>> ALRIGHT.
DID I DO IT?
WHAT DO I GET?
(LAUGHING) DID I WIN ANYTHING?
>> YOU JUST WENT UP 10 FEET.
(SIGHS)
>> I'M ERICK BAKER,
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE
CROSSING THE SOUTHEAST ON
TOUR AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER,
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZE I WAS
ALWAYS HEADED TO THE NEXT TOWN
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE
SIGHTS ALONG THE WAY.
SO I TEAMED UP WITH MY
FRIEND AERIAL NICOLE
TO CHECK OUT WHAT
WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ THAT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE ♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER
KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU'VE ALWAYS
DREAMED OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTED ♪
>> AS I LOOK BACK OVER MY LIFE,
THE YEARS ARE PUNCTUATED
AT REGULAR INTERVALS
WITH MOMENTS WHERE I
LAID IT ON THE LINE.
THERE WAS THE VALENTINE
I GAVE MY FIRST CRUSH
IN KINDERGARTEN.
THERE WAS THE FIRST GAME I
PLAYED IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
THERE WAS THE FIRST SONG
I WROTE,
WATCHING WHAT FELT LIKE
MESSY MOMENTS FROM MY PAST
STACK SO NEATLY DOWN THE PAGE.
YOU GET THE PICTURE.
THEY MAY NOT BE THE STUFF
OF WAR STORIES,
BUT THEY'RE SIGNIFICANT STILL,
AND I HAVE A THEORY
THAT EVERY TIME
WE LAY SOMETHING ON THE LINE,
TAKING THAT GAMBLE
THAT WE'LL GET THROUGH
TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE,
WE LAY ANOTHER BRICK
IN THE MORTAR
OF WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE.
REGARDLESS OF THE SCALE
OF THE SITUATION,
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO SUMMON
COURAGE WHEN CHALLENGED.
IT NOT ONLY SETS US UP
FOR SUCCESS DOWN THE LINE,
IT HELPS ENSURE WE'RE
OUR BEST SELVES,
EVEN IN OUR WORST CIRCUMSTANCES.
I'VE BEEN TO BRISTOL BEFORE
AND SEEN BOTH SIDES
OF THE CITY THAT STRADDLES
A STATE LINE.
I'VE BEEN ON STAGE
FOR RHYTHM AND ROOTS,
AND LOOKED COOL
BECAUSE OF L.C. KING,
BUT I'VE HONESTLY
NOT STRAYED MUCH
BEYOND THE STREETS
OF THIS SMALL TOWN.
SO ON THIS EPISODE OF
TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTED,
I'M SETTING OUT TO
LOOK BEHIND THE LINE,
IN ORDER TO LEARN
ABOUT THE FOLKS
WHO LAY DOWN EVERYTHING
THEY LOVE ON IT.
RIGHT NOW, I'M IN
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE,
STANDING IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE INFIELD
AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
CHECK IT OUT, HOW COOL!
IF YOU'VE EVER LAID EYES ON
THE BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY,
THEN YOU KNOW THE VISUALS
OF THIS VENUE ARE
AS MESMERIZING AS THE MOTOR
SPORTS THAT GO DOWN INSIDE.
ADD THE ROAR AND RUMBLE
OF RACE DAY,
AND YOU HAVE
A VISCERAL EXPERIENCE
THAT'S VIRTUALLY UNMATCHED.
BUT ALTHOUGH THE OUTCOME OF
MANY OF THE EVENTS HELD HERE
BEGIN AND END ON THE LINE,
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN
LAP TIMES AND TOP SPEEDS
THAT GO INTO LEAVING
A LASTING IMPACT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?
>> I HAVE BEEN AT THE SPEEDWAY
ALMOST 22 YEARS.
>> AND YOU SAID YOU'RE
ORIGINALLY FROM NORTH CAROLINA?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND NOW BRISTOL IS HOME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT,
YEAH, THIS IS HOME.
>> PERSONALLY FOR YOU,
I MEAN, OVER 20 YEARS,
OF BEING HERE AND BEING
IN THIS COMMUNITY,
I MEAN, WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN TO YOU?
>> IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL,
THE TEAM HERE AT BRISTOL,
WE DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY
THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY
AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY,
BUT WE'RE A BIG FISH
IN A SMALL POND, SO TO SPEAK.
YOU HAVE THE LARGEST STADIUM
IN THE COUNTRY, REALLY.
IT'S 150,000 SEATS HERE,
WE'RE COMPLETELY BOWLED IN.
THIS IS A STADIUM, SO THE
LARGEST STADIUM IN THE COUNTRY,
HERE IN LITTLE
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE,
WHICH IS JUST A SPECIAL
PLACE, IT REALLY IS.
WHAT MAKES BRISTOL MOTOR
SPEEDWAY SO SPECIAL
ARE THE PEOPLE IN THIS REGION.
