Chattanooga

Friday, September 26

We took our time getting underway this morning; it was another clear cool beautiful morning. We all took advantage of the marina showers and finally got off about 9:00. Today we had a short day with just 35 miles to Chattanooga and no locks.

On the way out of the marina Diana got this nice picture of the hill across the river with the marina’s floating cabins in the foreground. They are semi-permanently anchored cabin that they rent out. You can spend your time enjoying the view or bring your own small boat to go out on the river or rent on of their rentals.

Visible last night when we pulled in was a large quarry operation farther up river, this morning we past it shortly after leaving the marina.

This is one of the most scenic stretches of the entire river; we took our time and enjoyed a lot of great scenery. I have included many pictures and will let them speak for themselves.

Shortly after 1:00 we were into Chattanooga area there is a school complex on the water’s edge that I believe is a private boarding prep school. By 1:30 we were tied to the city dock just below the aquarium. This picture looks up the terraced park at the two aquarium buildings. The one on the right is fresh water and was the first build (maybe 15 years ago) and the one on the left is saltwater and is only a few years old.

Off our bow at the end of the terraced park is a large water fountain. The other picture shows Memories from the top of the terrace.

Just up river from us is an old wooden decked bridge that was rescued from demolition and turned into a pedestrian bridge. We decided that we would leave the aquarium for tomorrow and go for a walk today. We walked up the hill to the pedestrian bridge. Diana decided that it looked like a long walk across the river and back and there was an art museum right there by the bridge. The museum is in three buildings of very different style, here are pictures of two of them.

Dave, Mary and I headed out across the bridge and by the time we could see the boat there were two rowing shells coming up river. We walked a couple of blocks on the other side of the river and came back across a newer (1917) highway bridge. It provided a nice view of the fountain, Memories, the aquarium and lookout mountain in the background.

I also got a nice picture of Memories from above. While we were relaxing after the walk the local tour boat, The Southern Bell, came by with the calipee planning.

We ended the day with an excellent dinner at the Bluewater Grille.

Saturday, September 27

We were in no hurry this morning and slept in. After breakfast we headed up the hill to the aquarium.

We decided to do the salt water half first. It was a very interesting and large display. They also had a butterfly display. One decided that it like Diana’s hat. In the tropical display they had a pair of Hyacinth Macaws. The fish were difficult to photograph so no pictures but it is an extremely well done display.

We decided the feet could use a break so we headed back to the boat to relax and have lunch. After lunch we head back to the fresh water half of the aquarium. It is an even larger display then the salt water and equally well done. You start by taking a very long escalator to the top. The exhibits cover all the rivers of the world but concentrates on the Tennessee. At the top you are in the mountains at the head of the river and you walk down ramps to different levels and that works you down to the Gulf of Mexico. The consensus was the Chattanooga Aquarium is a first class exhibit that was well worth the visit.

After the aquarium we decide that a walk of an extra block to a Ben and Jerry’s was well worthwhile. While we sat on a bench outside the aquarium there where carriages offering rides.

We went back to the boat for dinner and a free concert in the park. The band is at the far end of the park so it is not too loud.