One of the requirements of the Marshall Award is to submit a final report of the project. Today, I sent my report to headquarters. While my inaugural leadership tour is history, I hope that there will be other leadership tours, mini-tours, and journeys in my future.
If you want to review my report, click here. It is also listed on the References page.
Many of you know that I like cows, and I’ve often joked that when I retire, I will stop along the road and take photos of cows as they enjoy their lives in the pastures. This trip did not allow me the time to stop and observe the cows, but I tried to capture them.
Somewhere along the back roads between Morristown and Chattanooga, TN
What really amazed me on this trip was that the ranchers have wading pools for their cows. The first time I saw it, I thought that I was imagining it. However, in the next few photos below, you can clearly see the cows boldly lounging in their pools.
Closer to Chattanooga, TN
Between Chattanooga and Columbia, TN
Amazing! Cow pools.
Guess what the cow below is doing?
Out standing in the field
Between Columbia and Memphis, TN
Cows being harassed by a plane
Closer to Memphis, TN
In western Kentucky
A closer view of the cows above
Cows in southern Indiana
Goats in Indiana (they tricked me)
More cows in Indiana
Cows somewhere between Cleveland and Columbus, OH
Somehow, I feel quite at home in Somerset, KY. Surprisingly, that’s where I have the most photos of cows.
The had signage to keep me out
On the back roads between Somerset and Berea, KY
I always thought that the white wooden fences were for horses, but these cows rated such fine fencing:
Also on the back roads north of Somerset, KY
It was a soggy, rainy day
I was always told that you could tell how long the rain would last by the cows behavior, and I’ve watched enough cows to believe that to be the truth. When it begins to rain, if the cows run for shelter, that means it will be a brief shower. If the cows stay in the fields, then the rains will last a while. These cows were staying in the field:
Tolerating the rain
More cows near Somerset, KY
I like how only the cows are in focus
My last morning in Somerset, KY
Perhaps I have always been observant, but probably not. On this tour, I seemed to notice more than usual. I tried to eat local thing or items that I had not eaten before (except road kill, I hold the line there).
Sign for the pick up location
The food, and they had choices of slaw and beans
Chased rescued this praying mantis
The mantis wanted to fight
He or she seemed to think that I was strange
When I visited Tennessee and Kentucky in August, I was impressed with the number of butterflies. At that time I saw a lot of all yellow butterflies and some black ones. This time I saw a few Monarchs.
Near a reservoir in Tennessee
Dave took me to dinner in Reelfoot, and the lake there was created by an earthquake. In fact, the lake is the only natural lake in the entire state. Since I missed out on catfish last visit, that’s what I had. I also had frog legs for the first time.
Frog’s legs are on the left
For my last evening in Louisville, KY, we had dinner at a restaurant that overlooked the Ohio River. It was a beautiful location, and the food was great.
Dinner at Bristol Bar & Grille in Jeffersonville, IN
Wild turkeys in Indiana
Next to Lake Erie
More birds at Lake Erie
Apparently I spend a lot of time looking up at the sky. I have always liked clouds, and I miss the carefree days of my youth when I could lie in a field and watch clouds float by. (Yes, I really did that.) During the tour, I saw some nice clouds.
On my way to Knoxville, TN
Somewhere between Chattanooga and Columbia, TN
Closer to Columbia, TN
Between Columbia and Memphis, TN
Closer to Memphis, TN
A few minutes later
Heading to Dyersburg, TN
Then when I got to Dyersburg, I finally got to see rain. I had been smelling and anticipating rain for over a week. The rain comes quickly and leaves quickly, and in between it pours. The first few drops on my windshield were quite large.
Finally, rain!
Just as it started raining, I arrived at my motel. I got out of the car and twirled around a few times. A downpour of rain but it was still warm–how exciting! I then walked the ten steps to the motel. The two women there looked at me like I was crazy. I wasn’t insane, just soaked.
Returning from Missouri!
From the parking lot of Jefferson Community & Technical College
After dinner at the Captain’s Quarters in Louisville, KY
On my way to Parma, OH
Fountain at the entrance of Cuyahoga Community College
Between Cleveland and Columbus, OH
Closer to Columbus, OH
Back roads to Columbus, OH
Evening from my motel in Cincinnati, OH
A few minutes later
Back in Kentucky, near Florence
Morning before returning to Somerset, KY
Beautiful morning on the road to Somerset, KY
Drive back from Berea, KY
My last morning in Somerset, KY (for this tour, anyway)
Leadership Tour 