Woke to a clear cool morning and we slipped our lines from Shell Mound dock and headed northeast up the Nickajack Lake to Chattanooga just as the sun was rising over the mountain.
While leaving we watched a very long freight train with three engines on the tracks across Nickajack Lake. We tried to count the train cars, but lost track after 80! We heard the trains yesterday evening, seeming to come one right after the other for hours. Must be a popular rail line.
Soon after we started the river section narrowed with cliffs rising off the river and the waters deepened as we head into the Tennessee Valley Gorge.
As we completed another bend in the river and went under the I-24 bridge, we could see the old Hale’s Bar Power Plant built in 1904-1913. This power plant was replaced in 1960 when the new Nickajack Dam and Lock were built. At the time of its construction Hale’s Bar was the second largest electrical plant, bested only by Niagara.
The Tennessee River at this point has more twists and bends around the mountains- Raccoon at 1847 ft, Hicks st 1808ft and Elder at 1867 feet. This section of the river is called the Grand Canyon of Tennessee.
At one point the river is only 700 feet wide with mountains plunging right into the river. At one point we measure the depth at 135 feet, where normally the depth readings were 30-60 feet.
This section of the river is dominated by the Prentice Coleman State Forest, home to 300 kinds of trees and over 900 variety of wild flowers. Only in Central China is there a larger concentration of plant life.
Going around another bend, we came upon a bald eagle sitting on a floating log in the river. He watch us pass and lifted his wings to balance himself as our wake jostled the log. My eagle count for the Tennessee River is now up to 11.
Also the Canadian Geese are following us south!
Our twists and turns take us past Signal Mountain and Williams Island, where on April, 1862, a Union soldier named James Andrews was captured for his destroying communication lines and stealing a railroad engine. A Confederate Captain gave chase in another engine, eventually overtaking and capturing James Andrews. The only train chase of the Civil War.
The next bend reveals Lookout Mountain which rises 2000 feet above the river. On its slopes was fought the last battle of the Revolutionary War. And it was here in November of 1863 that Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Battle Above the Clouds, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War during which 34,000 were killed. Today Lookout Mountain is famous for its 8000 acre Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, the nations oldest and largest military park.
As we take our last bend and Bill readies the boat for docking and the industry of Chattanooga - cement and metal, comes into view followed by the high rises on the bluff.
We pulled off onto the Erwin Marina dock and tied off.
We had wanted to get fuel before tying up ,but another boat was at the fuel dock. When the boat finished we moved our boat to the fuel dock and filled our tanks. Unfortunately the pump was very slow so it took us much longer to fuel up than normal. We finally got retied to the dock and all connected to electric and water.
We had the a bit more energy left to make dinner and do a few chores before falling asleep!
Bill did walk the river walk a bit and took a shot of the Riverboat Restaurant docked further up the river.
Day 161 October 31 Halloween. Lay day in Chattanooga
Spent the morning doing laundry, cleaning and making grocery lists. Plan to head into town and visit the Aquarium later.
Chattanooga began in 1815 when John Ross established a ferry across the river. He also built a boat landing and warehouse and then began to trade with the Cherokee Indians. The settlement continued to grow, later adding metal works and mills to the economy.
The town was in a strategic location on the river and its metal industry made it a prime target for the Confederates to maintain control and the Union wanting to take control of Chattanooga. The battles of Lookout Mountain and Battle on Missionary Ridge resulted in the Union controlling this section of the Tennessee River and securing a major supply line when a pontoon bridge was built to allow wagons to cross the river. Today the city is known for its Art Museum and many city sculptures, its Aquarium, The Renovated Choo Choo Train station, Lookout Mountain Military Park and Incline Railway and its insurance and banking industry. Oh yes, and don't forget Ruby Falls and Rock City.
When we finished chores, we walked down the riverfront into town, climbing up the stairs right at the Aquarium complex. We continued walking and stopped at Puckett's for Tennessee Barbecue. Was delicious!
After lunch we headed back to the Aquarium to see their two main exhibits - Rivers to Ridges, marine life on the Tennessee River and their Oceans exhibit.
We took lots of pictures and enjoyed recognizing many of the fresh and salt water fish we kept in our aquariums back in our early years!!
Here are the salt water fish and invertebrates.
Surprisingly, the aquarium had exhibits that included alligators, turtles, frogs and butterflies!
