>> OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,
LOT'S OF APPAREL, SHOES, HATS,
BELTS, ACCESSORIES,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
>> THE MEN'S SECTION
IS NICE BACK HERE.
WHOOPS, ARE YOU OKAY?
>> OKAY (LAUGHING)
>> 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'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ IT'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 ♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IF YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT ME,
THEN YOU'VE LIKELY
PICKED UP ON THE FACT THAT
I'M A FITNESS FANATIC.
BEING ACTIVE AND EARNING ACHES
IS OFTEN HOW I DEFINE
A GOOD TIME, AND FOR MANY YEARS
THAT BELIEF WAS BUILT
ON A FOUNDATION OF FIRM ROUTINES
AND FLAVORLESS FOODS.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS,
TRUE HEALTH IS BASED
ON BALANCE, I RECENTLY READ
THAT EXERCISE IS A CELEBRATION
OF WHAT YOU CAN DO, NOT
A PUNISHMENT FOR WHAT YOU ATE.
AND EVER SINCE, I'VE TRIED
TO TAKE THE INTENT OF THESE
WORDS INTO EVERY TASK I TAKE ON.
LET ME TELL YOU,
IT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE.
IN JUST A SHORT TIME,
I'VE STARTED SEEING
EVERYTHING AS A CELEBRATION.
WORK, EXCUSE ME WHILE
I CELEBRATE WHAT I CAN CREATE.
EXERCISE, ALLOW ME TO CELEBRATE
WHAT I CAN ACCOMPLISH.
FOOD, DON'T MIND IF I TAKE
A BITE OUT OF THE BOUNTY
THIS WORLD BRINGS.
I SAY ALL THIS TO EXPLAIN
A SIMPLE QUOTE REALLY
CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE,
AND WHEN I STARTED LOOKING
AT LIFE THROUGH A NEW LENS,
I REALIZED I COULD CONSTANTLY
BE GORGING ON WHAT LIFE
HAS TO GIVE, GOOD OR BAD.
ALL WHILE BEING MY BEST SELF
IN THE PROCESS.
SO ON THIS EPISODE OF
TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTED,
I'M GORGING ON WHAT NORTHEAST
ALABAMA HAS TO OFFER,
AND TO GET STARTED I'M
HEADED OFF TO OPEN UP
A MIXED BAG AS OPPOSED
TO PACKING ONE.
>> WELCOME TO SCOTTSBORO,
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WELCOME TO
UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER.
YOU ARE IN THE HOME OF
THE LAND OF LOST LUGGAGE.
WE ARE THE ONLY PLACE IN AMERICA
THAT BUYS AND RESELLS
UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE,
AND LET'S WHAT AND TALK,
AND SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
>> YEAH, I'M READY.
>> SO THE BUSINESS
ACTUALLY STARTED
ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO,
IN A SMALL TWO BEDROOM HOUSE
WHERE MR. OWENS RENTED
AND SORTED THROUGH THE ITEMS
THAT HE BOUGHT FROM
A BUS LINE BACK IN THE DAY.
>> OKAY.
>> AND BY THE MID '70'S HE
REALIZED HE WAS ONTO SOMETHING,
SO HE MOVED TO THE PROPERTY
WHERE WE ARE NOW,
AND STARTED APPROACHING
THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY,
AND BY THE MID 70'S WE WERE
MUCH LARGER THAN THE SMALL
TWO BEDROOM HOUSE WE STARTED
OFF IN, AND HAD THESE FANTASTIC
LONG TERM EXPLOSIVE CONTRACTS
WITH THE CARRIERS TO BUY
THEIR UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE.
SO WE ARE 40 THOUSAND SQUARE
FEET OF UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE.
>> THIS BUILDING IS HUGE.
>> IT IS.
>> SO I KNOW Y'ALL KINDS
OF GOOD STUFF IN HERE TOO.
>> IT IS. (LAUGHING)
SO THERE'S APPAREL AND SHOES,
EYEGLASSES, SUNGLASSES,
BOOKS, THERE'S SOME
FANTASTIC ELECTRONICS.
SO SOME OF OUR FOUND TREASURES,
WHICH ARE SOME OF THE REALLY
UNIQUE AND INTERESTING THINGS
THAT WE'VE GOTTEN
IN OVER THE YEARS,
ARE SHOWCASED ON THE UPPER
WALLS AROUND OUR STORE.
SO THERE'S WOODEN SNOWSHOES,
AND A TURTLE SHELL.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE THAT
A GUEST LET US BORROW FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS, IT WAS
PROBABLY THREE FEET LARGE.
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH, WITH
BARNACLES STILL ON IT.
>> OH WOW.
>> HE HAD BOUGHT IT
BACK IN THE '70'S.
>> WOW.
>> AND HE HAD IT DISPLAYED
IN HIS POOL HOUSE
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
>> THOSE HAD TO COME FROM, LIKE,
NOT YOUR AVERAGE TRAVELER.
