Day 48: Rolling and Rowing on the Tennessee River

Saturday, November 5th - Head of the Hooch and More

It did not warm up here in Chattanooga, but fortunately the rain stopped and it was a crystal clear day. Yesterday when we were down at the riverfront visiting the aquarium, there was a lot of activity going on along the water's edge. Tents were being set up and people were milling around, so we knew this was preparation for a "happening." When we inquired, we were told that the big high school, college and masters sculling races were taking place today, Saturday. We needed a good walk/exercise and what better place than seeing the sculls with freezing kids/olders going down stream?

Mentioned earlier, Chattanooga was a true surprise. We selected visiting Chatt, as we needed to get from Memphis to the Great Smoky Mountains and did not want to revisit Nashville. Chattanooga was a good midway stopping point. When Don worked for Gibson Guitar, he spent a lot of time in Nashville. I visited once with Don, again for a library convention and another time for a wedding, so we saw so reason to repeat Nashville.

Chattanooga is an exciting, beautiful city! We were told later that Chatt at one point in the 1970's was rated #1 for pollution, as it sits in a bowl and had a lot of manufacturing poisoning the air. The plants cleaned up their act and the city has made a concerted effort to get environmentally clean. They run electric trolleys to transport the masses throughout the city. They also restored/redesigned the waterfront, added many artistic touches - statues, architectural walkways, a waterfall staircase, cool seating along the river, etc. This is the first city we have visited that showed no sign of the current recession. The shops are busy. People walking around were having fun, plus the city is clean and sparkling. Absolutely a great place to visit!

Since it was going to be busy down by the waterfront because of the boat races, we selected a parking garage over by the Chattanooga Choo Choo and thought we'd take the electric trolley into town. Can't go to Chattanooga without seeing the famous train! We found out that the Choo Choo is now used as a hotel and has a couple of restaurants. A man we spoke with said he and his wife were staying in a room on the train. Since it was chilly, I asked how the heat was in on the train. He said they froze last night. Doesn't sound like much fun.

Can you see Don playing conductor?

Bundled up in winter jackets, gloves, hiking boots, and hats and we boarded the trolley into town.  We walked down to the Tennessee River and watched the boat races for awhile. The crowds were gleeful and in a party mood, cheering on their schools' rowing teams. Knowing nothing about this race, a knowledgeable spectator told us the race is called "The Head of the Hooch." Chatt's riverfront has become the relatively new home for this traditional, yearly event. Historically the Head of the Hooch is in its thirtieth year, with the past six years staged in Chattanooga. 1,500 crews compete over the weekend in this second largest regatta in the country. Chattanooga truly is the prefect locale for this race. Spectators can be at seated by the riverside or stand on bridges and look down on the racers as the sculls pass underneath.

We, too, wanted to see the race from up on a bridge, so we walked across the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, the Walnut Street Bridge, over to the North Shore.  The bridge was closed to auto traffic in 1978, repairs were made and the bridge was reopened as a footbridge. Cool concept and a fabulous place to stroll and see the river and city from a new angle.

The North Shore had its own set of attractions. Within a beautiful park was a carousel. We were told that the bones of this rescued merry-go-round were moved to Chattanooga and it was reconstructed. The locals had to carve all the horses and other animals.  We learned that of the 4,000 carousels that once existed in the US, only 150 are still in currently up and running. Rather sad. Amazingly we have seen quite a few carousels on this trip.

Another Gigi relative? [Our friend, Muffy, has a rescued merry-go-round horse named Gigi.]

Before leaving the North Shore, Don wanted to check out the riverboat docked near the park. One of the cooks that was just reporting to work invited us to come on board and look around. He said the boat is permanently docked here and opened as a hotel and restaurant this past June. He said it is far too expensive fuel-wise to take the old riverboat out for nightly tours. Staying a night or two on-board, especially if the weather is nice, could be fun.

 

The day was waning and it was time to return to the campground. Climbing back up to the bridge entrance, it looked like a long, long walk back to the trolley. Don reminded me that it was my idea to do the whole bridge, so I bucked up, bundled up and hoofed it back across the Tennessee River. Hope we get to come back to Chattanooga again some day.