Lake Burton Fun Run 2012

Any idea how hard it is snapping event pictures while actually participating in the thing?
In this case a two mile run.
Course not.
Because why would one do that?
Put themselves out there - in public no less - looking like a big dork with camera in hand, two feet strapped into a pair of beat-down, over-heated Nikes.

Run ahead. Stop. Take picture. Run ahead. Stop. Take picture.

Actually, it was kind of fun.
And of course, an excellent work out.

This summer, the 28th Annual Lake Burton Fun Run once again delivered.
Because... how could it not?
This U.S.A. Track and Field Certified event is known throughout the southeast as one of the most scenic two mile courses. Ever. Tucked into the far northeastern corner of Georgia, it's a unique setting for exercise and fun. Starting at lovely Moccasin Creek State Park and ending at fabulous La Prades Marina, participants wind down Hwy. 197 where bottles of water, snow cones and quite possibly a dip in the lake await.

Both young, and young at heart, are drawn to this family event. Some folks attending for over twenty-five years now. In many cases, three generations of Lake Burton Fun Run fans show up - encased in event t-shirts, running bibs and big smiles.

The run was started back in 1984 by founder Robert Nichols. And come race day, Mr. Nichols is personally on hand for hours. Grinning, greeting, directing and starting off the race from the back of the pace truck, bull horn in hand. Afterwards, he grabs a mic under the La Prades' pavilion; welcoming everyone again and handing out trophies. Proceeds from the annual event go to support the three Lake Burton Volunteer Fire Departments with a special donation to Rabun County Search and Rescue.

Open to all runners, joggers and walkers, a celebratory spirit waifs throughout the event each year.  Pre-race Jazzercise warm ups go down at Moccasin Creek State Park to get things started. Rock music blasted over speakers as arms reached for the sky. Muscles got loose. Resident ducks never know what to think. They just sit and watch. And quack.

Back in '84 - think Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - the race began with a humble 85 participants. But between the draw of the mountains, gorgeous lakeside setting and cool alpine air, appeal has grown. A firm 800 participant limit is now in place. Note to self: sign up early. In 1998 the course became certified by USA Track and Field, taking its clout up a notch. Most runners and walkers come out for a leisurely good time, and a little huffing and puffing.  But if you want to get serious -  official times from the event can be used for qualifying in other sanctioned athletic events.

Two years ago, the run's board of directors decided to become members of the Road Runners Club of America to continue to meet professional standards. The local chapter is named the Lake Burton Road Runners Club. The Lake Burton Fun Run is their sole event, and boy - do they go all out. Not only is Mr. Nichols on hand, but 100 of his closest buddies join in as volunteers. It seems like all of Lake Burton can't wait to help out with this beloved event.

My favorite leg of the race was passing the Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department Station. Fireman standing roadside: clapping, waving, encouraging and thanking. Since race proceed go towards the area's fire departments, their presence is appropriate. But it's great to see the actual fireman out there cheering on the people, who are cheering them. Community coming together, helping and encouraging. All of this taking place, mind you, before anyone's had enough coffee.

Towards the end of the race, the celebratory spirit only grew: snow cones, popcorn and face painting all on hand. Upbeat music bouncing over both air waves and actual waves, as families gathered at La Prades Marina. Local businesses were also on-hand. passing out everything from magnets to sun screen. Come trophy time, this was my personal fav...

A Going Strong Over 90 award?
That's right baby! We're a group of people who chug our calcium and Vitamin D.
Livestrong and live long.
Tons of awards and trophies passed out this year (although not to people named Kathleen). And once again, it's fair to say, the Lake Burton Fun Run proved its worth.

