Sightseeing on Veterans Day With Vets

 

Last August, while trotting around the northwest and Alaska, we spent a few days in Colorado with Ms. Casitaescapes and her spouse, Jeff.  This past weekend we had the opportunity to return the favor.

This was our first time to entertain  fellow Casita owners due to our challenging parking situation.  To park in our driveway one must back in, downhill, performing an 180 degree turn and stay off the hand built wall and flower garden.  But the ex-truck driver was up for the task.

That’s Kira, the Keeshond, lower left and the Chatta-Egg, all winterized, center.

Sight-seeing was top priority….along with catching up!

Decided downtown to the Tennessee River was the first place to visit.  As a native, we have endured Chattanooga before it became the place to see and live……. smog and backwardness, years ago, made it a place to escape.  At least for me!

It’s a beautiful warm, sunny day and the Market Street bridge is reflecting in the blue river.

Glenda poses for me on the Walnut Street Bridge as I fill them in on the old span’s history.  It was Chattanooga’s first bridge, built in 1890, now a walking bridge.

From there we traveled up river to the Chickamauga Dam searching for blue herons to photograph.  (That sounds like we paddled up the river….no, we drove the van!)

Not as many birds as usual but got a picture of our friends.

Tennessee River just below the dam.

After lunch we are heading to one of the mountains overlooking the city, Signal Mountain. 

 

 

The first day ends with me promising a trip to the tiny mountains in the distance…….the Cherokee National Forest!

Veterans Day is another gorgeous sunny day!  We make a lunch and get an early start as we’re heading about 55 miles east to Polk County and the Whitewater Center, home of the 1996 whitewater Olympics.

The water in the Ocoee River is calm today as TVA has taken it out to generate electricity.

And the Visitors Center was closed for the winter.  David and I got married here 13 years ago…brought back some nice memories.

Next stop is an overlook climbing the mountain to  Chilhowie campground.

 

This is Parksville Lake created by Ocoee Dam #1, the oldest hydroelectric dam in TVA system.   Completed in 1911, before TVA was established. 

Love this view!  This is sacred territory for me!

On top of Bean Mountain we picnicked at this old CCC structure set on the western brow.

Back in Chattanooga by mid-afternoon, Glenda, with her boundless energy, decides that a trip up Lookout Mountain will complete the tour.  Off to Point Park…a Civil War sight.

 

Exactly 150 years ago, during November, the Battle Above the Clouds was being fought.

The views from the park are amazing!

Downtown and parts of the Tennessee River winding through the valley.

By this point we all are ready to collapse and veg with the TV.

Great fun with fun folks who both served their country!

This was our first attempt at being tour guides and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Our friends have headed east toward the Great Smoky Mtns…..hope they are staying warm!

And we are still cleaning the house and getting the casita baby ready for her January western trip!

Great Smoky Mountains & Cherokee Rally

 

Arriving at Happy Holiday RV Park in Cherokee two days before the rally, we decided to drive north on 441 to see the leaf changes.  The national park had just opened that morning and visitors were flocking to the different attractions.

Our first stop is at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to tour the Mtn Farm Museum.   The old farm has many out buildings similar to the ones we remember from our grandparents’ homes.

Notice the old fencing around the garden plot!

The farmhouse was gated to prevent entry but pictures were made from the door.  Image living here back in to 1800’s! 

 

After admiring the Oconaluftee River,

we are heading for Mingus Mill, a 1886 water-powered turbine grist mill.

 

Love this old mill…it’s still grinding corn!  Fresh corn meal can still be purchased inside.

After a few more stops we are back on 441.  The trees are becoming more vibrant as we ascend the mountain.

The mountains are obscured by the thick haze that gives them the name of “Smoky”.

 

The winding road and parade of colors is hypnotizing as we cruise up to Newfound Gap.  Then our stomachs are protesting with hunger and keep us from exploring Clingman’s Dome, 7 miles farther up the road.

