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Sports See other Sports Articles Title: Communing with nature au naturel The guys in the electric shop at Alcoa's north plant never know what to expect when their co-worker, David "Buzz" Sawyer, goes hiking. "I'm always getting into some kind of predicament," Sawyer said with a laugh. "It's the same thing with my wife. She rolls her eyes like, 'Here he goes on another crazy tale.' " Depending on the time of year, Sawyer's trail exploits might revolve around bears or blizzards, bugs or blisters. And, occasionally, bare butts. "I knew nobody would believe me if I just told 'em what I'd seen," he noted. "So I took a picture." That photograph is now one year old. But Sawyer still refers to it on occasion - if only to prove to potential naysayers that you never know what to expect in the great outdoors. In June 2005, Sawyer traveled to Roan Mountain to satisfy his craving for hiking and photography. He knew the Catawba rhododendrons would be near the peak of their bloom by then, and he wanted to capture this botanical majesty. He left the parking lot at Carvers Gap shortly before sunrise, intending to hike all the way to the top of Grassy Ridge Bald, which veers off the Appalachian Trail. "Just before the junction I found some outstanding blooms right on the trail," he recalled. "I set up my tripod and camera and had been photographing for 10 or 15 minutes." About that time he heard the voices of approaching hikers. No real surprise to anyone who frequents the trails, of course. In fact, Sawyer didn't even look up from his work when one of the walkers called out, "Hail! The summer solstice is upon us!" Sawyer was in the process of snapping photos by remote cable, so he was fairly engrossed with his equipment. He simply threw up a hand and hollered "hail" in reply. As soon as the exposure was taken, however, he turned around. And his mouth dang-near dropped open. The three hikers headed his way had on nothing but backpacks, boots and smiles on their faces. "It was three college-aged guys," Sawyer said. "I asked them what in the world would bring them into the woods dressed like that, and they said on the summer solstice, you're always supposed to hike naked. In our short conversation - during which I maintained eye contact - they told me this was a pagan ritual of the Druids." The merry men were soon on their way. Indeed, they were partway down the trail before Sawyer regained his senses, swung the camera around and snapped a shot of them "naturally fading" into the distance. Hence the evidence he has shown to his co-workers. The reason that I tell you this tale right now is because the summer solstice is upon us once again. It occurs at 7:26 a.m. tomorrow. From that moment until the fall equinox in September, summer will officially grip the land. Yes, Buzz Sawyer plans to be on the same Roan Mountain trail, photographing the same rhododendrons. Or whatever else he happens to see. "I'm just hoping there are some women in the group this time," he said. Sam Venable's column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. He may be reached at 865-342-6272 or venob@knews.com. His latest book, "You Gotta Laugh to Keep from Cryin': A Baby Boomer Contemplates Life Beyond Fifty," is available at most bookstores and online from the News Sentinel.
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#1. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
Yep, those women druids are at it again. I could handle some au naturel right about now. Free mustache ride to the first druid to accept. :p
"To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can ever fight; and never stop fighting." E.E. Cummings
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