THEY ARE THE MOST HOSPITABLE
PEOPLE YOU'LL MEET
ANYWHERE ON THIS PLANET
THAT GOD CREATED,
WELCOMING THESE RACE FANS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE LAST RACE,
I BELIEVE WE HAD PEOPLE
FROM ALL 50 STATES
AND 26 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
AND, THEY COME TO THIS PLACE
AND THEY'LL MEET THESE PEOPLE
THAT, WHETHER THEY'RE
AT THE GROCERY STORE
OR AT A RESTAURANT
OR AT A HOTEL,
THEY GREET 'EM WITH A SMILE
AND SAY THANKS FOR BEING
HERE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM,
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE
YOU VISITING BRISTOL.
>> BRISTOL'S A SLOW-PACED TOWN,
AND YOU CAN COME HERE TO
THE BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
AND KIND OF SPEED THINGS UP,
RIGHT, DRIVE FAST
FOR A LITTLE BIT
OR WATCH PEOPLE DRIVE FAST.
>> IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE.
>> IN A FEW MONTHS,
THIS IS GONNA BE LIT UP
FOR THE SPEEDWAY IN LIGHTS.
>> YES, IT STARTS JUST
BEFORE THANKSGIVING
AND RUNS THROUGH
THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
AND WE CALL THAT
SPEEDWAY IN LIGHTS.
AND YOU CAN BRING
A CAR, PAY PER CAR,
AND COME DRIVE
THROUGH THOSE LIGHTS.
IT'S BECOME A TREMENDOUS
FAMILY TRADITION
FOR SO MANY THAT COME
FROM OUT OF TOWN,
COME BACK HOME TO VISIT.
THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO
COME THROUGH THE LIGHTS.
>> WELL, AND IT'S BRINGING LIGHT
TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> IT IS.
>> TRULY, I MEAN,
WHICH IS A POWERFUL,
POWERFUL THING.
EVERYTHING THAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE,
SHINING LIGHT INTO
THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN BRISTOL,
AND WE HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL,
AMAZING BRISTOL MOTOR
SPEEDWAY BEHIND US.
TELL ME ABOUT SPEEDWAY
CHILDREN'S CHARITIES.
>> SO WHAT OUR MAIN PURPOSE IS,
IS TO RAISE FUNDS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR
CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATIONS
WHO ARE WORKING ON
THE FRONT LINES WITH KIDS.
SO SHELTER, FOOD,
REHABILITATIVE CARE,
AFTER SCHOOL CARE,
ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
AND WE REALLY JUST RAISE MONEY
TO GIVE IT BACK OUT.
>> IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN,
A LOT OF GREAT PARTNERSHIPS
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> YEAH, ON BEHALF OF TVA,
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE
PARTNERS LIKE THE SPEEDWAY
CHILDREN'S CHARITIES.
>> SO I'M SUPER EXCITED
TO HEAR ABOUT
SPEEDWAY IN LIGHTS.
>> WE ADORN THIS BEAUTIFUL
PROPERTY ABOUT FIVE MILES,
WITH TWINKLING LIGHTS
AND DISPLAYS AND BULBS
SET TO MUSIC, ALL
KINDS OF STUFF,
AND ALL OF THAT MONEY GOES BACK
TO SPEEDWAY
CHILDREN'S CHARITIES.
>> YOU SAID FIVE MILES?
>> ABOUT A FIVE MILE ROUTE,
AND IT FINISHES RIGHT
INSIDE OF THE SPEEDWAY.
>> TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER
WITH THEM ON THIS EVENT,
WHICH SERVES THE NEEDS OF
SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR REGION,
THIS IS A GREAT EVENT,
IT SHOWCASES THE TRACK,
GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE
TO HAVE A REALLY
COOL THING TO DO,
TO ACTUALLY DRIVE
THEIR CAR ON THE TRACK,
SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT LIGHT
DISPLAYS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT CHARITY
BECAUSE ALL THE MONEY
THAT'S RAISED GOES DIRECTLY TO
IMPACT PEOPLE IN OUR REGION.
ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS OF THIS EVENT
ARE COVERED BY THE SPEEDWAY,
SO EVERYTHING THAT
PEOPLE DONATE,
OR THE TICKETS THAT
THEY BUY TO COME
AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT,
ALL THAT MONEY GOES
TO BENEFIT 18 COUNTIES
AROUND THIS REGION, NINE
IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA,
AND NINE IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE.
>> SO 100%?
>> 100% OF WHAT WE RAISE
IS GIVEN BACK OUT
TO ORGANIZATIONS, YES.
>> WOW.
AS A PERFORMER, I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THAT IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT
TO PUT ON A SHOW,
ALTHOUGH MY PITS TEND
TO HOLD HOUSE BANDS
AS OPPOSED TO CAR CREWS.
