Chattanooga and Down River Again 10/29 to 11/1/12

We stayed in Chattanooga an extra day due to Sandy, the Frankenstorm, or as Martha called it, Blizeastercane! Our hearts go out to those impacted, looks like it was a nightmare. Although we don’t have tv we watched on the computer and couldn’t take our eyes off the horrible pictures. We are glad that Katie Vellucci is safe even though she has no power for the moment. We are also glad that relatively few people were injured given the huge nature of the storm.

The worst story I heard was this NYC cop who rescued his family from water entering the lower levels of his home only to return to the basement and drown – so sad. So very sad.

Judy and Michael on One September returned home coincidently the weekend of the storm. This was all planned in advance so they could attend their yacht club change of watch held on Saturday 10/27 in Virginia Beach. We are not sure what that means for the new commodore! Judy and Michael live right on the ocean. The returned on Thursday to show pictures of how their dock gradually went under water throughout the day. Michael plugged holes and put out sand bag barriers. The water stopped rising 4” from overflowing into their house! It was very close but a good outcome for them. Fortunately the generator worked so it wasn't as bad as it could be.

We only felt strong winds in Chattanooga. We were on the edge of the storm and missed the snow in eastern tenn/western va about 100 miles away or less. We saw lots of ugly clouds but no bad weather except for the winds. It made for colorful sunsets though.

 

The wind was terrible (relatively speaking). It made 50 degrees seem like 30. We bundled up like Eskimos. I was wearing at least 4 layers at any given time – a cami, a short sleeved t-shit, a long sleeve t-shirt, a fleece, and a Columbia wind jacket with gloves. Don’t forget the thermal socks with my boat shoes. Then I was warm! It was so cold we put us the back canvas!

Naturally the wind impacted the boats. We resorted to complicated tying system to hold the boat in place to counterbalance the rising and lowering river heights. The Pickwick Lock and Dam was making electricity every morning and evening which meant they released more water than normal. I am not sure why we did not anticipate this. Hydroelectric power comes from the dam. Duh. The water rose about a foot then went back down which caused a real problem being tied up right on the cement steps in front of the aquarium. The cement dock has a step back of about 2 feet. There are black rubber fenders built in every 20 feet or so (we had two). If the water rose a little more it would have been over the first cement step pushing the boat over the cement and pushing those black rubber fenders into the fiberglass. The men were up most of the night retying lines. Kermit used every fender we had to build little protections around the black rubber fender and protect the boat from the cement. He also used every line to double tie every line – one loose and one tight incase a line gave way or the wind or water changed direction. It was tense overnight during the storm.

Still, this is a very livable city. The first city we think we could live in.

We visited same restaurant three times. Blue Plate is just delicious. Kermit and I went there for breakfast the first morning. The food just melted in our mouths. I had a cheese omelet and Kermit had the white omelet. The hash browns, the biscuits... I could go on and on. It wasn't like anything we ever tasted. It literally melted in our mouths. Unbelievable. Everything fresh made and locally grown. I don't know how they do it.

For dinner that day we were walking around town with Dick and Deanna from Sareanna after visiting the aquarium trying to find a restaurant. Dick suggested we go to Blue Plate since breakfast was so good. I even found a new drink - ever hear of a Greyhound? Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with gin. OMG! We groaned with pleasure through the entire meal! The best, best, best fried chicken and pork tenderloin we every had. Kermit and I shared. I can’t describe the crunchy crust. I don’t know how they do it. I also can’t figure out how they get the hash browns to just melt in your mouth. We even had dessert because the odds were good it would be delicious and it was! Peanut butter pie and Oreo cheesecake. The waitress brought us the second piece on the sly. OH MY GOSH it was good. We waddled back to the boat groaning. Then we went there for breakfast the next morning with the entire crowd. Three meals in one restaurant in a large city filled with good restaurants says something about Blue Plate!

Tuesday 10/29 was supposed to be our last day in Chattanooga so we borrowed a car from Jim’s brother who lives in Chattanooga to reprovision. I must say this is the last time we shop at Whole foods. It is expensive and some of the food is already spoiled. It is hard to choke this out but I think I prefer to shop at a Walmart Supercenter (I hate Walmart) because the food is fresher.

Kermit and Jim took the opportunity of an extra day in town to get a haircut on 10/30. Dick says he wouldn’t worry about length or color or even the quality of the cut if only he had hair! Kermit says this was the best barber in a long time. He looks awfully cute

How could we visit Chattanooga without visiting the Chattanooga Choo Choo? So we did but it was kind of a waste of time. This is the old passenger depot turned into a hotel and tourist destination.

They have a huge model railroad which is kind of neat. It is self guided except this guy with really bad teeth kept following me around pointing out the incredibly obvious (I really hate that). After a while we realized that the model railroad was built and maintained by a club and this fellow was a club member who was particularly proud of this work. Knowing that made it more fun. I particularly like the Burp Beer buildings and the smoke coming out of the burning building!

 

 

If you visit Chattanooga and need a hotel it would be neat to stay in one of the many rail cars that have been converted to hotel rooms in the courtyard. There are fountaiins and lots of flowers where the tracks used to be. It is quite pretty.

The best thing about visiting the ChooChoo was the nice walk to and from the marina (about 15 blocks each way) and having ice cream. It has been a long time since we had ice cream. It was great to get out and walk around seeing interesting sites and people after weeks of being cooped up on the boat.