>> WELL, AND THAT'S THE THING,
YOU SIT ON THE PLANE AND YOU
LOOK AROUND, AND YOU GO, THESE
ARE PRETTY NORMAL PEOPLE.
>> YEAH, I GUESS YOU
NEVER KNOW, THAT'S TRUE,
WHO'S BRINGING WHAT
ON THE PLANE.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY
COMES IN DAILY?
>> WELL, WE STOCK
TO OUR SALES FLOOR
CLOSE TO 7000
UNIQUE ITEMS A DAY.
KEEP IN MIND, THERE ARE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS
AND THEY ARE CARRYING
PROBABLY MORE THAN ONE BAG.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> AND YOU'RE TRYING
TO PACK AS MUCH INTO IT
AS YOU CAN.
>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.
>> SO WHEN YOU TAKE
THAT VERY SMALL PERCENT,
AND WE'RE ONE STORE,
WE'RE NOT MULTIPLE STORES,
IN MAJOR MARKETS, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE
AN EFFORT TO GET HERE.
AND THEY DO, WE'RE ONE OF
THE TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS
IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.
>> THAT'S SO COOL.
>> NEARLY A MILLION
VISITORS A YEAR COME.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A GOLDEN
DIAMOND BRACELET IN OUR
SHOWCASE THAT APPRAISES FOR,
YOU READY FOR IT...
>> OH GOSH.
>> $42,000 DOLLARS.
>> OH MY GOSH, HOW DID THEY
NOT TRY TO FIND THAT BRACELET?
>> WELL MY GUESS IS,
IF YOU COULD AFFORD A $42,000
BRACELET, YOU COULD PROBABLY
AFFORD ANOTHER ONE
WITH YOUR INSURANCE PAYOUT.
>> THAT'S TRUE, YEAH.
>> OR, BUY A BOAT,
AND BUY A SMALLER PIECE
OF JEWELRY. (LAUGHING)
THAT'S MY THINKING, I'M LIKE,
WHAT ELSE CAN I GET FOR THIS?
>> OH MY GOD I WOULD CRY IF I
LOST SOMETHING THAT EXPENSIVE.
BACK INTO THE MEN'S SECTION?
>> YOU KNOW, WE SAY
A LOT OF TIMES THIS IS
THE BEST VALUE IN THE STORE,
PARTICULARLY WITH
THE MEN'S SUITS.
BECAUSE SUITS ARE SO EXPENSIVE.
>> THEY ARE.
>> AND SO WE
HAVE LOT'S OF BLAZERS,
LOT'S OF FULL SUITS.
>> OH, THAT'S A GOOD RACK TO
HIT UP, A LITTLE EXTRA SAVINGS.
>> OH YES, SOME EXTRA
GOOD STUFF OUT HERE.
BUT THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT
THAT I ALSO REFERRED TO AS
WILD KINGDOM, WE HAVE
OUR STUFFED GOOSE,
AND WHALE VERTEBRAE
>> IS THAT YOUR SNAKE SKIN?
>> OUR SNAKESKIN, YES.
(LAUGHING)
YOU THINK, THERE HAD TO BE
A SNAKE IN THERE AT SOME POINT.
>> I REALLY THOUGHT
OF SNAKES ON A PLANE.
>> OH, I HAVEN'T TOLD
YOU THE BEST ONE YET.
WE HAVE HAD A LIVE RATTLESNAKE
COME IN BEFORE.
>> IN A SUITCASE?
>> YES, IT WAS YEARS AGO, IT
NEVER MADE IT TO THE SALES FLOOR
BUT YES, WE HAD A LIVE
RATTLESNAKE.
>> OH MY GOSH, I WOULD
HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I'VE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT
I COULD LEARN ABOUT THE PEOPLE
AROUND ME, IF SAY,
I WAS A FLY ON THE WALL.
OR COULD HEAR THEIR
INNER MONOLOGUE.
BUT THE THOUGHT NEVER
CROSSED MY MIND WHAT INSIGHT
I WOULD GAIN IF I KNEW WHAT
WAS INSIDE THEIR LUGGAGE.
TSA, IF I'D ONLY KNOWN.
IT MAKES SENSE THOUGH, THESE
ARE THE ITEMS THAT WHEN
WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE
THE COMFORTS OF HOME,
WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT.
BUT SADLY, IN THIS SITUATION,
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY WERE ULTIMATELY SEPARATED,
NEVER TO SEE ONE ANOTHER AGAIN,
STILL A PLACE LIKE THIS
PUTS A LITTLE MEANING
TO THAT PREDICAMENT,
LENDING NEW LIFE TO WHAT WAS
OTHERWISE WAS NEVER TO BE FOUND.
