Tellico Blueway again

Beautiful Memorial Day weekend!  Went paddling on the Blueway this morning.  We saw about two dozen blue heron, three hawks, crows, lots of carp and gar, saw a couple of kingfishers and about six osprey.  Here a few pics...note the cactus!  This is the secong place this year that I have seen the same species of cactus!

Rose Island AKA Mialoquo

Paddled Tellico from mile18.8 to 15.8 yesterday.  That is from the 411 bridge along the south shore to the Island Creek buoys and back down the northshore.  It took 4.5 hours and counting all the coves and islands was about 12 miles.  The most interesting thing was two bald eagles flying together in cove which parallels highway 411.  The eagles were soaring along with an osprey which then began to dive bomb the eagles.  What a sight.  Saw an osprey fold its wings and dive to the water bring up a fish in its talons.  The fish tail was flapping very fast as the osprey held the fish head first while flying along the shore.  Hilarious!  I could not find a good place to put-in around the 411 bridge.  Sequoyah Marina did not have a ramp or easy access, none of the industry had public access and I did not want to paddle from Vonore Beach.  So I had to park at the 411 bridge and put in down a steep bank.  You know the area...its the pull-off just as you go over the bridge south bound.  Good day!

Island Creek area of Tellico

Island Creek is located south of the Vonore Beach public access ramp.  The actual "creek" proceeds from the impoundment into this sheltered area and I was able to paddle about 1.5 miles up the creek until the vegetation prevented me from going any farther.   This is BEAUTIFUL and should be included in anyone's exploration of Tellico!

This is the only cactus I have located in the Little T drainage.   Surely this was planted by someone long ago since I cannot recall cactus being native to Tennessee.  For a good scavenger hunt item, this can be located in the Island Creek portion of Tellico Lake about a mile on the right after you depart from the Vonore boat ramp heading toward the main channel.  Does anyone know anything about this cactus or who lived here?

Eagle on Chilhowee Lake

My buddy Brian Bartos took this picture of an eagle that was in the vicinity of Tabcat ramp.  We watched this eagle hit the water twice taking fish.  The sound of its wings batting against the water was an awesome sound!