IN THIS CASE, THE COOPERATIVE
THAT COMES TOGETHER
IS NOTHING SHORT OF STAGGERING,
BECAUSE IF IT TAKES A VILLAGE
TO RAISE A CHILD,
IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
THAT IT TAKES VASTLY MORE
TO RESCUE THEM.
>> I'VE LOST TRACK OF
HOW MANY ROAD TRIPS I'VE SPENT
COUNTING POWER LINES AS THEY
PASS BY THE PASSENGER WINDOW,
BUT AS OBVIOUS AS THESE
ROADSIDE OBSTACLES MAY BE,
MOST OF US HAVE GROWN
OBLIVIOUS TO THEM.
OUTAGES ASIDE, WE'VE LEARNED
TO LOOK PAST THESE LINES
THAT LACE OUR LAND TOGETHER,
AND HAVE COME INSTEAD
TO RELY ON THE FACT
THAT A FLIP OF A SWITCH
IS ALL WE'LL NEED TO
SHED LIGHT ON A SUBJECT,
WITHOUT TRULY QUESTIONING
WHAT'S ON THE LINE.
TODAY, I'VE COME TO
ANSWER THAT VERY QUESTION.
IN FACT, I'M NOT JUST CURIOUS
WHAT IS ON THE LINE, BUT WHO.
SO THESE GUYS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN HERE--
>> 10 WEEKS.
>> 10 WEEKS.
>> IT'S THEIR LAST WEEK
RIGHT HERE.
OF COURSE, NUMBER ONE
BEING THEIR CLIMBING,
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
THE CLIMBING ABILITY.
THEY'LL START DOING JOB TASKS,
WHILE THEY'RE CLIMBING,
AND SO WHEN THEY COME
OUT TO THE FIELD,
THEY'RE LITERALLY
A HAND TO HELP US.
SEE THIS MAN RIGHT HERE
WITH THE HAND LINE?
YOU NEVER LEAVE THE GROUND
WITHOUT A HAND LINE.
THAT'S YOUR RESCUE.
IF YOU RAISE A HAND ON THE POLE,
YOU HAVE A HAND LINE.
IF YOU DROP SOMETHING,
INSTEAD OF CLIMBING BACK DOWN,
YOU GOT A HAND LINE TO
BRING IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
>> WHAT'S WRAPPED AROUND,
WHAT IS THAT CALLED?
>> THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL,
THAT'S THE NEW BUCK SQUEEZE.
IF YOU FALL, THAT CATCHES
YOU, IT CLAMPS THE POLE.
EVERYTHING OUT HERE IS
100% FALL PROTECTION NOW.
THAT'S THEIR LIFELINE,
SO THEY HAVE TO PUT
100% CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY'RE
WEARING TO SAVE THEIR LIFE.
WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE IS
THEM THROWING BASKETBALL,
REACHING OUT AND CATCHING,
USING BOTH HANDS TO THROW IT,
DURING THE CLASS
WE'LL THROW THIS BALL
AND WHEN YOU DROP IT
OR YOU MISS IT
OR YOU MAKE A BAD CATCH,
YOU CLIMB TO THE TOP
AND BACK DOWN.
SO YOU'RE THE LEARNING
THE HARD WAY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO LIKE I SEE THESE
BUCKET TRUCKS AND ALL.
WHY NOT JUST GET
A BUCKET TRUCK UP THERE
IF THEY'RE CLIMBING THE POLE?
>> IF THEY CAN.
IF YOU CAN, WE WILL.
>> OH, SO Y'ALL DO SOME OF THAT.
>> IT'S NOT ODD TO HAVE A BUCKET
AT EVERY STRUCTURE.
YOU MIGHT TAKE AN ATV OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD
WHERE YOU CAN'T GET A BUCKET.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO, CLIMB.
>> SO Y'ALL ARE IN A LOT
OF REMOTE AREAS.
>> ANYTHING YOU THINK
OF, WE'VE GOT IT.
IF YOU CAN SEE,
LOOKING AT ALL THEM
THIS IS THEIR 10TH WEEK
INTO THIS PROGRAM.
>> WHAT IS THE FIRST DAY LIKE?
>> FIRST DAY IS 10 FOOT
AND DOWN.
LEARNING HOW TO STEP
AND STEP INTO THE POLE.
>> OKAY I THINK THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD GOAL FOR ME.
>> A REAL GOOD GOAL.
>> IT TAKES QUITE A FEW STEPS
TO CLIMB TO THE TOP
OF A POWER POLE,
BUT IT TAKES FOUR YEARS WORTH
OF TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIP
TO TAKE ON TASKS THAT ARE
SOMEHOW EVEN MORE DAUNTING.
WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART OF THIS?
>> CLIMBING?
>> YEAH.
>> PHYSICAL BUT ALL YOU CAN SAY.
>> I'VE JUST TAKING ONE STEP.
(LAUGHTER)
I'M ALREADY BREATHING
HEAVY, FOLKS,
AND I'VE HAVEN'T JUST TAKEN
ONE STEP UP THIS POLE.
