Autumn Riches I & Autumn Riches II

I love driving along back country roads.  And we've sure got a lot of them in west Tennessee!  I'm sure some think we're just a little nothing-town, and people who live here get bored a lot.  But if they'd just look around, they'd uncover some of the most beautiful, peaceful places I've ever seen.  It's quite nice to have places like this which offer a breath of fresh air and a break from the hum drum monotony of everyday life.  It beats being in an office and listening to phones all day.  And to me, it shows a portion of beauty one will never see on the news.

Our neighbor took us on a back roads tour one day, and that's when I spotted this little gem.  We were on a dirt road, winding back into the depth of the Hatchie Bottom near the Hatchie River.  As we traveled down this bumpy path he called a road, a beat up old pick up truck passed us going the opposite direction.  The driver looked to be about a 12 year old boy.  And he probably was.

After a sharp curve, we came upon an old wooden bridge over a creek.  The bridge was so old and beat up, I was a bit unsure about going over it in a vehicle.  We stopped before the bridge, and I got out with my camera.  Under the bridge ran a creek, a run-off from the Hatchie River.  These photos were taken facing each way as I stood atop the bridge, trying to make sure my foot didn't slip through one of the many broken boards which revealed the water below.

What a stunning scene!  Filled with citrine yellow jewel colors and gentle reflections of the bordering trees in the water, it was one of those moments where I just took a deep breath and thanked God for this bit of beauty, tucked back in the middle of nowhere.  I could have stayed there all day.  Every day.  I'm glad I captured it to enjoy forever, and I hope you enjoy the scene as much as I do.

--Jai