Watch out for Anaconda’s in Dickson Tennessee

The day started out really fine on Tuesday. Joan decided to take us out to the cave. Ronny showed up and he wanted to go also, so we got a backpack, put bottles of water in it and grabbed the cameras and started out for the cave. Before we left Joan did quietly ask me, (so that Alma would not hear), you are taking your gun with you aren’t you? I told her no I hadn’t planned on it but if you think I should then I will. Joan said yeah go ahead and take it because when she and Paul had gone to the cave many years ago, Paul had seen what looked to be bobcat tracks inside the cave, and she didn’t know if there might be something living in it. Oh, Ok, sure I’ll take my gun. So I got my gun and three extra magazines in case we came across a family of something or another and took off on our hike.

It sure was a nice hike. We saw some turkeys about 4 or 5 hundred yards from us. As I glassed them I could see 4 or 5 gobblers and some hens with them. We worked our way down the trail and finally arrived at the cave after walking for about 30 minutes. This is where it gets interesting.

I was ready to go in and so was Ronny. Alma on the other hand was not so anxious. It seems she has been watching way too much tv and way too many movies. With a stern and shaky voice Alma warns me their could be an anaconda in the cave and we shouldn’t go in. Now that stopped Ronny and me in our tracks, as we laughed hysterically. Anacondas!!!!!!!! Joan was having a good laugh also. I know Ronny was probably thinking “where did these city slickers come from”.

After reassuring Alma there were NO anacondas in the cave we went in. Alma all the while was shaking like a leaf and kept talking to Joan about the anaconda. Joan did tell her if anything was going to be in the cave it could be a bobcat or raccoon or something else, but there would not be any anacondas in there.
Gee thanks Joan, now she’s really scared. So as Ronny and I enter the cave, Joan blurts out, wait a minute, wait. As she is walking towards us she has a concerned look on her face, and now I’m beginning to think maybe she’s seen something or maybe she remembered something and she is going to give us some important information. Heck, maybe there is something in there and I start looking up on the hill and around the cave, as Ronny and I await Joan. She makes her way to the cave and says if there is anything in there let me get my cigarettes, and grabs them from Ronny, and heads back to where Alma is standing. Wow. It’s good to know how much you’re loved.

So we enter in and I must say it was beautiful. Even though we probably only went into what is the beginning, it sure was awesome. There were several different rooms, but we couldn’t get to them because of the big dirt mound that appeared to have been built up over the years. After checking the area out we assured Alma and Joan there was nothing inside so they came in. Alma thought the stain on the wall that can be seen the picture was an anaconda or some type of snake. We took some pictures and in one of them Alma looks like she’s about to say hurry up and take the picture so I can get the hell out of here so the anaconda won’t get me.

After spending about 30 minutes their, we took some pictures on some large fallen hickory trees and as Alma and I were standing next to the tree, I could see some dogs running up from the direction we had come from. Before I could say anything Alma asked in a rather shaky voice, “are those wolves”? And she wasn’t joking. Joan, Ronny and I laughed and I said no they’re Labrador puppies. It took a few minutes to convince Alma they were Puppies, and they were Black Labs, but we finally convinced her. That is a whole different story.