AND GIVEN THAT I'M
ALL ABOUT BARGAINS,
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
I CAN DRINK IN THE DEALS,
AND GORGE ON THE GOODS,
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
(SOFT MUSIC)
>> AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,
I THINK THERE'S A BEAUTY
TO BALANCE WHICH IS WHY I TRY
TO EMBRACE THE THINGS
THAT EXCITE ME AS MUCH AS
THE THINGS THAT INTIMIDATE ME.
TUMBLING ROCK CAVE MAY
HAVE GOTTEN IT'S NAME
FROM THE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES
WE'RE ABOUT TO GAZE,
BUT GLANCING INTO THE FIRST
COUPLE CAVERNS,
I CAN'T DENY THAT
IT WAS APPLY NAMED.
THE TERRAIN IS ABOUT
AS UNCERTAIN AS I AM.
THAT SAID, ASIDE FROM MY
HEADLAMP, I'M ABOUT TO CHARGE
INTO THE DARK ALL THE SAME,
BECAUSE AS CHALLENGING AS WHAT
LIES AHEAD MAY SEEM TO ME,
IT PALES IN COMPARISON
TO THE QUEST OF MY CREW.
PUT ANOTHER WAY,
CAVING WITH EQUIPMENT:
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
>> WELL THIS IS THE
TUMBLING ROCK CAVE RESERVE
THAT'S OWNED BY THE
SOUTHEASTERN CAVE CONSERVANCY
AND IS LOCATED IN
JACKSON COUNTY ALABAMA,
SO THE SOUTHEASTERN
CAVE CONSERVANCY JUST
AS LITTLE PIECES,
IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CAVE
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION
THAT'S DEDICATED SOLELY
TO CAVE CONSERVATION.
THE CAVE CONTAINS ALL KINDS
OF NEAT THINGS.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME CIVIL WAR
RELICS IN HERE,
WE HAVE SOME CIVIL WAR
SIGNATURES,
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF WATER.
>> I'VE BEEN IN SOME CAVERNS,
BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
REALLY EXPLORING A CAVE,
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR,
I GUESS BEGINNERS, OR FOLKS
OUT THERE WHO ARE WATCHING,
AND THEY'VE NEVER
EXPLORED CAVES EITHER?
>> SURE, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY,
SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE WEARING
HELMETS, WE HAVE
HEAD MOUNTED LIGHTS,
WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT CLOTHES ON,
WE SHOULD BE NICE AND WARM.
ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT
WITH YOU, HELMET, LIKE WE HAVE,
YOU WANT TO WEAR
STURDY BOOTS,
GOOD FOOTGEAR, AND CLOTHES
THAT ARE ADAPTABLE
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> ALRIGHT, WELL I FEEL LIKE
I'M READY, ARE YOU READY?
>> I'M READY.
>> ALRIGHT, LET'S GO EXPLORE
SOME CAVES.
>> LET'S DO IT, ABSOLUTELY.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> SO HERE'S OUR FIRST BAT.
>> YEAH, THAT'S...
>> HE'S SO SMALL.
>> LITTLE BAT, YEAH,
THEY'RE NOT VERY BIG.
SO THIS IS JUST ONE
OF THE MANY CREATURES
THAT CALL CAVES HOME.
>> IT'S A TEN FOOT DROP.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE CAREFUL GOING ACROSS IT.
>> SO WE'RE JUST GOING
TO CROSS OVER THIS
ONE FOOT AFTER THE OTHER,
WOULD YOU LIKE A HAND?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOT IT?
>> IT'S A LITTLE SLICK.
>> IT IS A LITTLE SLIPPERY.
>> SO HAVE YOU EXPLORED
THIS CAVE IN IT'S ENTIRETY?
>> HAVE I? I'VE BEEN
TO DIFFERENT REACHES OF IT,
I WOULD NOT SAY THAT I'VE
EXPLORED THE ENTIRE THING.
IT'S REALLY BIG AND IT TAKES
A LOT OF TIME,
MULTIPLE TRIPS TO COME BACK
AND SEE DIFFERENT PIECES
AND PARTS, REALLY I LIKE
TO GO THROUGH THE CAVE
AND ACTUALLY SEE THE CAVE,
YOU KNOW,
AND I KIND OF CONSIDER MYSELF
A TOURIST CAVER,
I GUESS, IS THE BEST WAY
TO PUT IT.
AND I'LL WALK AROUND AND I'LL
WANT TO SEE THE FORMATIONS
AND THE WALLS AND YOU KNOW,
THE ROCKS AND THE DIRT,
AND THE WATER, AND YOU NEVER
KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE.
>> DO YOU FIND THAT EACH
TIME YOU COME IN HERE,
IT'S LIKE A BRAND
NEW EXPERIENCE,
YOU SEE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED BEFORE?
>> ABSOLUTELY, I'VE BEEN IN AND
OUT OF THIS CAVE A FEW TIMES,
YOU KNOW, AND I'LL ALWAYS SEE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT I
DIDN'T SEE BEFORE,
GENERALLY SPEAKING.
