Today we headed off to Piney Creek falls, one that we missed during yesterdays tour. This falls is not the largest but is the most picturesque. We decided to see if we could hike to the bottom of the falls. We went down this trail, that one, then a third but, alas we did not find what we were looking for.
Turns our we had our falls confused. There is a trail to the bottom of another, but apparently not this one. But we did get in some nice hiking, a goodly amount of woodlands lessons for Rosalie, and a bit of exercise for all.
Topped off the day with a stop at one of the play grounds for the little one to blow off what steam she had left after all the walking.
A nice day...
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Day 26 Oct 28 - First full day in Fall Creek Falls
We started off our park tour as we have most of the time, by taking in the orientation movie at the information center. We find these movies interesting and very informative. It's nice to get an idea of what we are going to see and what it took to get the parks to where they are today. Fortunately some very forward looking ancestors.
We were advised repeatedly that this was a Tennessee park that was not to be missed. I think everyone on the WeBeGone team is in agreement, we are glad we heard about the park and took the time to stop in. (Thanks Tom S.).
The leaves here are probably about mid way through their turning. Not all have but there are plenty of reds, yellows, oranges and golds to go around. The creeks are not running that high so the falls and cascades are not at their peaks but the colors up and down the mountain side are a sight to see for sure.
We had met a few folks in Chattanooga and when we mentioned we were coming here it was unanimous that we were making a good choice. This is Tennessee's largest and most visited state park.
We were advised repeatedly that this was a Tennessee park that was not to be missed. I think everyone on the WeBeGone team is in agreement, we are glad we heard about the park and took the time to stop in. (Thanks Tom S.).
The leaves here are probably about mid way through their turning. Not all have but there are plenty of reds, yellows, oranges and golds to go around. The creeks are not running that high so the falls and cascades are not at their peaks but the colors up and down the mountain side are a sight to see for sure.
We had met a few folks in Chattanooga and when we mentioned we were coming here it was unanimous that we were making a good choice. This is Tennessee's largest and most visited state park.
Day 25 Oct 27 - On the road again, to Fall Creek Falls state park
Bidding a fond farewell to Chattanooga as we headed out to the next stop, Fall Creek Falls state park.
It was a short day as we headed north out of Chattanooga toward Soddy Daisy, Dunlap, Pikeville then on to the park. http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/fall-creek-falls.
After a few tries at backing in we finally were able to get camp set up. Set up the chairs, popped a top and enjoyed an early fire. Starting what hopefully will be a few relaxing days before hitting Pigeon Forge and the commercialization that we will find there.
It was a short day as we headed north out of Chattanooga toward Soddy Daisy, Dunlap, Pikeville then on to the park. http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/fall-creek-falls.
After a few tries at backing in we finally were able to get camp set up. Set up the chairs, popped a top and enjoyed an early fire. Starting what hopefully will be a few relaxing days before hitting Pigeon Forge and the commercialization that we will find there.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Day 24 Oct 26 - A bit of civil war history
Our last full day in Chattanooga.
Leroy decided he needed to go take in a bit of the local civil war history. He left the ladies at the campground and headed out early to visit the site of one of the decisive battles of that great war. The Chickamauga battlefield on the outskirts of Chattanooga. http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm
The Chickamauga battles lasted two days and lead to a confederate victory. The south then went on the lay siege to the Union stronghold of Chattanooga for about a month before the Union was able to establish a new supply line and get in reinforcements. Once resupplied the Union went on the offensive and managed to remove the confederate troops from Lookout Mountain. That opened up the path for their subsequent march on Atlanta. It was interesting to see the monuments erected by the various regiments and to see all of the states represented, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio figured prominently and was represented by several of the monuments. One cannot walk through that area without wondering what it must have been like back in 1863 during these battles. What suffering, what heroics...
The ladies were not idle. They were busy getting the laundry done and Gigi had one of her many opportunities to sharpen up the doctor skills in repairing Rosalie. (Just a skinned knee).
The afternoon was spent with a drive to Lookout Mountain Point Park. This is also a national historic place. This is on the top of Lookout Mountain overlooking Chattanooga and commemorates the battle of Chattanooga where the Union was able to remove the confederate troops, destroy the blockade and eventually march on to Atlanta.
The park has some gorgeous views of down town Chattanooga and the Tennessee river.
http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Point_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lookout_Mountain
A trip to Wal-mart for supplies and back home..
Chattanooga was a wonderful stop. Would recommend it for anyone passing this way...
Leroy decided he needed to go take in a bit of the local civil war history. He left the ladies at the campground and headed out early to visit the site of one of the decisive battles of that great war. The Chickamauga battlefield on the outskirts of Chattanooga. http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm
The Chickamauga battles lasted two days and lead to a confederate victory. The south then went on the lay siege to the Union stronghold of Chattanooga for about a month before the Union was able to establish a new supply line and get in reinforcements. Once resupplied the Union went on the offensive and managed to remove the confederate troops from Lookout Mountain. That opened up the path for their subsequent march on Atlanta. It was interesting to see the monuments erected by the various regiments and to see all of the states represented, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio figured prominently and was represented by several of the monuments. One cannot walk through that area without wondering what it must have been like back in 1863 during these battles. What suffering, what heroics...
