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Day162-167. 2nd year. November 1-5. Lay days in Chattanooga and Road trip to Atlanta

 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.



Day 163 Chattanooga

Woke to frost on the dock this morning, but it burned off with the sun by 11:00.  We even had to turn on the heat in the boat as it got down to 32 last night and we woke to 39 degrees.

Spent the morning cleaning up the boat.  At 11:00 Mary Anna, our neighbor on Tierra Verde, came by and brought boater friends who wanted to see our boat.  We had a nice visit and boat tour with Carol and Bruce along with Mary Anna.

After they left, we had lunch, then finished up the last load of laundry and began researching the next leg of our trip the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway.  There are lots of anchorages and few marinas on this section so we have lots of places to choose from for our stops.


Day 164-166   November 3-5.  Road trip to Atlanta to visit family 
We will be renting a car to drive to Atlanta tomorrow to visit Cori and her family and our son, Kyle,  is flying up to join us.  Actually we will be celebrating birthdays - Cori's a bit late and Kyle's a bit early.  Plus we can get our grandkids fix at the same time.   Looking forward to the trip.  

Posting to the blog during our visit to Atlanta will be limited.  I get to take a short break, but will post a few pictures on Sunday or Monday.


Sunday Nov 5
We spent our time over the weekend enjoying family at the park, dancing and singing and playing with Mia and Avery, our grandkids.  We also enjoyed meals, especially the chocolate pie and cheesecake for special birthday desserts.   Bill even got his fill of Taco Bell.  We spread out the birthday celebrations and sang Happy Birthday four times.  Cori and Kyle got to celebrate a lot.







Bill and Kyle got in the spirit of the playground and enjoyed the swings as much as Mia and Avery!!




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