After a few chores our neighbor Mary Anna, who lives in Chattanooga 2 months of the year, came by to pick us up and we drove to the Incline Railway at Lookout Mountain. We took the Flanagan shortcut to get there. That is short hand for Mary Anna getting distracted while driving and having to "recalulate" her route. We are all bundled up as it is quite cold, the morning started out at 35 and the day warmed to maybe 50 degrees.
The Incline Railway was built in 1895 and is still being used today. We enjoyed the ride on the .8 mile track up the mountain's 1500 feet. Was a bit steep in two places and had to hang on because it felt like your might slide out of your seat.
Once at the top we had great views of Chattanooga and the surrounding mountains.
We also got to see the machine room so we could see the gears and engines that drive the railway.
Leaving the Incline Railway station we walked to Point Park, part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park and learned all about the battles at Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. We were able to stand where two of the canon batteries were deployed, walk through the museum describing the battles and how troops on both side used flags and torches to communicate during battle. It was hard to imagine how soldiers negotiated this rocky terrain and fought on these mountains.
We also enjoyed the view from the mountain top as we walked the park. You could really see the winding Tennessee River that we traveled to get to Chattanooga.
And, of course, Bill climbed on any and every rock he could!
Returning to the Incline Railway, we descended the mountain sitting in the first seats of the car. We really had to hang on going down.
We had a late lunch at the Chattanooga institution, the Purple Daisy, where we ate pimento cheese and Brunswick stew and barbecue pork, their specialities. Mary Anna then returned us to the our boat negotiating the closed roads as the city prepares for the crewing competition - the Hooch this weekend.
Some great sunset pictures from the river.