Forty-five minutes later we are arriving back at Happy Holiday RV park, our home for the week.

This is our 4th rally at Happy Holiday and it’s the mountains and the trout stream that keeps pulling us back.  And, of course, all the cute little white trailers!

Our home and the creek just behind us.

The RV park is huge with two creeks and a lake (pond) in the middle.  The eggs are mixed in with the larger trailers and motor homes but all appear to be happy.

The morning mist is lingering over the campground

 

A few late flowers are scattered at the more permanent sites.

The rally has the usual egg parade and potluck dinner…..those at the end of the pot luck line were ravished with hunger but said it was worth the wait!

No pictures from the pot luck…too busy eating!  And only one mod is captured.  Our shoes are always in the way….love this idea.  It is just in front of the bed.

A few unusual trailers… this is Troy’s silver painted Burro.

We camped next to him in 2011…nice to see old friends.  And others made new friends.

In honor of Halloween…..kept this non-tripod night shot of the lake and trailers.

Love this lantern!

This fur baby is 16 years old and has cataracts.  The sunglasses are not just for show!

The sunshine is abundant on Friday and we are heading east on 19 in search of fresh apples and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Beautiful day!

 

And suddenly it’s all over…but not before we make our reservations for next year!

PS    To my loyal readers:

Apologies for being so late with this post!  And the lack of comments on your blogs.  Trying to find the balance between living in the Casita world and living in our Chattanooga world. 

Happy at Home!!?!

 

I believe in positive affirmations, positive thinking and being positive all around.  But believing and doing are somewhat different when it comes to this stationery adjustment!

We’ve been home one month and 4 days and it’s not been much fun!  Lots of $$$ going to places that aren’t joy producing…home insurance, new tires, car repairs  (got the check engine light fixed), A/C repair…

In the middle of spending all this money,  new camera bug bit me.  My rationale is something like this…..spending all this money on stuff that brings no pleasure, might as well spend money on something fun!  So a cute little red Nikon Coolpix with a 30X zoom came into my life.

Watch what this baby will do.  This is picture of downtown Chattanooga taken while on a Stringer’s Ridge hike.

Notice the spot of blue in the center of the picture…..look hard!

This is the  walking bridge, Walnut Street, on the left and Market Street bridge on the right.

Zoomed partway…..

And zoomed again!

Unfortunately it lacks a viewfinder and all one can do is point in a general direction and zoom.  Can’t really see what is being photographed.  After studying the above picts, the camera was returned and the trusty D-40 will get a cleaning!

This past weekend the Nina and Pinta were in town…..remember Christopher Columbus and 1492?……and we walked across the Walnut Street bridge heading for a tour. 

Rowers were all over the Tennessee River preparing for a race.

 

 

And a few paddle boarders!

Could not get a good picture of the ships but learned a lot about sailing in the 1400’s.  These boats are replicas built in 1988 and 2004 in South America.

If this interest you, information can be found by following the site on the sign.

Topic change!

Started writing this post yesterday morning, before we started packing for the Cherokee rally.  By mid-afternoon there was a noticeable shift in my energy; happiness mixed with  joy and anticipation was filling my heart!  All I need to do, to feel happy, is to pack and leave?

During the first cup of coffee this morning, my thoughts are on a friend who may not live another 12 months.  It’s reminding me that I want to live each day as if it is the last….and something must change in the way we are living here at home!

Embarrassed to confess that TV has become very important with more and more shows to be watched each week.  Filling my inner spaces with action and mystery, non-uplifting shows with titles like Revenge, Betrayal and Scandal.  And reading dark books to fill the void…They Are all Gone and Gone Girl.

Still not sure about what changes must be made….but need to stop numbing myself with mindless activities. 

Trusting that life will reveal a new direction, eventually.

Here’s a picture taken from the Cherokee rally several years ago.

Keeping my fingers crossed hoping the rain will be minimal.  Time to continue packing!  Hoping to be there by mid-afternoon!