As things wound down, the fire boat which had been on hand in the cove,
strutted it's stuff. Sapphire water jetting high into the air, signaling both a
frothy thank you and good-bye.
Yes, quite a show. Quite a morning

www.lakeburtonfunrun.com

All images seen here taken by...
www.kathleenmoorephotography.com

Wildcat Fire Station Rises From Ashes

As I gear up to trot the annual Lake Burton Fun Run, I find myself thinking not of sweat, heat or lime-flavored Gatorade, but of one of the landmarks along its route: the Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department. And how much the property has changed in just one year. Fourteen months ago, a tornado came ‘round the mountain, plunking itself right smack on top of the station. Twister, plus ensuing fire, equaled complete destruction of the property. Trees, trucks and equipment lay in smoldering ruin too.

Only one of the fire trucks survived. Driven out of the burning building, by who else – a quick-thinking fire fighter. A year later, through much planning and toil, the station has been rebuilt, under the keen direction of Chief Pat Thompson. Offices, kitchen, bunkrooms, rec room – two floors of impressive space. It was the chief’s idea to take the ruined pecan tree out back and create the station’s kitchen cabinets from its wood. They turned out beautifully. Someone call Martha Stewart.

Jokingly, I asked Chief Thompson, “Where do blue prints for fire stations even come from…greathomes.com?”

He answered, slightly embarrassed, “Well, I designed it.” 

So humble. Truth is, not only did he create the floor plan; his own hands did much of the labor. Along with the rest of the volunteer fire fighters. They all worked together building back up what Mother Nature had torn down.

At this spring’s open house, chief Thompson took me aside. He pointed out the one lucky fire truck which made it out alive. And its back melted light, now reduced to droopy white plastic. He could've had it fixed. But chief has left it disfigured on purpose - to remember. Now looking entirely akin to an oversized marshmallow gone wrong, it gave me shivers. 

They should drive the truck to schools on don't-play-with-matches day. Nothing beats a great visual aid.

From the two bunkrooms, freshly painted game room and Viking stove tucked between those hand-made cabinets, there was much to admire at the station’s open house. But my favorite was the people. Each fireman associated with the station seemed on hand for the big day. They wore their uniforms and polished nametags and smiles. It was an honor to meet so many of them.

If you ever find yourself in Rabun County, Georgia, drive past the Wildcat V.F.D. station. Maybe even park out front, admire its million dollar view of Lake Burton. Stunning location. I'm sure the old station thought so too. 

The old station. Gone, but not forgotten. Through the years, it housed much more than red trucks and equipment. Swinging wide its doors welcoming church services, local meetings and educational programming. That was then. I can only imagine all that will take place under this new station's watch and keep. It's off to a beautiful start.

http://www.rabuncountygov.com/firedepartment.html

www.kathleenmoorephotography.com

BBQ Fund Raiser at the Firehouse

“Once. Twice. Three times…sold!” rang the auctioneer voice of fire chief Mr. Chad Dixon, gesturing enthusiastically in the direction of someone other than myself.

Rats. Outbid fair and square. I really wanted that item too. After all, who wouldn’t get a kick from an airplane joy ride high above Rabun County in the depths of spring?

But that’s how it goes at the annual Tallulah-Persimmon volunteer fire department BBQ fundraiser.

This year’s event took place March thirty-first, at where else - but the sturdy firehouse itself. Polished to a glorious shine the station’s arsenal of trucks patiently waited outside, grabbing gravel during the affair. Their home temporarily parlayed into a party venue. And what an amazing event fireman and organizer, Mr. Tom Madison Sr., created.

Old and young gathered together under a big blue sky, American flag waving overhead. Thanks to The Foxfire Boys, mountain tunes tickled the crowd as the scent of BBQ punctuated the air. Several ladies broke out in dance as we all clapped along. It was a festive atmosphere almost belying the gravity of the event. Each of Rabun County’s twelve volunteer fire stations needs every dime they can get.

  


































“Raised funds go primarily toward life support equipment,” Mr. Madison informed me. “We’re in critical need of pagers, portable radios and breathing apparatus.” He also explained the importance of a solid ISO rating: a ranking system that gauges a community’s fire-fighting capabilities. Ratings are based on several criteria: well-trained fire fighters, proper equipment and adequate supplies of water.