>> YEAH.
>> THESE ARE THE CIVIL WAR VATS,
AND THERE'S ABOUT
EIGHT OR NINE OF THEM,
SO THESE HAVE BEEN HERE
PROBABLY SINCE 1862, OR '63.
>> THIS PLACE WAS
PRETTY PERTINENT TO
THE CIVIL WAR EFFORT
AND YOU KNOW ALL OF THAT
THAT WAS GOING ON HERE,
IT'S PRETTY NEAT.
YOU KNOW THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS
THAT HAPPEN ON AND AROUND
SCCI PRESERVES, SO WHETHER
THEY'RE SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS,
OR IN THIS CASE, THIS WAS
ACTUALLY AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT,
WE HAVE THINGS GOING ON
ACROSS ALL OF OUR PRESERVES
THAT ARE RELATED TO
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AND PRESERVATION
AND CONSERVATION.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THE
SCCI HAS DONE, AHEAD OF A GOOD
NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
IS OUR PERMITTING PROCESS.
AND SO, THROUGH OUR PERMITTING
PROCESS, NOT ONLY DO WE KNOW
WHO IS IN THE CAVE, RIGHT,
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHO IS
IN THE CAVE, WE'RE ALSO TRACKING
THE VISITATION TO THE CAVE.
SO THAT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND
A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT
HUMAN IMPACT HAS ON THE
DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THE CAVE,
AND THE CAVES THEMSELVES.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> ALL THIS WATER THAT
WE'VE SEEN HERE BEHIND US,
AND AROUND US, IS ACTUALLY
COMING IN FROM THE SURFACE,
AT SOME POINT, AND ONE OF
THE THINGS YOU HEAR ABOUT ARE
PEOPLE GOING OUT TO SINKHOLES,
AND THROWING STUFF
IN SINKHOLES, AND JUST
FIGURING IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY,
OR POURING OIL OR GASOLINE OUT
IN THEIR BACKYARD.
YOU COULD BE DOING IT MILES
FROM HERE AND THAT
OIL AND GAS, OR BASICALLY
TOXIN HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE CAVE.
>> OH WOW.
>> AND THAT'S WHY WATER
CONSERVATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> SO FAR, ALABAMA
HAS SERVED UP QUITE A BIT.
FROM SOME SHOPPING AT
THE UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER,
TO AN EXPEDITION INTO
THE UNDERGROUND,
AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR A HEALTHY
HELPING OF HOME COOKED FOOD,
WELL I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THE HEALTHY PART,
BUT THEN AGAIN, BALANCE, RIGHT?
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED
BY MR. W.H. PAYNE,
IN 1869, FROM 1869 'TIL 1991,
IT WAS A PHARMACY.
IN 1991, IT CLOSED DOWN BRIEFLY,
AND THEN REOPENED UP
AS JUST EXCLUSIVELY
A RESTAURANT.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE
IS VERY VERY OLD.
WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN, YOU KNOW,
MULTIPLE WAYS TO DECORATE
THIS PLACE, WE'VE HAD A 150 YEAR
SPAN TO CHOOSE,
BUT WE FIGURED THE 1950'S
WAS THE MOST ACCURATE
REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE
WANTED TO PUT IN THIS PLACE.
>> IT GIVES IT
A COOL VIBE IN HERE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN HERE THOUGH?
>> I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2013,
SO FIVE YEARS LAST MAY.
SO WE'VE HAD IT FOR FIVE YEARS.
ME AND MY MOM ARE THE OWNERS
OF THE RESTAURANT,
AND THEN THE PAYNE'S FAMILY
ACTUALLY STILL OWNS THE BUILDING
AND WE RENT IT FROM THEM,
SO IT'S STILL IN THE
PAYNE'S FAMILY 'TIL THIS DAY.
I WENT TO SCHOOL IN KNOXVILLE,
AND I GOT A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE
GRADUATED IN 2011, AND THEN
I WORKED AROUND IN THAT FIELD
A LITTLE BIT, DID SOME WORK
WITH CHILDREN
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HOSPITALS
AND STUFF LIKE,
NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE
IT WAS FOR ME, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF FELT LIKE A FISH
OUT OF WATER.
SO THEN I MOVED HOME AND STARTED
WORKING WITH MY MOM HERE,
AND I JUST LOVE IT, YOU KNOW,
JUST BEING ABLE TO INTERACT
WITH PEOPLE AND SEE THEM,
AND MAKE THEM HAPPY,
AND HAVE PEOPLE TELL ME
THAT THIS IS THE BEST THING
THEY'VE EVER EATEN
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND THAT THEY'VE DRIVEN FROM
GOD KNOWS WHERE TO GET HERE
MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.
>> [AERIAL] DO YOU GET PEOPLE
FROM OUT OF THE UNITED STATES?
