Fair - Quilting Demonstration

At the fair, the Volunteer Village is made up of several different artisans demonstrating their craft. The Quiltmaking lady, along with her husband, the grist mill operator, has come from Kentucky for several years in a row. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met.

Grist Mill:

Tennessee State Fair - Ferris Wheel

Although it still felt odd, this was the first time I ever brought my tripod out to the midway. Of course, this gave me much more leeway to where I could take blurred motion ferris wheel pics.

Tennessee State Fair - Frogman

Frogman invites you to throw a dart, pop a balloon and win a prize.

Frogman was one of the colorful characters I met at the 2009 Tennessee State Fair. He asked me to stop and take his picture while I was out on the midway. After taking this picture, I took the dart and popped a balloon. Is it really difficult? It looks easier than the use-a-ring-at-the-end-of-a-fishpole-to-stand-up-a-bottle game. I've always avoided these "games of skill" as I never wanted to spend the dollar to try and win a large stuffed banana. Before I was a photographer, I always tried to avoid eye contact with the carnies.

Kids enjoying young goats at the State Fair

The Tennessee State Fair holds a special place for me in my photographer's heart. There's so much to see and do and capture with a camera. Even after last year's popular state fair, the future of the fair is in limbo. Thankfully, it will take place again this year starting next Friday. Will it be the last one? The future still seems uncertain, and who knows where it could even take place if Nashville uses the land for another purpose.

I'm going to the fair this year and will enjoy it as if it's the last one. Then, I will hope I can do it again in 2011. Over the next couple of weeks, I will share some of my favorite State Fair photos.

Shown here, at the 2009 Tennessee State Fair, one of the goat breeders brought some baby kid goats that were less than 2 weks old. When the goats were awake, they would allow some of the passerbys hold the goats. The best time to see goats are during the opening weekend.

As a side note, show goats are required to have their horns removed, which makes them grow up more docile. It happens when they are very young with a painless procedure, and then a salve is applied to where they were removed. (This is in case you wonder what the dark circle is.)

Blurred Motion: Ion ride

This is part of my effort to take interesting blurred motion pictures of some of the lesser photograped rides. This was seen at the Williamson County Fair.

Endless Supply on random knick-knacks

If you're into this type of thing, but haven't seen it yet, this upcoming weekend is the Worlds Longest Garage Sale, aka the 127 Sale. The title of this photo is a good description of the World's Longest Garage Sale

In a span of 5 minutes, I saw a vintage Star Trek lunchbox, Michael Jackson trading cards and bongs. This specific stop on the route is in Dunlap.

A nearly forgotten ad for a nearly forgotten tourist spot

This is what I think it says:
15 MI. TO
SCENIC & HISTORIC
NATURAL BRIDGE
MOTEL & CAMPING

15 miles out from this is close to Waynesboro, TN, and I'd never heard of anything like this in that part of the state.

I emailed the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and learned about it. There is indeed a Natural Bridge in Wayne County. In fact, it's a double-decker natural bridge, and there may not be anything like it anywhere else. At one time, it was a state park, and over the years, it has had various private owners, such as those who ran it as a Motel & Campground. Today, the area is operated as Tennessee Fitness Spa and non-customers can stop by and see the Natural Bridge on Sundays from 10 to 2.
www.tfspa.com/

Now, as for the actual building shown here, I'm not sure what it used to be. A service station? I vaguely recall seeing a picture of this place several years ago, so I was happy to stumble across this place.

Highway U.S. 64 between Lawrenceburg and Pulaski is segmentally being upgraded to a two-lane divided highway, but most of the old highway is still accessible. However, this place is on a tiny stretch of old 64 in western Lawrence County that's blocked off and won't take you anywhere.

Cemetery family

There's a story here, behind the placement of the statue, and I wish I knew what it was. Apparently, a family with a son who lived his whole prematurely shortened life with some crippling disease.

This can be seen in Evergreen Cemetery along Greenwood Dr. in Murfreesboro.

Cumberland Mtn Tunnel Marker

A marker in honor of a historically significant tunnel along the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga. They couldn't go over or around the mountain ridge, so they had to go through it. It's my understanding that this marker used to be at the tunnel, where nobody but train people could see it. Now it is in Cowan, TN, near the depot at the base of the ascent.

Blake Shelton plaque

A few days ago, I posted the plaque of Del Reeves. This Blake Shelton Plaque is also located at the Hickman County Ag expo in Grinders Switch, TN at a small garden display honoring the importance of the railroad and celebrities who lived nearby.

Grundy County Courthouse - Altamont, TN

Grundy County has one of the newest courthouses in the state. The previous courthouse was built in 1885, but was burned by an arsonist on May 3, 1990. This new courthouse was opened in April 1996. It's a two story brick building with a projected pedimented portico front entrance. There is also a low hip roof with a center octagonal cupola. Directly in front of the main entrance is tree-lined Pelham Rd.

Del Reeves plaque

Located at the Hickman County Ag expo in Grinders Switch, TN is a small garden display honoring the importance of the railroad and celebrities who lived nearby.