We stopped in a dollar store to get some Imodium for Kermit and a lady was negotiating every item. “I am sure this was 5 dollars. It is not worth more than 5 dollars”. “No maam, it is 7 dollars”. “I only want it for 5 dollars”. “Do you want it maam”. “I am sure this was marked 5 dollars” and over and over. We didn’t wait to see if she got it for 5 dollars.

There are lots of locally owned restaurants and bars in the commercial district. Lots of apartments and lofts too. Few grocery stores and pharmacies down there though so this area must be built up on the last few years ahead of the amenities or we just didn’t see those stores. I think it would be fun to live here.

We visited a bar called Hair of the Dog Pub. It had a dumb waiter right behind us so I watched the beer go up and empty glasses go down.

We met up with the vessel Annie in Chattanooga. They docked just ahead of us. This photo shows the tourist river boat out for a sunset cruise. It stopped just next to Annie (not in the picture but located to the right) and both boats started playing the calliope at the same time with the same song!

Other best parts include the River Gallery Sculpture Garden – amazing sculptures in gardens on bluffs above the river. You know it will be fun when this public garden has a home printed brochure describing the sculpture! I know I took pictures but I can't find them. So these are pictures taken from Google Images.




Artisan everything in this little Bluff View  Arts District so we bought all sorts of goodies – favs include the Jack Daniels chocolates that have just a hint of bourbon (that didn’t make it down the block) and the Chantilly cognac cream chocolate cups (thanks Dick), the bread store that Kermit bullied to open for us – great stolen coffee cake, and the fun of walking around. Many of the shops have glassed off the work area so you can watch the bakers , candy makers, and coffee roasters so their thing. This is definitely a city we could live in.

Chattanooga is definitely set up for young people with lots of outdoor recreation. Walking bridge over the river, and another one over an expressway that is made out of glass – Kermit had a hard time with that one.

The park along the river front by the aquarium has the best sculptures – even the concrete is sculpted. You know how some cities have sculptures on a theme outside of the shops? This place has brick sculptures. Odd. We saw a rowboat and a couch. Odd. Again, these are photos from Google Images since mine didn't come out.

 

The last day we noticed that this park (where we have been walking Rusty) does not allow dogs. Isnt that odd? No one stopped us so I guess they are flexible about it.

We left Chattanooga on Thursday 10/31 instead of Wednesday 10/30. Long day on the river – left at dawn (7:15am) and sailed until about 5pm. Downriver we picked up a mile or two per hour from the current.  We are returning past scenery we traveled before. You get a different perspective with different light and moving in a different direction. Trees changing a little more but still a lot of green to be seen. This is a picture of a fellow wind surfing on the river!

 

Critter alert: Kermit saw a golden eagle swoop out oft he sky and pick up a fish out of the river. Evidently these birds are unusual because the bald eagles chase them away. He wsa at least 25% bigger than the bald eagles we have seen. Kermit said he looked like a brindle dog with waves of golds and browns through his feathers. Not like a bald eagle at all. We didn't get a picture - he moved pretty quickly but Kermit watched him through the binoculors.

 

Some houses along the side of the river between Scottsboro and Chattanooga are huge with outbuildings and boat houses.

 

Ultimately we will return to Grand Harbor to begin the trip down the Tenn-Tom. We have to go through 4 locks to get there. Thursday we figured out a new system to use on the locks. I put lines on the two mid-cleats and wrap both around the bollard in different directions. Then Kermit takes the forward mid-cleat line to the back deck and I take the aft mid-cleat line to the front of the boat and voila we have spring the boat around the bollard so we don’t move! No pictures. We forgot. You can imagine it! No arguing either. Maybe you can't imagine that part.

Thursday night stayed at Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro AL. WOW what a nice place. Everything about it is top notch, especially the people. We were greeted by 4 fellows who took care of everything. They tied us up, pumped us out, and filled our port gas (Kermit filled starboard) then tied us up again at the dock for the night. So pleasant and helpful. Beautiful grounds includes a golf course and a ramp to the river. Rusty went for a swim. Frost in the morning – real frost. Great dinner at The Docks, voted the Best in Northern Alabama. Rustic in the best possible way with an amazing view of the river, concrete floors, nicely decorated, friendly waitress, and good food. A family place, the owners granddaughter came in to trick or treat.

This is Rusty showing us around. He loved the morning frost!! He is like a puppy in the cold.

 They even have a real palm tree! Maybe we will be warm soon.

 

Left Scottsboro to continue down the Tennessee River. Next stop Huntsville. A completely different feeling here at Ditto’s Landing. Still drop dead gorgeous but with a more sinister or less friendly atmosphere. Still the 4 guys catching the lines but then they disappear. Kermit still gives a nice tip to the boss guy but he pockets it with the clear indication that it will not be shared with the other fellows, even after Kermit indicated the purpose of the tip. Laundry facilities in which the one washer and dryer look like they have been jimmied for the change. In fact after one load it is clear the machine does not work so we have wet towels draped all over the boat. I walked Rusty around and noticed the camp ground across the road. Kermit tried to take a shower but was concerned for his safety due to the high number of banjoes in that campground and among the folks who appeared as he prepared to enter the shower.

So this is a different place. Unfortunately we will be here for two nights. Too bad Huntsville has the stuff we want to see and Scottsboro is a day behind us because we would rather be at Goose Pond Colony.

On Friday 11/2 (Grandma Dreuth’s birthday!) we plan to visit Jack Daniels in Lynchburg. If one more person reminds me that it is in a dry county I will scream. Then on Saturday we will go to the Huntsville space museum. More on those stops later!