>> SO YOU ALWAYS
WANT YOUR BUTT OUT,
THAT MEANS YOUR HOOKS
ARE GOING IN.
>> BUTT OUT.
(GRUNTING)
>> THERE YOU GO.
FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> PUT A BELT ON?
>> YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
OH I'M GLAD I DIDN'T WORK OUT
THIS MORNING, BOYS,
I'LL BE HONEST.
OH MAN, THAT'S GONNA
BE EVEN HARDER.
I MEAN, THAT IS
HEAVY, HEAVY STUFF.
>> YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR
ELBOW IN YOUR STOMACH
AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
JUST BARELY TOUCH THE POLE.
THAT'S YOUR DISTANCE, YOU'RE
GONNA STAY THERE ALL THE TIME.
LEGS LOCKED ALL THE TIME.
HERE.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS ONE HERE.
>> OKAY.
CLAMP THIS A LITTLE
BIT AND FLIP IT UP.
THERE YOU GO.
>> OKAY.
OH BOY.
THIS IS A LONG WAY DOWN, Y'ALL.
>> TAKE ONE STEP, ANOTHER STEP,
AND FLIP YOUR SAFETY
AT THE SAME TIME.
OH BOY.
>> STEP TO YOUR RIGHT.
>> THAT IS MULTI-TASKING.
SHOOT.
RIGHT, TWO, THREE, DUTY HOP.
LIFT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEN REPEAT.
(GRUNTING)
>> OKAY.
>> YOU MADE IT FOUR FOOT.
(LAUGHING)
RIGHT, LEFT.
LIFT.
RIGHT, ALMOST, RIGHT, LEFT.
>> PUT YOUR HAND ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THAT THERE.
PULL YOURSELF UP JUST LITTLE BIT
AND PUSH THE BROWN STRAP
AT THE SAME TIME.
>> IT'S A LOT OF, UH...
>> THERE YOU GO.
YOU GOT IT.
>> MAN, Y'ALL, I WISH Y'ALL
COULD FEEL MY HEARTBEAT,
I BET YOU COULD HEAR IT.
>> I CAN SEE YOUR LEGS SHAKING.
>> ALRIGHT, LET'S KEEP GOING.
BOOTY OUT, RIGHT, LEFT.
>> YOU WANNA TRY TO
COME DOWN FIRST,
BEFORE YOU GET UP THERE?
>> THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
YEAH I'M SURE,
HAS THAT HAPPENED,
SOMEBODY GETS UP AND THEN
LIKE HOW DO I GET DOWN?
WHOO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE
TO GO TO 40, I'LL BE HONEST.
BEER'S ON ME.
>> YOU READY TO GO DOWN NOW?
>> I AM, YES.
>> LET'S GO GET
ONE OF THEM BEERS.
>> I AM READY, OKAY.
I KNOW.
(GRUNTING)
WHERE YOU GUYS GOING?
I'M GONNA BE FEELING
THIS TOMORROW.
OH YES.
GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE GROUND.
THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON TO
KEEPING YOUR LIGHTS ON, FOLKS.
BELIEVE THAT.
(EXHALING)
>> AFTER HANGING OUT IN
THE HARNESS OF THE FOLKS WHOSE
LIVELIHOODS LAY ON THE LINE,
I'LL NEVER LOOK AT LIGHTS OR
ELECTRICITY QUITE THE SAME WAY.
I'VE HONESTLY BEEN
HUMBLED HERE TODAY
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
I'LL HOLD ONTO, TIGHTLY,
FOR A LONG TIME.
>> I WENT FLY FISHING FOR
THE FIRST TIME BACK IN SEASON 2.
ADMITTEDLY, FISHING
WASN'T MY FAVORITE THING,
SO DABBLING WITH
SOMETHING SO DELICATE
DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A DELIGHTFUL
WAY TO SPEND THE DAY.
BUT I SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS
ON A STREAM IN THE SMOKIES
WITH A GUIDE WHO HAD REALLY
GOTTEN INTO NATIVE TROUT,
TINY LITTLE GUYS,
12 INCHES OR LESS.
THAT FIRST DAY,
HE STALKED AND STOOPED,
TURNED OVER STONES,
STARED AT SUNBEAMS,
AND SEARCHED FOR
SEAMS IN THE STREAM,
UNTIL I WAS HANGING ON BY
WHAT FELT LIKE A THREAD.
BUT SURE ENOUGH, AS SOON AS MY
ELK HAIR CADDIS TOUCHED DOWN,
THE WATER BURST AND BOILED
AND MY LINE WENT RUNNING.
I FELT THE TUG, A FIGHT,
LIKE I'D NEVER BEFORE.
AND BEFORE I EVEN HAD THE
FISH REELED INTO MY NET,
I WASN'T SURE WHICH ONE
OF US WAS HOOKED MORE.
