Day 5 Tennessee Aquarium

Day 5 Tennessee Aquarium, originally uploaded by Gail S.

After a restful night at the Chattanoogan Hotel, we awoke to a steady rain. Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain were covered in fog. It's a great day to leave the bike in the hotel garage and visit the Tennessee Aquarium at the Chattanooga Downtown Riverfront. We borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and walked a few blocks to the City Cafe Diner for a couple of scrumptious omelets with toast and grits. We managed to find the Downtown Electric Shuttle bus that took us to our destination.

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga has been a centerpiece to America’s Scenic City in more ways than one. The original building, a freshwater and saltwater aquarium known as River Journey, debuted on May 1, 1992. It was the focus of the ongoing revitalization effort in downtown Chattanooga and capped a 20-year effort to bring tourists back to what was once a blighted downtown area. The attraction anchored the creation of Ross’s Landing as a destination within the city, garnering support from other businesspeople who showed faith in a “build it and they will come” philosophy.

When all was said and done, everybody did come, to the tune of 1 million visitors a year. More than a 100 new businesses were added in the multi-block area. Ross’s Landing, the original site of Chattanooga was expanded, adding a pedestrian walkway known as RiverPark. A second building, a saltwater aquarium known as Ocean Journey, was added in 2005 in an effort to keep the Aquarium on a competitive level with the planned Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The Tennessee Aquarium boasts more than 12,000 species of living animals and holds more than a million gallons of water between the two complexes.

Folks, you MUST visit this place. It's fascinating for all ages. We spent 3 hours there beginning with petting a stingray and following butterflies to a face-to-face encounter with a 10 foot shark. We would have spent more time touring the fabulous grounds, but the steady rain and chilly wind kept us indoors. Take a look at some of the photos I took in the complex.

Day 5 Starfish, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Day 5 West Coast Sea Nettle, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Day 5 Sand Tiger Shark, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Reminds me of a classic movie...

Day 5 Blue Channel Catfish, originally uploaded by Gail S.

This honkin' fish is about 5 and a half feet tall. Who knew a
Blue Channel Catfish had such a white belly?

We were pretty worn out when we headed back to the hotel to meet our old friend, Beth Harris, who had invited us to spend the night at her home.

Day 5 Dave & Beth Harris, originally uploaded by Gail S.

(Note: I didn't take this photo of our friends who live at Harris Haven Farm atop Signal Mountain. It's a slice of heaven, isn't it?)

It's a good thing Beth led us up the mountain road because it was still raining and the fog on top of the mountain was so thick we couldn't see a car length in front of us! I had been bragging to Sid about the incredible views from Dave's back deck...and he still hasn't seen them! Maybe it will clear up a bit tomorrow. We had a lovely evening with Dave and Beth sharing motorcycling stories and discussing the weather and its impact on our travels tomorrow. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us!

Day 4 Touring Chattanooga

Day 4 Rock City Barn in Alabama, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We left Huntsville heading for Chattanooga. The wind on Hwy 72 was really strong, but Sid persisted in our quest to See Rock City! Captured this shot of a Rock City Barn on Hwy 72 in North Alabama. We plan to see Rock City today!!!

Day 4 Ruby Falls Barn in Alabama, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Well, this is a first for me. I've never seen a
Ruby Falls barn before. We passed this on Hwy 72 in North Alabama.

Day 4 Overlooking Chattanooga, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Here's Sid at the overlook in Rock City just below Lover's Leap. The view was breathtaking.

Day 4 Rock City Barn as Seen from Rock City, originally uploaded by Gail S.

I think the only place you can see this barn is from Rock City itself. I shot this from Lover's Leap. Not sure what state this is in...you can actually see 7 states from Rock City. I suspect this barn is in Georgia or Tennessee. Note: one of my flickr contacts tells me this is in Georgia on land owned by Rock City. It is primarily viewable from Rock City, but can be seen through the trees from the nearby road.

Day 4 In a Crack?, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Sid makes his way through one of the many rocky passages at Rock City.

Day 4 Emily & Adam at The Terminal, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Our nephew, Adam, and his girlfriend, Emily. Adam owns a home in trendy North Chattanooga and is attending University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. We were so glad they were able to take us to visit Adam's home and then have dinner with us at the Terminal Brewhouse, a yummy place just across from the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Day 4 Sid Squared, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Sid and our other nephew, Sid, are kinda goofy, aren't they? After dinner we went to Adam's house so the two Sids could have a quick jam session - nephew on bass, uncle on drums. Fun. Nephew Sid is also a student at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.

Day 4 Night Out in Chattanooga, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We had dinner at the Terminal Brewhouse. This was just across the street from our table on the second floor deck.

Day 4 Chattanoogan Hotel, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We checked in to The Chattanoogan Hotel for the night. After a brief dance at the outdoor fireplace, we made our way in to the hotel for the night.

Day 3 Space Geek Day!!!

Day 3 Rocket Park, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Our first morning in Huntsville, Alabama (aka "Rocket City") was overcast and cool...perfect for a trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC). After breakfast at an historic Shoney's, we found our way to I-565. In a matter of minutes we could see a rocket in the distance and knew we were heading in the right direction! The rocket, a full size replica of a Saturn V, is over 360 feet high and towers over everything in Rocket Park (see the photo above). Note: the Saturn V replica is not in the photo, it stands at the entrance of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration (see the awesome rocket below), the newest addition to the USSRC.