    


































“ISO ratings effect citizens directly. Great scores equal lower rates for home insurance,” Mr. Madison continued. “A couple of years ago Rabun County received an upgraded rating. It’s in everyone’s best interest to maintain that quality.”

 Think of it as a help-me-help-you kind of thing. Attend fund-raiser, eat BBQ, enter raffle, bid on auction items, raise money, lower insurance rates, sleep well, eat more BBQ. If properly orchestrated it all comes full-circle, like a well-played Seinfeld episode.

This year’s auction and raffle prizes alone were something to get excited about. Just ask Mr. Kenny Walker, who strolled away with a $500 Wal-Mart gift card. Not to be out done, pastor Kevin Hurt won a $500 Ingles gift card. Go in peace. Reeves Hardware donated a serious looking riflescope, but I was more taken with the gorgeous leather ottoman offered up by Timpson Creek Gallery. I didn’t win that either. Mr. Madison’s daughter-in-law Jennifer, was the high bidder on that piece. Her feet are probably comfortably propped-up on it this very minute.

    

I did however come away with a hand-made bracelet and one oversized carrot cake. Plus, a newfound appreciation for all this station does for the community. Approximately two hundred 9-1-1 calls are answered annually by the Tallulah-Persimmon department, working with a current roster of only twelve volunteers. Their area of service covers the Northwest region of Rabun County, including Lake Burton up to the North Carolina state line.

Without a doubt my family will be back in attendance at their BBQ fundraiser next year. We’ll be armed with hungry bellies and a handful of cold hard cash. I’m already looking forward to it. Next spring that airplane ride over Rabun County oh-so-generously donated by Joan and Wayne Plaster, is oh-so mine.

https://sites.google.com/site/foxfireboys/

Bald Eagle Thrills Over Burton

Winding north over back roads heading to Lake Burton, the speedometer of my car keeps to the obligatory slow speed limits, but my heart races ahead. Expectations are high. For I know what I shall find. This place has me trained now. Languid rolling mountains in flawless fellowship with emerald waters. And over those waters, the scent of a bonfire wafting through the air, curling down the lake, just as the mist will do tomorrow at dawn. 

Especially enjoyable, the smallish wooden sign nailed to a tree off Lake Burton Dam Road. PRAY, it suggests. Like I’m not already. Is it even possible to lay eyes on this place without one’s soul surging upward in a swish of gratitude? 

But where is the fun, if known expectation can’t be turned on its head, further enlivened? Such was the case this summer during a family afternoon of boating. The kids - three of ‘em, ages nine and under - had worn us down with what seemed like the one-hundredth wakeboard run. We, the parental authorities in charge, had finally exerted veto power, demanding a lunch break. Off to La Prades. An hour later, full, refreshed and recommitted to the day, we clamored back down one of those long docks, piling into our oldie-but-a-goodie bow rider. 

Suddenly at the top of her six-year-old lungs, our daughter shrieked. Shattering the afternoon peace, she hollered, “Bald Eagle!”

Snapping to attention, I whirled in the direction her pointer-finger furiously jabbed. Eyes flashed to the sky, even as my mind zoomed in the opposite direction. No way. She mean a hawk. Maybe a really big hawk. 

But the unmistakable vision, a mere thirty-five yards away begged to differ. Fresh from his hiding place high in the trees, a speeding form raced like a black and white dive bomber. Ebony wings stretched themselves from the biggest raptor body I had ever seen. A fierce white head lead the charge in a nose dive toward the unsuspecting lake. Like a scene straight out of Animal Planet, the creature deftly changed motions at the last second. Propelling underside forward, feet and talons smashed through the surface. Spray erupted wildly. From the restaurant’s patio a chorus of voices sang out in unison. 

“Bald eagle! Bald eagle!” yelled half a dozen people at once.