IT ONLY TOOK ONE TRIP
FOR ME TO SET OFF,
FOREVER SEARCHING FOR WHAT WAS
ON THE OTHER END OF MY LINE.
BUT, LIKE I SAID,
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY,
I LOST TRACK OF WHO
WAS CATCHING WHO.
>> THIS IS A GEM RIGHT HERE.
WE COULD NOT BE MORE LUCKY TO BE
STANDING ON THE
BANKS OF THIS RIVER.
IT'S ONE OF THE TOP 10 TROUT
RIVERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
LAST WEEK, I HAD TWO
GUYS COME ALL THE WAY
FROM BEVERLY HILLS TO FISH HERE.
>> WHOA.
>> I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE
COMING FROM EVERYWHERE,
JUST TO COME SEE
WHAT WE GOT RIGHT
HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
THERE'S FISH HERE, I'M
GONNA SHOW 'EM TO YOU,
BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE
WEARING THE SHIRT,
'CAUSE LOOKING THE PART'S
HALF THE BATTLE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, LOOK AT THIS.
I'M A FISHING MAN.
THIS IS AS CLOSE TO
A FISHERMAN AS I GET.
>> YOU'RE SPORTING THE
RIGHT THREADS HERE,
SO YOU'RE GOOD.
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
WELL MAN, I'M READY.
>> DUDE, I CAN'T WAIT.
LET'S GET IN THE BOAT.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> LET'S DO IT, MAN.
>> THESE ARE MY STRETCHES,
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE?
>> OH YEAH, THAT'S DEADLY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT I'M GONNA TELL YOU ALL DAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL
CALL THIS A BOBBER,
BUT IT IS IN FACT NOT A BOBBER.
IT'S AN INDICATOR.
>> OKAY.
>> LET'S US KNOW WHEN THE FISH
HAS TAKEN OUR FLIES,
IT'S INDICATING THAT.
>> THAT'S A FANCY,
SOUNDS SO MUCH FANCIER.
>> AND THEN HERE WE HAVE,
THIS IS A SULPHUR NYMPH.
IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF YELLOW,
A HOT SPOT HERE ON ITS BACK,
THAT'S SHOWING THAT A FLY,
A NYMPH, IS HATCHING,
IT'S GETTING READY TO
TURN INTO A DRY FLY.
THEY'RE VERY EASY MEALS
AT THAT POINT FOR THE FISH.
WE MIGHT CHANGE THOSE AS WE GO,
BUT I GOT A GOOD FEELING
ABOUT THESE.
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE USING,
NOW HOW DO YOU USE IT?
SO THESE FISH ARE IN THE RIVER
AND THEY'RE POINTING
UPSTREAM, OKAY,
THEY'RE WAITING FOR STUFF
TO FLOAT BY 'EM,
TO REACH OUT AND GRAB
AND THEN GO BACK TO THEIR SPOT.
SO I'M GONNA CAST UPSTREAM,
I'M GONNA LET MY FLY SINK,
HOPEFULLY THE FISH RIGHT
IN HERE WILL EAT IT,
IT'LL MOVE THAT INDICATOR
AND WE'LL SET THE HOOK.
>> ALRIGHT.
>> YOU GOT THIS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO RIGHT HERE
IS SWITCH SIDES OF THE BOAT
OR YOU CAN LAND THAT FISH.
>> OH.
>> OH!
>> OH.
>> HEY, HAD ONE,
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.
(LAUGHING)
>> I THOUGHT I WAS HUNG.
>> ALRIGHT, LET'S GO
RIGHT OVER HERE ON OUR RIGHT.
>> THAT WAS A FISH.
>> GOT A LITTLE HOLE
RIGHT HERE ON THE RIGHT.
>> WELL MY JOB'S DONE.
>> YOU'RE DONE.
GET IN THERE, KEEP THAT
DOG HUNTING, HERE WE GO.
>> OOH, SOMETHING CAME UP TO IT.
>> THERE GET SET, ATTA BOY,
AW, ALRIGHT, ONE MORE TIME.
>> OKAY, I'M GOING
LIKE THIS AND THEN.
>> BEAUTIFUL,
LOOK AT HIM.
>> THE LEAST COMFORTABLE
LOOKING CAST ON THE PLANET.
>> DUDE, THAT WAS GREAT.
THERE HE IS.
>> FLY FISHING MAKES ME NERVOUS,
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
>> BUT HERE'S THE THING,
WE'RE OUT HERE TO HAVE FUN.
HEY, YOU KNOW WHO
MATTHEW MCCOONAUGHEY IS?
>> I DO.
>> YOU DO, YOU'VE SEEN HIM.
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
>> OH, IS THAT WHAT
YOU WERE GETTING AT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
OKAY, ALRIGHT.
PARTY AT THE MOONTOWER?
>> YEAH MAN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
ANYTHING GOING ON OUT HERE.