>> TONS OF PEOPLE,
I MEAN, I REALLY WANT TO GET
A MAP SO I CAN KEEP TRACK,
BECAUSE I'VE LOST TRACK,
I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE
FROM MEXICO, FRANCE,
WE GET A LOT OF FRENCH PEOPLE
BECAUSE THERE'S A FACTORY
THAT HIRES FROM FRANCE AND
THEY COME INTO TOWN FOR THAT.
>> OKAY.
>> ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS
ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN
HER RELATIVES FROM IRELAND
ONE DAY.
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH, IT WAS A WHOLE FAMILY
OF IRISH PEOPLE
I COULD BARELY UNDERSTAND,
EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SPEAKING
ENGLISH, I'M LIKE,
OKAY. (LAUGHING)
>> THIS LIKE A PLACE PEOPLE
WANT TO COME CHECK OUT.
AND IT'S WORTH THE TRIP.
>> YES.
>> AND SO I HAVE
TO ASK YOU, WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE CEILING? (LAUGHING)
>> OH THE STRAWS.
SO APPARENTLY IT WAS A TREND
BACK IN THE 30'S, 40'S, 50'S,
FOR PEOPLE TO SHOOT THEIR STRAW
WRAPPERS ONTO THE CEILING,
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PICTURE
FROM LIFE MAGAZINE THAT
DEPICTS THE KIDS SHOOTING
STRAWS, (LAUGHING)
AND THE SODA JERK
YELLING AT THE KIDS,
SO WE JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
WHY DON'T WE BRING THIS BACK,
WHY DON'T WE MAKE THAT
OUR THING,
AND IT'S A GREAT CONVERSATION
STARTER, BECAUSE NOBODY
EVER KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE,
BUT THEY ARE STRAW WRAPPERS.
>> I DIDN'T, I WAS STARING
AT THEM EARLIER AND I'M LIKE
WHAT IS HANGING
FROM YOUR CEILING?
AND I COULD TELL IT
WAS MEANT TO BE THERE.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MANY, YEAH.
MOST OF THEM ARE FROM EMPLOYEES
DEMONSTRATING HOW TO DO IT,
BUT A FEW OF THEM, PROBABLY
ABOUT 25% ARE FROM ACTUAL
CUSTOMERS ACTUALLY BEING
ABLE TO GET THEM UP THERE.
IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S DOABLE.
>> YEAH. (LAUGHING) I DIDN'T
KNOW IF THAT WAS A THING,
IF YOU HAVE KIDS STILL
COMING IN AND TRYING
TO GET THEM UP THERE.
>> YEAH, THEY DO.
>> THAT'S COOL.
>> SERVING AT AN INSTITUTION
LIKE PAYNE'S SANDWICH SHOP
MEANS A LOT MORE THAN RED SLAW
AND ICE CREAM SCOOPS.
IT MEANS OPENING YOUR FAMILY
TO OTHERS.
IT MEANS DELIVERING DEALS
THAT ARE NOT ONLY HARD TO BEAT,
BUT ALLOW FOLKS TO TAKE
A BREAK AND COME TOGETHER.
FOR THE CREW AND I,
IT MEANT A MUCH DESERVED MEAL
AFTER A HARD WORN WALK
THROUGH WILD TERRAIN.
AND SMILES OVER SIMPLE
PLEASURES THAT SUNK IN
FAR BEYOND OUR BELLIES.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I SPENT MOST OF MY SUMMERS
ON THE WATER GROWING UP.
BUT LIKE A LOT OF THINGS
ON THIS SERIES,
I'M AFRAID I MAY HAVE
ONLY SKIMMED THE SURFACE.
SO TO GET STARTED,
I'M SETTING OUT TO UNDERSTAND
A PERMITTING PROCESS THAT
PUTS PARAMETERS ON WHAT DOCKS
CAN DO IN ORDER TO ENSURE
THAT RESERVOIRS ARE FOR MORE
THAN JUST RECREATION.
>> WE'RE SITTING HERE
ON A BEAUTIFUL
GUNTERSVILLE RESERVOIR,
WE'VE KIND OF PICKED THIS
PLACE BECAUSE YOU CAN SORT
OF LOOK AROUND IN A 360 DEGREE
VIEW, AND SEE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF
HOW WE MANAGE LAND,
AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF USES.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE
THE MOST OF TODAY IS
WHAT WE CALL ZONE SEVEN,
WHICH IS SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S OPEN FOR FOLKS TO
ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT AND INSTALL
THEIR OWN PRIVATE DOCK ON THAT,
AND THEY GOT THAT BECAUSE
WE TYPICALLY SOLD THEM SOME
TYPE OF RIGHT TO CROSS OUR
PROPERTY AND PUT SOME TYPE
OF PRIVATE USE ON THERE.
BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BE BUILDING HOUSES,
AND THEY'RE ON THE LAKE,
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED
A PLACE TO PARK THEIR BOAT.
