Friday, May 01, 2015

We borrowed our sky today from San Francisco.

Jilda's car needed routine maintenance so I ran it to the dealership while she stayed with our great nephew Jordan.

On the way home, I pulled into the boat launch at the forks of the river. There's always people there in the spring. Hybrid bass that look as big as dolphins swim upstream to the head of the river to spawn.

Smith Dam is situated about seven miles upstream on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, and the churning turbines send a rush of water downstream whenever they are engaged.  When the turbines are idle, the surface of the river looks like a sheet of jade drifting downstream.

The Mulberry River is smaller and shallow most of the time, but the recent torrential rains caused the river to rise, leaving muddy watermarks up the bank and onto low-hanging tree limbs that line the river.

Today, the water surface above the forks had a layer of pollen that made it look crusty. The Mulberry was still dumping a lot of water into the larger river, and the volume seemed to be forcing the stiller water of the larger river to wait. I've seen it do this many times.

I took my nephew Haven fishing down there once when he was about 10. It was 4:30 in the afternoon when we felt a rush of cool air at the water's edge and saw the river inching up on the bank.

A bass fisherman had anchored his expensive boat near the shore and was about to walk to the bait shop for gas. My nephew told him, "They turned the turbines on, you might want to put a little slack in that anchor rope." The experienced fisherman was from out of town and blew off my young nephew's sage advice.

By the time the fisherman returned with his gas, the bow of his boat was out of the water. Another five minutes and the rising water coupled with the taunt anchor rope would have sunk his $20,000 boat.

Today I stood for a long time listening to the birds, gurgling water and the whip of casting fishing lines. I leaned back with my face to the sun and looked at the sky, which looked as if we'd borrowed it from San Francisco.


  1. Rick the picture is amazing... I'm looking forward to seeing some amazing blue skies this Summer ;-)

  2. I believe that sky belongs to you right where it is.

  3. A beautiful picture.
    A fool ignores the local's advice! Most fishermen pay attention where their boat and gear are concerned.

  4. From the mouths of babes!!

  5. Hello greetings and good wishes.

    Fascinating photo.

    The surface of the river looks like a sheet of jade drifting downstream.======amazing use of words.

    Your young nephew's sage advice to the experienced fisher man reminded of the saying =====DON'T RESPECT GREY HAIRS, RESPECT YOUNG THINKING.

    Surely, you had a wonderful day enjoying the sights and sounds.

    Best wishes

  6. A view like that is a treasure for sure. The golden gate bridge couldn't out do what you have right there.

  7. I have not seen San Francisco skies, but I love that bridge and that view.

  8. Peaceful and pretty - what more can you ask for?

  9. I once lived in San Francisco and I recall they skies being more grey than blue.

  10. The water is as smooth as a baby's bottom. A lovely picture. You might bring your fishing rod with you. It sounds like great fishing and a nice dinner.
    Enjoy your weekend.

  11. Great picture! I bet that man ate crow later for not listening to your nephew.

  12. Another bloody great photo,


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