WE'RE NOT WORKING,
WE'RE OUT HERE TO RELAX,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN.
>> YES.
>> TANGLES ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
I'M NOT GONNA GET UPSET,
ARE YOU GONNA GET UPSET?
>> UH, NO.
>> NO'S YOUR ANSWER.
'CAUSE NEXT TIME
YOU GET A TANGLE,
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
>> I GOTTA START BREATHING.
I MEAN, I CAN FEEL THE TENSION
IN ME AND EVERYTHING
AND I CAN FEEL THAT NERVOUSNESS
AND THAT WILL TO NOT
WANT TO SUCK AT THIS.
>> GOTTA BE RELAXED.
>> YEAH.
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> OH, OH, THERE HE IS,
ATTA BOY, YEAH!
>> ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT,
ALRIGHT, OH!
>> FISH GOT A LITTLE
RETRIBUTION RIGHT THERE.
>> WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT,
WE'RE LUCKY HERE
IN THE SOUTHEAST
WITH THOUSANDS UPON
THOUSANDS OF MILES OF RIVER,
CUT LIKE CREASES AND CRINKLES
ACROSS THE TOPOGRAPHY.
AND FOR MANY OF THEM,
THEY'RE JUST A FEW CASTS AWAY
FROM CATCHING A GLIMPSE
OF THE WORLD
THAT LIVES BENEATH
THEIR STAINED SURFACE.
THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING
SPECIAL ABOUT A FISH BITE MAN.
THE RUSH OF ENERGY
AND EXCITEMENT.
>> C'MON, FISH.
FIND THOSE FLIES.
FIND THOSE FLIES.
THERE YA GO, KEEP ON DRAGGING IT
JUST LIKE YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE DOING PERFECT,
OH THERE, GET SET!
THERE IT IS, YOU GOT 'EM!
NICE! BROWN TROUT.
>> YES!
>> WELL DONE, YES SIR.
>> YES!
>> NICE, LOOK AT THAT.
>> FINALLY, THE DAY IS MINE!
FIRST OF THE DAY, RIGHT THERE.
SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> ALRIGHT.
>> NOW THAT WE GOT ONE IN
THE BOAT, I CAN RELAX.
>> PRESSURES OFF.
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT ALRIGHT.
>> BRING IT IT, ALRIGHT.
LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
>> ME AND MY BEST FRIEND
JIMMY GOING FISHING.
>> HE CANNOT BE STOPPED.
>> I CAN'T BE STOPPED.
>> ALRIGHT, ON YOUR RIGHT.
SO WE'VE CAUGHT TWO FISH
AND WE'VE GOT
DIVERSITY IT SEEMS,
SO CHECK 'EM OUT.
WE GOT A RAINBOW.
>> HELLO, NEW FRIEND.
WELCOME TO THE BOAT.
>> PRETTY FISH,
PRETTY, PRETTY FISH.
>> AWESOME.
>> IT'S HARD TO HAVE
A BAD DAY OUT HERE.
>> WHEN THIS IS DONE,
ME AND YOU SHOULD
GET A HOUSE BOAT TOGETHER
AND WE SHOULD JUST LIVE
ON A HOUSE BOAT,
YOU KNOW, JUST BEST FRIENDS.
>> THAT'S WHAT BEST FRIENDS DO.
>> THEY DO, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND WE CAN GO ON RIVER
BOAT GAMBLING TRIPS,
MAKE OUR OWN BEEF JERKY.
>> OH DID YOU JUST READ MY MIND?
>> YES SIR, LAY THAT DOWN,
THAT'S IT, ALRIGHT.
>> SO AFTER A MASTERFUL
CAST LIKE THAT.
>> SET BABY, YEAH BABY!
>> YES!
>> YEAH, HECK YEAH.
I'M SORRY, YOU WERE SAYING
AFTER A MASTERFUL CAST,
I LOST YOU AFTER MASTERFUL CAST.
ALRIGHT, WELL DONE DUDE, NICE.
>> YES.
SO SPEAKING OF MASTERFUL CASTS,
THE TIMING WAS PERFECT.
>> IT WAS.
AND BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE.
>> ALRIGHT.
>> FISHY FIVE.
>> FISHY FIVE.
>> RIGHT ON, DUDE, GOOD JOB.
>> GOTTA PUT SOME MORE ON HERE.
THAT'S SOME EXTRA MUSK SO THE
FISH WILL BE ATTRACTED THERE.
GOLLY, MAYBE IT'S
NOT JUST THE SHIRT.
I ACTUALLY AM KIND
OF A FISHERMAN TODAY.
I MEAN, TODAY HAS BEEN...
>> THAT'S PROBABLY WHY
YOU'RE A GOOD MUSICIAN.
>> HAS BEEN AWESOME.
WELL I MEAN, THERE'S PARTS
OF THAT I GUESS THAT IT'S GOOD.