WE ARE SITTING APPROXIMATELY
RIGHT IN THIS AREA HERE,
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
A QUICK BOAT RIDE A LITTLE WAYS
AND DO A COMPLIANCE CHECK,
AND AN IN-BAY-MENT.
AS IT LOADS, RIGHT
IN THIS AREA HERE.
SO WE'RE NOT TOO FAR
FROM WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> OKAY, SO TYPICALLY WHAT
WE DO IS WE TAKE THE PERMIT
WITH US THAT WE ISSUED, AND
WE JUST KIND OF WANT TO LOOK
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONDITIONS
HAVE BEEN ADHERED TO,
THAT THE SIZE IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE
VEGETATION HAS BEEN CARED FOR,
WE TYPICALLY PUT CONDITIONS
IN THE PERMIT THAT SAY IT WILL
BE DISTURBED AT A MINIMUM,
AND SO WE'LL JUST DO SOME
MEASURING AND SEE
WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
>> THAT'S WHAT THIS
HANDY GUIDE IS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO A LOT
OF THIS ON THE COMPUTER,
BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD
TO KIND OF GET A FEEL,
AND SORT OF LAY OUT
A SITE PLAN OF WHAT'S WHAT.
AND SO YOU REALLY
SORT OF GET A FEELING,
YOU CAN TALK
INTELLIGENTLY TO APPLICANT
ABOUT WHAT'S THERE
AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> OKAY.
>> JUST RESET OUR
MEASURING WHEEL, AND WE'LL
JUST TAKE OFF,
AND WE'LL WALK DOWN THERE,
TOWARDS THIS OTHER DOCK.
>> YOU THINK THAT THING WAS
ON SHARK TANK (LAUGHING)
>> SOMEBODY MADE A MINT
OUT OF THE MEASURING BIKE.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> WITH OVER 890 MILES
OF SHORELINE,
GUNTERSVILLE LAKE ALLOWS
LAKE LIFE TO LEND ITSELF TO
A LONG LIST OF PASTIMES.
FROM SPORTFISHING AND SWIMMING
TO CAMPING AND CRUISING,
THE 76 MILE RUN
HAS ROOM FOR ALL,
BUT SURPRISINGLY,
AT LEAST FOR ME,
SAILING IS EVEN ON THAT LIST.
I MAY BE A NOVICE,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
I'M ABOUT TO BOW OUT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> ALRIGHT, I THINK I'M
GOING TO CUT THE MOTOR,
AND WE'RE GONNA START
LOOKING AT PUTTING SAILS UP.
(MOTOR ENGINE CUTS OUT)
>> READY FOR THE MAIN SAIL?
>> YEAH.
(SCRAPING NOISES)
>> SAILING!
>> YEAH, ALMOST.
SO THIS IS THE MAIN SAIL,
WE JUST RAISED IT.
>> OKAY.
>> AND NOW WE'RE
GOING TO RAISE OUR JIB
>> WHOOPS, I
DIDN'T PUT THAT IN.
>> AERIAL IS GOING
TO PUT IT UP.
>> AWESOME!
>> ALRIGHT, SO TWO HANDS.
>> OKAY.
>> AND JUST PULL,
HE'LL TELL YOU WHEN TO STOP,
HE'S GOING TO FEED IT
INTO THE GROOVE.
(WIND BLOWING AGAINST SAILS)
>> THIS TAKES A LITTLE MUSCLE.
>> IT DOES.
EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S SITTING
AND DRINKING WINE.
(LAUGHING) ALRIGHT,
WE'RE SAILING NOW.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH WIND TODAY,
WE'VE GOT ENOUGH TO
FILL SAILS AND STUFF.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY, SO WHEN YOU'RE SAILING
YOU WANT TO LOOK FORWARD
TO THE BOW
OF YOUR BOAT, AND SO,
WITH THE TILLER, THE BOAT IS
GOING TO GO THE OPPOSITE WAY
OF WHERE YOU STEER IT RIGHT.
>> YEAH, SO THAT
WOULD BE MY TROUBLE.
>> SO IF YOU PUSH IT AWAY,
YOU'RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY,
AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, YOU'LL
GET SO CLOSE TO THE WIND,
YOUR SAIL IS GONNA DROP,
IT'S GONNA GO BOOP.
>> OH, WE'RE STARTING TO.
>> YEP, THEN YOU NEED
TO COME BACK.
>> OKAY, NOW START
TO TAKE IT BACK.
>> YEAH, OKAY, AND THEN
LET'S GET OUR SAIL FULL.
ALRIGHT, THERE WE GO,
RIGHT IN THERE.
SO WE'RE NOT ZOOMING AROUND
TODAY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF WIND, BUT THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT OF WIND OUT THERE
I CAN SEE IT.
>> WE'RE GONNA
GO GET THAT WIND.
>> BUT THAT'S WHAT IT DOES,
YOU KNOW, IT TEMPTS YOU
TO KEEP GOING.
