Cummins Falls, Blackburn Fork, Cummins Falls State Park, Jackson County, Tennessee 6

I took this photo the first day of school on my last semester of graduate school. I got up early, met a friend, and went to the park hoping to both beat the incoming snow storm, and be able to make it to class at 9am on time.

The trek to the waterfall includes a few river crossings, which if one is prepared aren't difficult even in the winter. I wore boots I didn't mind getting wet, and had thick polypro base layers on. My camera gear was safely stowed inside a Pelican case. At the first river crossing I fell in. Full on swimming in the river in January. I pulled myself out and carried on.

The light and water conditions were perfect, and I got caught up in the moment before realizing that I was cutting it close to making it to class on time. We left, the snow came, the roads froze, and driving conditions became dangerous.

At the last minute my friend dropped me off in front of the Math, Physics, and Computer Science building at the university. Soaking wet head to toe I bolted to the fourth floor with just minutes to spare. I tossed my backpack down and apologized to the teacher. I ran to the bathroom and changed into dry clothes arriving only a moment after class officially began.

This tomfoolery was commonplace at my home on campus, the Earth Science department. But here in Math, Physics, and Computer Science there was no precedent. I am not sure anyone there was amused with my antics, but I am, and that's really all that matters :)

Done