The ladies were not idle. They were busy getting the laundry done and Gigi had one of her many opportunities to sharpen up the doctor skills in repairing Rosalie. (Just a skinned knee).
The afternoon was spent with a drive to Lookout Mountain Point Park. This is also a national historic place. This is on the top of Lookout Mountain overlooking Chattanooga and commemorates the battle of Chattanooga where the Union was able to remove the confederate troops, destroy the blockade and eventually march on to Atlanta.
The park has some gorgeous views of down town Chattanooga and the Tennessee river.
http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Point_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lookout_Mountain
A trip to Wal-mart for supplies and back home..
Chattanooga was a wonderful stop. Would recommend it for anyone passing this way...
Day 23 Oct 25 - Tennessee Aquarium
Day two of the Rosalie centric activities was a visit to the local aquarium. http://www.tnaqua.org/Home.aspx
We spent a couple of hours in the Aquarium, then off to see an IMAX film about the Monarch butterfly migration and then another hour with the fish. Rose's favorite was of course the penguins. Probably not much of a surprise.
Then back to the camp to bundle up. It's been getting down into the upper twenties the last few nights.. Burrr.....
We spent a couple of hours in the Aquarium, then off to see an IMAX film about the Monarch butterfly migration and then another hour with the fish. Rose's favorite was of course the penguins. Probably not much of a surprise.
Then back to the camp to bundle up. It's been getting down into the upper twenties the last few nights.. Burrr.....
Day 22 Oct 24 - Creative Discovery Museum. Dinner down town
Today was the first of two Rosalie days. Days where the adults get to be bored by kid stuff rather than the kid bored by adult stuff.
We really do try hard to throw in some things we think she would enjoy with each of our stops. We hope it helps her to survive those long days of touring presidents homes, tow truck museums and such. Hopefully our strategy is working if only just a bit.
Today's adventure was the Creative Discovery Museum of Chattanooga. http://www.cdmfun.org/
Pretty much your standard children's museum with lots of hands on activities.
Then off to a nice dinner downtown to round out the day.
We really do try hard to throw in some things we think she would enjoy with each of our stops. We hope it helps her to survive those long days of touring presidents homes, tow truck museums and such. Hopefully our strategy is working if only just a bit.
Today's adventure was the Creative Discovery Museum of Chattanooga. http://www.cdmfun.org/
Pretty much your standard children's museum with lots of hands on activities.
Then off to a nice dinner downtown to round out the day.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Day 21 Oct 23 – National Tow Truck Museum, Raccoon Mountain Pump station
Its amazing what you will find on http://www.roadsideamerica.com/.
We were looking in Tennessee and found that there is a Tow truck museum as well as a Tow truck manufacturer just outside of Chattanooga. While we did take in the museum one needs to be in the Towing industry to be allowed a tour of the manufacturing plant, Miller Industries.
The museum is interesting for car buffs and such, not so much for a couple of the members of the webegone gang though. They were gracious in going along though..
http://internationaltowingmuseum.org/
Then a quick trip up the Raccoon Mountain pump station road. Unfortunately the visitors center was closed for construction. Still a nice 12-15 mile drive up Raccoon mountain. http://www.tva.gov/sites/raccoonmt.htm
The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)built this hydro electric plant to help meet peak demand usage. Hot summers and cold winters. They have a storage pond at the top of the mountain and another at the bottom. During peak demand the turn on the spigots and let the water run down the mounting to turn the hydro generators, and into the pond below. In the evening when power demand slackens they pump the water back up the mountain for the next days usage. Recycling the water is the name of the game.
Back for a rousing dinner of hot dogs, mac-cheese and authentic fire house chili.
We were looking in Tennessee and found that there is a Tow truck museum as well as a Tow truck manufacturer just outside of Chattanooga. While we did take in the museum one needs to be in the Towing industry to be allowed a tour of the manufacturing plant, Miller Industries.
The museum is interesting for car buffs and such, not so much for a couple of the members of the webegone gang though. They were gracious in going along though..
http://internationaltowingmuseum.org/
Then a quick trip up the Raccoon Mountain pump station road. Unfortunately the visitors center was closed for construction. Still a nice 12-15 mile drive up Raccoon mountain. http://www.tva.gov/sites/raccoonmt.htm
The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)built this hydro electric plant to help meet peak demand usage. Hot summers and cold winters. They have a storage pond at the top of the mountain and another at the bottom. During peak demand the turn on the spigots and let the water run down the mounting to turn the hydro generators, and into the pond below. In the evening when power demand slackens they pump the water back up the mountain for the next days usage. Recycling the water is the name of the game.