>> IT'S NEVER RIGHT WHERE
YOU WANT TO BE.
>> SO WE'VE BEEN SAILING
FOR QUITE A WHILE,
WE'VE BEEN SAILING HERE
FOR PROBABLY 13, 14 YEARS.
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY, HAVE YOU STARTED
LIKE A GROUP HERE, OR A CLUB?
>> THERE IS A CLUB HERE, BROWN'S
CREEK SAILING ASSOCIATION
THAT WE SAIL OUT OF,
SO I TEACH CLASSES THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> I TEACH PRIVATELY,
I TEACH CLASSES FOR THEM.
>> SO I'M IN GOOD HANDS.
>> YES, YOU'RE IN GOOD
HANDS, I TEACH KIDS.
I'LL TEACH ANYBODY, BECAUSE
ANYBODY CAN SAIL IT'S GREAT.
IT'S A GREAT LIFELONG SPORT.
GOTTA GET KIDS SAILING EARLY.
>> MMHMM.
>> YOU REALLY DO.
AND SAILING WITH YOUR PARENTS,
YOU KNOW,
IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
>> WHEN I THINK OF SAILING,
I DO NOT THINK OF
NORTHERN ALABAMA,
WHY HERE AND WHAT MAKES THIS
SO SPECIAL, BECAUSE I FEEL
LIKE IT'S A HIDDEN GEM.
>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS,
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LAKE.
AND YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE 30'S,
THEY FLOODED THE
TENNESSEE RIVER AND THEY
BUILT DAMS, AND LOCKS ON IT.
AND LAKE GUNTERSVILLE HAS
TURNED OUT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE, AND IT'S HUGE REALLY.
>> WE LIVED IN HUNTSVILLE
FOR 13 YEARS.
>> MHMMM.
>> OKAY.
>> AND IN JANUARY
WE BOUGHT A HOUSE DOWN HERE
ON THE LAKE, SO THAT
WE COULD BE CLOSER.
>> NICE.
>> IT IS A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE,
SO WE'LL GO TO THE GROCERY
STORE, WE'LL GO SOME PLACE,
AND GO ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY
AND WE GO, WE LIVE HERE.
>> YEAH!
>> ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL?
>> IT IS REALLY PRETTY,
AND WE SAILED LAST NIGHT
UNDER THE FULL MOON,
WE HAVEN'T SAILED AT NIGHT
IN A WHILE, AND IT WAS
JUST GORGEOUS.
>> IF A PERSON KNEW
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT SAILING
BUT THEY WANTED TO GET INTO IT,
HOW DO THEY DO THAT?
WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO START?
>> HAND HER THE TILLER.
(LAUGHING).
>> YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
(LAUGHING)
>> THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT.
YOU ASKED, YOU GET TO START.
(LAUGHING)
>> A GREAT WAY TO DO IT, IS JUST
SHOW UP AT A SAILING MARINA.
YOU KNOW, JUST SHOW UP
ON A SATURDAY, AND SAILORS
ALWAYS WANT MORE CREW
ON THEIR BOAT,
THEY ALWAYS WANT
TO TAKE PEOPLE OUT.
>> THEY'LL USE ANY
EXCUSE TO GO SAILING.
>> YEAH!
>> SO IT'S A WELCOMING
COMMUNITY,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NERVOUS
TO APPROACH SOMEBODY?
>> NO YOU JUST SAY HEY,
I'VE NEVER SAILED BEFORE,
BUT I WANT TO GO OUT WITH YOU.
AND SOMEBODY WILL PUT
YOU ON THEIR BOAT.
>> DO YOU FIND
THAT MORE WOMEN
ARE GETTING INTO SAILING?
>> IN THIS AREA, TYPICALLY
THE MAN IS ON THE HELM,
AND THE WIFE IS CREW.
>> IT DOESN'T TYPICALLY
WORK THAT WAY THIS WAY.
>> SO THE WOMEN THAT GO
SAILING STICK TO CREW JOBS.
I TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO CHANGE,
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY BEING
ON THE HELM DOESN'T REQUIRE
A LOT OF MUSCLE,
AND SO SAVE YOUR MUSCLE HERE
FOR ADJUSTING YOUR SAILS,
AND YOU KNOW,
PULLING UP THE ANCHOR,
AND DOING ALL THAT STUFF.
>> T AND SUSAN REMIND ME
THAT TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM
WORK, AND I DON'T JUST MEAN
THE DANCE THEY DO ONBOARD
IN A SINGLE TRIP I CAN SEE
THAT SAILING IS AN ART,
AS WELL AS A SCIENCE, AND ONE
THAT DESERVES TO BE PASSED ON.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WE'VE COVERED QUITE A BIT
OF GROUND, BUT WE'RE ABOUT
TO GO OUT WITH A BANG,
MORE SPECIFICALLY,
WE'RE GOING OUT WITH A GORGE,
NOT TO MENTION ONE HECK
OF A HIKE TO UNCOVER A FEW
OF ITS HIDDEN TREASURES.