OUT HERE, FIRST THING, YOU'RE
LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN,
WHO CARES IF WE CATCH ANYTHING,
AND I'M LIKE YEAH
WHATEVER, JIMMY.
I WANNA CATCH SOME FISH.
JUST TALKING ABOUT BRISTOL
AS A COMMUNITY
AND YOU SAID YOU TOOK
IT FOR GRANTED AS A KID,
WHAT DOES THIS RIVER MEAN
TO THE BRISTOL COMMUNITY?
>> IT IS HUGE, IT REALLY IS.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
THAT THIS RIVER HAS ON OUR AREA.
>> CAUSE YOU SAID
PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING IN
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?
>> ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE
SPENDING MONEY TO FISH.
THE THINGS THAT WE OVERLOOK
ARE THEIR LODGING,
THEIR MEALS, THEIR GAS,
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING.
THEY'RE BUYING THAT AND
THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY,
IT'S STAYING IN OUR COMMUNITY,
WHICH IS HUGE FOR US.
AND NOT EVEN OUR GOAL,
BUT OUR PRIVILEGE
IS JUST TO SHARE THAT
WITH EVERYONE, TRULY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES SIR.
LET'S DO SOME FISHING.
>> ALRIGHT.
SORRY I'M TALKING.
>> FLY FISHING ISN'T
THE ONLY FAVORITE
I FOUND WHILE HOSTING THIS SHOW.
I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT
I WOULD'VE EVENTUALLY
TAKEN THE STEPS TO SKYDIVE
OR SIGNED UP TO HANG GLIDE
ALL ON MY OWN.
BUT SOMETIMES OUR GREATEST
DISCOVERIES IN LIFE
SEEM TO BE PREORDAINED.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE WEIR DAM
NEAR OSCEOLA ISLAND
WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 1991,
THE INTENT WASN'T TO CREATE
ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST
AMPHIBIAN HABITATS
IN THE SOUTHEAST.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
IT WAS A HAPPY COINCIDENCE,
GIVEN THAT SOME AMPHIBIANS,
LIKE SALAMANDERS,
FIND THEMSELVES IMPERILED
IN OUR EVER-EXPANDING
MODERN WORLD.
SO WHEN THE ROAD THREATENED
THE TRYSTS THAT WERE
TAKING PLACE,
A UNIQUE TUNNEL OF LOVE UNFOLDED
AS AN UNORTHODOX SOLUTION.
>> WE'VE GOT SEVERAL SPECIES
OF SALAMANDERS
THAT LIVE IN THIS FOREST,
BUT THEY LAY THEIR EGGS
IN A POOL THAT'S ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
SO THE PROBLEM IS EVERY TIME
THEY GO TO LAY THEIR EGGS,
THEY'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS
THIS ROAD AT NIGHT,
ON RAINY NIGHTS.
SO THE TUNNEL GIVES THEM
AN OPTION TO GO UNDER THE ROAD
AND THEY DON'T RUN THE RISK
OF BEING HIT BY A CAR.
>> INTERESTING, HOW DO THEY
EVEN KNOW THAT IT'S HERE?
>> WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY STUDYING
THIS AREA FOR 20 YEARS,
SO WE'VE GOT DATA THAT SHOWS
THE NUMBER OF THESE ANIMALS
THAT WERE CROSSING SUCCESSFULLY
AND ON SOME SPECIES,
THEY'RE DOING GREAT.
ONE OF OURS, THE MARBLED
SALAMANDER THOUGH,
ITS NUMBERS HAVE
DROPPED CONSIDERABLY
AND PART OF THE PROBLEM
IS DROUGHT ISSUES
AND THE OTHER PROBLEM
IS ROAD MORTALITY.
WE WANNA GET THE DATA
AND SEE HOW IT WORKS
AND IF IT WORKS AND WE CAN SHOW
THE BENEFITS,
WHICH WE'RE SURE WE WILL,
THEN THE POTENTIAL IS
TO ADD TWO MORE
TO BASICALLY ENCOMPASS
THIS ENTIRE FORESTED AREA,
SO ALL THESE ANIMALS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GO UNDER THE ROAD THIS WAY.
>> ALRIGHT, WAIT, HERE WE
PAUSE AND WE CAN WATCH
THIS VEHICLE USE
THE TUNNEL RIGHT?
ALRIGHT, HERE IT IS IN USE.
WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
>> WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
IT DOES.
SO THAT'S GOTTA MAKE
YOU PROUD, RIGHT?
>> IT IS, IT'S GONNA
BE REALLY EXCITING WHEN WE SEE
THE FIRST ANIMALS GO THROUGH.
>> WAS THIS YOUR IDEA?
>> THESE HAVE BEEN USED IN
THE NORTHEAST FOR AMPHIBIANS.
IN FLORIDA, THEY'VE BEEN USED
FOR REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS,
SO IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT.