Back for a rousing dinner of hot dogs, mac-cheese and authentic fire house chili.
Day 20 Oct 22 – Ruby Falls, Pot Roast to Die For with Tommy/Virginia
Today's highlight was a day trip to Ruby Falls, one of the caves in the area.
From the website:
Located over 1120 feet beneath the surface, Ruby Falls is the nation’s largest and deepest waterfall open to the public. Hundreds of gallons of water rush over by the minute and amaze visitors.
From the website:
Located over 1120 feet beneath the surface, Ruby Falls is the nation’s largest and deepest waterfall open to the public. Hundreds of gallons of water rush over by the minute and amaze visitors.
http://www.rubyfalls.com/
After the falls we retired back to the camp for a fre followed by some "Pot Roast to Die For". A pot roast recipe we tried out on the John's when we were in Minnesota. Seems to have worked just fine again. It was nice to have the warmth of the fire and pot roast, me thinks winter is trying to sneak in through the door here in the south...
After the falls we retired back to the camp for a fre followed by some "Pot Roast to Die For". A pot roast recipe we tried out on the John's when we were in Minnesota. Seems to have worked just fine again. It was nice to have the warmth of the fire and pot roast, me thinks winter is trying to sneak in through the door here in the south...
Day 19 Oct 21 – Arrive in Chattanooga, dinner down town, drive up Lookout Mountain
Made it to Chattanooga with out too much trouble. Only got lost once.
We met up with Susan's sister and her partner, Virginia and Tommy. They were on their way back home when we called and suggested they stop by for a couple days. We hit the obligatory BBQ rib joint then drove up to the top of Lookout mountain for a look see, Quite a view from up there.
Leroy took everyone by a hang gliding launch site where he had flown from oh so many years ago. 1000' or so off the valley floor. He took Rosalie's hand and strolled up on the concrete launch pad. You would have thought he was going to launch himself and little Rose off the cliff the way the others made out. Seems not everyone is comfortable standing on the edge looking down... (Leroy note: no we were not in any danger what so ever.... The six tons of concrete was going no where.) http://www.hanglide.com/
Back to home base for the night. http://www.raccoonmountain.com/
We met up with Susan's sister and her partner, Virginia and Tommy. They were on their way back home when we called and suggested they stop by for a couple days. We hit the obligatory BBQ rib joint then drove up to the top of Lookout mountain for a look see, Quite a view from up there.
Leroy took everyone by a hang gliding launch site where he had flown from oh so many years ago. 1000' or so off the valley floor. He took Rosalie's hand and strolled up on the concrete launch pad. You would have thought he was going to launch himself and little Rose off the cliff the way the others made out. Seems not everyone is comfortable standing on the edge looking down... (Leroy note: no we were not in any danger what so ever.... The six tons of concrete was going no where.) http://www.hanglide.com/
Back to home base for the night. http://www.raccoonmountain.com/
Day 18 Oct 20 – Day 2 at Barton Spring and a visit to Jack
Today was a lazy day of sorts, we went to visit the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg Tn. Home of the world famous Jack Daniels Tennessee Sour mash whiskey. An interesting tour to learn how the whiskey is made. True to form you don't know whether to believe that Jack was only 16 when he registered his distillery or if that was a bit of PR lore....
A bit of window shopping, lunch and headed back to the lake via a small one lane country road. Love those back roads...
A bit of window shopping, lunch and headed back to the lake via a small one lane country road. Love those back roads...
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Day 17 Oct 19 – Day 1 at Barton Spring, Normandy Fire Department Chili
Today we leave Nashville behind. The camp ground was gearing up for the Christmas season. They decorate the grounds, invite the local TV/Radio stations, charge $25 a car load and do it up big.
We headed out to our next stop, a TVA camp ground just out side of Tullahoma Tn. We wanted to tour the Jack Daniels distillery just down the road a bit in Lynchberg and this seemed to be the closest camp ground in the area.
We decided to take the back roads and ended up going through Bell Buckle Tn. during their busiest day of the year. There were signs for parking a mile outside of town (or so it seemed). The small main street was wall to wall people. We think we may have scraped a couple of folks as we were squeezing our way through. They did not seem to mind though.
Then as we passed through the little village of Normandy we noted a sign for the local Fire Department Chili Dinner, so of course we had to go back once we were set up. Acceptable chile, great price. It looked like they had a great turn out for the fund raiser. We left with an extra Chili to go.
Camp ground: http://camprrm.com/2013/06/barton-springs-campground/
Day 16 Oct 18 – Opry Day
Finally the day has arrived.... Grand Ole Opry day...
We went to the Grand Ole Opry today. If anyone was listening to the radio on WSM 650 AM you may have heard us clapping in the audience. The two hour show is broadcast live from the Opry with 4 1/2 segments. Each segment is hosted by a different Opry member. We had Bill Anderson, John Conlee and a couple of others.
Two hours of great entertainment...
http://www.opry.com/
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