I spent two days in Hot Springs, NC 11 days and 159 miles ago. Time flies. Inspired by seeing a rare place in the eastern United States where hot water flows out of the Earth, I began writing about geothermal electricity generation. Currently, conventional geothermal (turbines powered by hot water or steam coming out of the ground) plays a minor role on the US grids, and this will not change. However, enhanced geothermal power has tremendous potential in the future grid. I learned about this through Dave Roberts’ excellent Volts podcast, which led me to research the Zero group at Princeton produced on unconventional geothermal power. Summarizing the complicated science and long podcast, I did my best to succinctly explain what is so exciting about unconventional geothermal power in this article.
On a personal note, warm days filled with socialization have made my time in Tennessee particularly satisfying and memorable. Yesterday morning, I talked with Camel at length about land use, social media, and criminal justice. In the afternoon, I talked with Dr. Jones about theology, pickleball, and athletic training. There is absolutely nothing I enjoy more than a day of meaningful conversation. Today, I continued in conversation with Dr. Jones on topics of theology and pluralistic society. Relationships like these are the spice, the flavor of the trail.
Speaking of which, Tennessee has provided much in the way of culinary treats as well. At the Mountain Harbour hostel, what a breakfast. I tried tomato pie for the first time, and I determine that it is incredible. These hosts cooked wonderful biscuits and gravy, monkey bread, potatoes, homemade granola, french toast with apple butter. Today, two incredible women, Julie and Lorraine, came to the Boots Off hostel (which I stopped at for fruit and ice cream) to prepare homemade chili and corn bread. So generous. What a blessing. While there, I also got to help move firewood chopped from a tree that fell on Boots Off’s chicken coop during last night’s wind storm. Nice to do some manual labor for a change.
The physical setting in these miles is incredible. On the first days that are warm enough (for me) to swim, we found the first waterfalls in which to shower. Plus a waterfall rather powerful for showering purposes. The cumulus over Watauga lake this evening reflected beautifully. At the end of the day, I crossed Wataugs dam, the second highest in the Tennessee Valley Authority system after Fontana dam (which I crossed to enter the Smokies). The sky burned a ruddy yellow as I passed above the gorge below, its rocky sides scoured 80 years ago for material to create the earthfill dam that facilitated my passage to the adjacent ridge.
Amazing that you liked topato pie. It sounds delicious.