LISTEN, THESE ANIMALS, THEY'RE
HUGE LINKS IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
BUT STILL SOMETIMES THAT'S
HARD TO SELL SOMEBODY
TO SEE THEIR BENEFIT.
ONE OF THE ANIMALS WE WORK WITH
THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
USE THIS TUNNEL
IS THE FOUR-TOED SALAMANDER
AND THE NEAT THING
ABOUT THESE ANIMALS
IS THEY LAY THEIR EGGS
IN MOSS ABOVE THE WATER.
THEY'RE KIND OF IN
THESE REALLY DAMP
AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS AND IF
ANYTHING GROWS ON THEIR EGG,
ANY KIND OF FUNGUS OR
ANYTHING, IT KILLS IT.
SO THE MOTHER SALAMANDER,
SHE WEAVES EVERYDAY
THROUGH HER EGGS AND RUBS
SECRETION OFF HER BODY
ONTO THE EGGS AND IT KEEPS
THE MOLD FROM GROWING.
SO WHEN SCIENTISTS HAVE
KIND OF RESEARCHED THAT,
FIGURED HOW DOES THAT WORK,
THEY PRODUCE A CHEMICAL
THAT KEEPS THE CELL
FROM DIVIDING,
THE MOLD SPORE FROM DIVIDING,
SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT
FOLKS LOOKING AT THIS.
Y'KNOW, IF YOU CAN STOP
A CELL FROM DIVIDING,
THAT'S BASICALLY A POTENTIAL
WAY TO ATTACK CANCER.
>> WOW.
>> THE OTHER GREAT THING
ABOUT THESE ANIMALS IS
THEY CAN LOSE TOES,
THEY CAN LOSE TAILS,
THEY CAN LOSE ENTIRE LIMBS,
THEY CAN HALF THEIR HEART,
AND NOT ONLY NOT DIE,
BUT THEY REGROW IT,
SO THERE'S SOME GREAT
IMPLICATIONS THERE
FOR HUMAN MEDICINE,
SO THEY'RE IMPORTANT ANIMALS.
WE NEED 'EM AND WE NEED 'EM
HERE SO WE CAN STUDY THEM
AND HOPEFULLY BENEFIT PEOPLE
IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE SALAMANDER'S A SUPERHERO.
>> THEY'RE A SUPERHERO.
>> HEY, LEAD THE WAY MAN,
LET'S SEE THESE POOLS.
I ENVISIONED, YOU KNOW,
ONE PERSON STUMBLING ON IT
AND THEN GOING AND
THEY REALIZE LIKE
PSST PSST, HEY DO YOU THINK,
HAVE YOU HEARD
THERE'S A NEW POOL,
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
>> INSTEAD OF A FIELD OF DREAM,
IT'S A POND OF A DREAM,
YOU KNOW?
YOU BUILD IT, THEY COME,
THEY COME QUICKLY.
ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S SEE IF
I CAN GET US SOME TADPOLES.
AND IS IT ALRIGHT THAT I'M
GETTING SOME MUD IN THERE?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
WE'LL SEE THEY'VE GOTTEN BIG.
THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL IN HERE.
AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY
GRAY TREE FROG TADPOLES.
>> WHOA, LOOK AT THAT.
AND WITHOUT THIS POOL,
THESE GUYS WOULD NOT EXIST.
>> NOT THIS LATE
IN THE SEASON, NO.
>> THAT'S A POWERFUL THING.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
BY TVA HELPING THIS
TO CONSTRUCT THESE,
WE'RE NOW GONNA HAVE
A YEARLY OPPORTUNITY
FOR ALL THESE ANIMALS
TO COME IN AND BREED.
>> SO COOL, MAN.
MAN, YOU GUYS GET BIG AND STRONG
AND BE AWESOME FROGS, ALRIGHT?
IT TOOK DOLLARS, TIME,
HARD WORK, AND PLANNING
TO PUT SOMETHING
LIKE THIS IN PLACE
BUT THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS.
LAYING IT ALL ON THE LINE
FOR THE THINGS THAT
ULTIMATELY MATTER IN THE END,
EVEN IF THERE'S A ROADBLOCK
IN YOUR WAY.
THE LANDSCAPE AROUND BRISTOL IS
UNDENIABLY EASY
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH
AND IN STEPPING OUTSIDE
THE CITY LIMITS ON THIS TRIP,
I SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WORK
SO MANY HOURS TO PROTECT IT.
AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING,
THERE'S AN ENDLESS
NUMBER OF WAYS
WE CAN LAY IT ON THE LINE
FOR THE THINGS, PEOPLE,
OR PLACES WE LOVE.
I'VE SEEN JUST A FEW
EXAMPLES ON THIS ADVENTURE
BUT ULTIMATELY EACH REMINDED ME
IT'S NOT ALWAYS HOW
WE LAY IT ON THE LINE,
BUT THAT WE LAY IT
ON THE LINE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