Perhaps distraction got the better of him. Performing under pressure always a tricky dish no matter what species. In a flash the eagle rose back into the air, empty fisted. Some lucky spotted bass or trout left shaken but alive, free to swim another day. Mesmerized, every head turned in the direction the bird flew. Remembering that for once, the camera was aboard, I lunged for it chaotically, managing to snap a shot. We watched, soundless now, as this iconic raptor elegantly lifted himself higher and higher. His black silhouette pitched vividly against the cloudless, chalky-blue sky.

Euphoria at such a spectacle ran high through the children. My husband and I more quietly, more deeply moved.

“Remember this,” their father told them. “You’ll probably never see it again in your lives.”

But then again, perhaps they might.

After speaking to Mr. Jim Ozier with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, I learned the American Bald Eagle has been on the dramatic increase here in Georgia since 1980. Conservation laws, restoration work and a ban on the pesticide DDT have helped the bald eagle recover from near-extinction.

“This year we counted 143 nesting pairs,” Mr. Ozier told me over the phone. “Georgia’s eagles stick mostly to the coast, but we do hear reports of sightings in the Lake Burton area.”

Of course they do. And really, what’s so unexpected about that? If tired of the usual haunts, an eagle succumbs to wanderlust and happens upon Rabun County, he like the rest of us, would be enchanted. And if, on a lazy afternoon, the mood strikes to do a little fishing, undoubtedly the choice local would be our beloved Lake Burton.

If while enjoying Rabun County, you spy the unexpected, let the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in on your find. Mr. Ozier encourages the public to report all sightings of American Bald Eagle nests and pairs. Contact him at jim.ozier@dnr.state.ga.us or call 478.994.1438

www.kathleenmoorephotography.com

Timpson Creek Gallery. Bring your smelling salts.

Timpson Creek Gallery is a collection of furniture and home decor so beautiful, you might just pass out. Inspirational ideas and outstanding craftsmanship come at you from all angles. Where to look first? Each bed, bench and twisted mountain-laurel shelf is a fantastic stand alone. But it's the creative energy of how they put the showroom together which makes one's heart skip a beat. The place offers a harmonic collection of styles from many genres and time periods. It's a picnic basket of eclectic, mountain and shabby chic offerings all rolled into one. 

But what's truly interesting about Timpson Creek Gallery is the story, the history, behind it. The whole enterprise was the vision of one man, Mr. Dwayne Thompson. Mr. Thompson is Rabun County, Georgia born and bred. He says a large part of influence can be traced back to two high school teachers; as he first developed his woodworking skills in shop class. Hey, that's good news for all you teachers out there, toiling endlessly on today's semi brain-dead youth: a) There's hope. b) Never can tell what's sinking in. With Dwayne, it sunk in. And paid-off.

After college, he was hired by a local furniture company to turn artists' sketches into complete drawings and build prototypes. A few years later, he went out on his own and opened Timpson Creek Gallery. The success of his life's work is staggering: the handmade furniture, eye-popping showroom, year-round art shows. Or how about the "Sticks-N-Stones" dream home he and his wife created - and I say created, not built - for a reason. An ode to master craftsmanship it is. The fabulous rustic-grey exterior clearly visible to all admires from the street. But I won't tell you which one. I will tell you, I get to pat the mailbox as I jog by on weekend runs. It gives me shivers.

Most people who've been to shop class...well, that's it. They've been to shop class. Not Dwayne. You should see for yourself what this man has done with two hands and a truck-load of visionary determination. If you're ever in the Lake Burton area, make sure you stop in at Timpson Creek Gallery, just 7.4 miles - yes, I heart my odometer - west of historic Clayton. Even if nary a purchase is made, the inspirational ideas will stay with you. 

Timpson Creek Gallery a.k.a the shiznit
7142 Hwy 76 West, Clayton, GA 30525
http://www.timpsoncreek.com/