AND TO HELP ME DOWN THE HILL,
I BROUGHT ALONG LOCAL
FRANK EMORY, WHO IS NOT
ONLY A NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER,
BUT AN AUTHOR ON OFTEN
OVERLOOKED ESCAPES IN ALABAMA.
SO FRANK, WE'VE HIKED IN,
INTO PISGAH GORGE,
AND THIS IS
THE SECOND WATERFALL,
IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL,
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
KIND OF LIKE YOUR JOURNEY,
WHAT GOT YOU INTO PHOTOGRAPHY,
AND WHAT CONNECTION
YOU HAVE TO THIS AREA,
MAYBE WHY YOU LOVE TO
PHOTOGRAPH IT SO MUCH?
>> I JUST LIKE TO EXPLORE
DIFFERENT PLACES IN ALABAMA,
AND IT'S BEEN SO LONG AGO
I FORGOT HOW I DISCOVERED
THIS PLACE,
BUT I CAME HERE TO CHECK IT OUT,
AND IT'S ONE OF
MY FAVORITE PLACES IN ALABAMA.
>> WHEN YOU COME IN HERE EACH
TIME, AND YOU TAKE PICTURES,
ARE YOU ALWAYS TRYING
TO FIND SOMETHING NEW?
>> IT'S ALWAYS EXPLORATION,
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW
AND NEW COMPOSITIONS,
DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR,
THE PLACE LOOKS DIFFERENT,
LIKE, RIGHT NOW,
IT'S A LITTLE WATER,
SOMEWHAT OF A TRICKLE,
BUT I'VE BEEN HERE
WHEN IT WAS FLOODING,
AND THE CONVERGENCE BETWEEN
THIS AND LITTLE BRYANT CREEK,
AND BRYANT CREEK,
EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN HERE,
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY MAKES
THIS AREA SO SPECIAL?
I MEAN TO ME, IT'S KIND
OF OBVIOUS, THE VIEW,
THE WATERFALLS, BUT TO PEOPLE
WHO'VE NEVER BEEN HERE,
YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD YOU
SAY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE
THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?
>> THE FACT THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE
HAVE COME IN HERE
THAT I KNOW OF.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S SUCH A ROUGH TERRAIN
THAT FEW PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OF
HAVE VENTURED DOWN.
AT LEAST THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF PHOTOS ON THE INTERNET
LIKE OF OTHER PLACES.
>> YEAH.
>> SO THAT KIND OF MAKES IT
SPECIAL STILL,
RELATIVELY UNKNOWN, TO THE
VAST MAJORITY OF ALABAMIANS,
OR THE WORLD.
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT,
BUT I'M SO GLAD I DO NOW.
>> WHEN I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED
IN PHOTOGRAPHING THE STATE,
I SPENT SO MUCH TIME
WITH THAT PHRASE,
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME,
EXPLORING NATURE BECAME
SO MUCH LIKE HOME THAT
WHEN I WASN'T, I MISSED IT.
LIKE I NEED TO GET BACK HOME
INTO NATURE EXPLORATION.
>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR
JOURNEY WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
HAS SORT OF GIVEN YOU
A NEW LOVE FOR ALABAMA?
>> DEFINITELY, I HAD NO IDEA YOU
KNOW, DRIVING THE INTERSTATES,
OR ROADS, YOU JUST SEE
PLAIN WOODS,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S A LOT TO DISCOVER.
>> AS IS OFTEN THE CASE
WITH THE HIKE,
THE SLOPES WERE STEEP
BUT THE SCENERY WAS MORE
THAN WORTH IT, IT'S AMAZING
WHAT WE MISS IN THIS LIFE
IF WE AREN'T WILLING TO STEP OUT
OF OUR COMFORT ZONE
AND BREAK A SWEAT,
WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO BALANCE.
TOO OFTEN I THINK WE TELL
OURSELVES THAT BEING IN
BALANCE MEANS THAT
WE'LL BE COMFORTABLE,
WHEN ACTUALLY IT'S THE OPPOSITE.
YOU SEE, IT TAKES WORK TO KEEP
FROM TOPPLING OVER,
JUST LIKE IT TAKES
ATTENTION TO ACCEPT ALL
THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER.
THIS TRIP TOOK ME
ALL OVER THE PLACE,
AND I'M BETTER FOR IT.
I MIGHT HAVE BROKEN A SWEAT,
BUT I ALSO SANK MY TEETH IN.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL
LIKE SINKING BECAUSE
THE SAILING IS LESS THAN SMOOTH,
SEEK OUT WHAT THIS MOMENT
HAS TO SAY, WHAT CAN
IT TELL YOU, AND TEACH YOU?
IT MAY BE THOSE VERY LESSONS
THAT SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS
DOWNSTREAM.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
