050813 Big Ridge State Park and Norris Dam's River Bluff Trail, TN

I met the Plateau Chapter of Tennessee Trails Assn. at Museum of Appalachia, in Norris TN, for these 2 hikes. It was our intention to hike 5 miles at Big Ridge, go to the Museum of Appalachia for lunch, then head over to Norris to hike 3 miles on the River Bluff Trail. If our much-loved hike leader had told me where he wanted to start in Big Ridge State Park, I could have told him it was about 5 miles away. Somehow, he had the idea we had to go around the world to get to our own backyard. We wound up going through some beautiful farm land in Andersonville and into Union County. Because it put us so far behind schedule, we had to forfeit about 2 miles of the 5-mile hike.
After those 3 miles, we headed back to the Museum for lunch. One of the peacocks was putting on a fantastic show for the tourists. Do peacocks even know people want to see them display their feathers?? Just wondering.
After lunch, we headed up the interstate for 6 miles to get to the River Bluff Trail. Actually, we could just have easily found it from right where we were. Oh well. We spent most of the 3 miles slogging along in the ever - increasing downpour, which is why I don't have many pictures from that trail. Even though it was pouring, we could hear the water roaring as it was being diverted through the dam.
After they left to return to Crossville, I headed over to the dam for pictures. I don't remember ever seeing such a spectacle! So much rain means lots of water being diverted.