Day 3 Saturn V Rocket Replica, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Day 3 Shuttle Park, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Adjacent to Rocket Park is Shuttle Park where they have the only full Shuttle stack of Orbiter, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters on display in the world. This photo does not do justice to the sheer size of the display. Here's another view with Sid in the foreground for a little perspective. (Note: Sid is holding a bag from the Space Gear Shop. We secured a cap, t-shirt and souvenir guide to proclaim our official status as Space Geeks!)

Day 3 Shuttle Park & Sid, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Day 3 Shuttle for Kids, originally uploaded by Gail S.

This little shuttle replica was located in the Energy Depletion Zone, a cute play area for children under age 9. What a perfect idea for families with kids of all ages!

Day 3 Saturn V, originally uploaded by Gail S.

The pride of the USSRC, however, is the awesome Saturn V. The center has one of the remaining three production versions (others are at Kennedy Space Center and the Johnson Space Center). This one was used at the Saturn facilities in Huntsville for dynamic testing. This Saturn V is so important it is a National Heritage Monument and has been the focus of a restoration project since 2005.

At the beginning of the Saturn V Restoration Project, USSRC officials initially thought the corrosion on the rocket was due to sitting outdoors for more than 30 years. While the weather probably did accelerate the deterioration, the primary cause was wildlife - birds and raccoons that built nests inside the Saturn V and, in so doing, changed the PH and created chemical reactions that literally turned isolated sections of the rocket into latticework.

Conservation Solutions, Inc., the company in charge of the preservation treatment for both the Saturn V rockets at Johnson Space Center and here in Huntsville, finished repairs on the damaged sections and painted the Huntsville rocket in December 2006. They returned in October 2007 to do the final painting and to apply the custom made decals.

Now the Saturn V has a new home in the most recent addition to the facility, the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, a 68,200-square-foot building that houses the restored Saturn V rocket. Opened in January 2008, the Davidson Center has become the new front door for the USSRC museum complex. This grand opening celebration was held in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the launch of Explorer I - the satellite that put America in the space race.

Fundraising efforts for this addition continue. While we were visiting, there were lots of people setting up tables for a banquet to be held this evening. This space is available for corporate events, receptions and even weddings! There are lots of plans for interactive displays around the floor of this building.

Day 3 The Brains of the Saturn V Rocket, originally uploaded by Gail S.

While in the main museum building, Sid found this display that he described as a stargate. Later, we saw it in place in the Davidson Center as the Instrument Ring of the Saturn V...so disappointed that we couldn't leap through it into a place where no man has gone before.

Needless to say, the USSRC is a wonderful place filled with thousands of displays depicting the history of space exploration and, particularly, the role played by the folks in Huntsville, Alabama, at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Put this one down as a "must see" for anyone with even the mildest interest in science and space.

Day 3 Instrument Ring of the Saturn V Rocket, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Day 2 Natchez Trace Parkway

Day 2 Natchez Trace Parkway, originally uploaded by Gail S.

The day was chilly, but not cold enough for our leathers. We took some back roads to Hohenwald, Tennessee. (If you recognize the name of this small town, it's probably because it is home of the Elephant Sanctuary.)

From there we entered the Natchez Trace Parkway, a roadway that is managed by the National Park Service. The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee. Today, visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping. After riding along this smooth, pleasant road, it is hard to imagine that the "Kaintucks," or boatmen from the Ohio River Valley, would walk approximately 500 miles from Natchez to Nashville along the Natchez Trace in about 30 days.

Day 2 "Melancholy" Death of Meriwether Lewis, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Here's Sid at our first stop on the parkway. This monument, erected in 1848 over Meriwether Lewis' remains, is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway and is maintained by the National Park Service. The etchings refer to the melancholy death of Mr. Lewis who died mysteriously at the age of 35 while traveling on the Natchez Trace to Washington, DC. We learned more from visitors who had studied Mr. Lewis' life and told us he had suffered from depression and, possibly, bipolar disorder.

Day 2 Meriwether Lewis Monument, originally uploaded by Gail S.

This marker at the monument tells much of the story of Meriwether Lewis, Senior Commander of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who later became governor of Louisiana and died at the age of 35 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (I just previewed this post on the blog and realized that the right edge of the photo has been cut off. Just click the photo to see the entire marker.)

Day 2 - The Parkway in Front of Us, originally uploaded by Gail S.

I shot this over Sid's shoulder to show you how it looks ahead of us. As Sid puts it, "We own the road!"

Day 2 - The Parkway Behind Us, originally uploaded by Gail S.

I shot this over my left shoulder showing our trailer and the road just traveled. Peaceful...

Day 2 - Collinwood Welcome Center, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We exited the parkway to visit the Welcome Center in Collinwood, Tennessee. This place was absolutely delightful! It is really spacious inside and houses a museum about the area. The volunteer we met offered brochures, magazines, homemade cookies and hot coffee. She exuded southern hospitality. We stayed in Collinwood for lunch at Chad's buffet where the townsfolk had gathered to share a meal after Sunday church services. Sid and I certainly stood out among the rest of the diners wearing their Sunday clothes.

It was another 30 miles down the parkway before we exited just outside of Florence, Alabama. We hated to get on busy Hwy 72 to make our way to Huntsville, our destination for the day. If you have followed our travels in the past, you know that we prefer to stick to "Blue Highways," a term coined by author, William Least Heat-Moon, to refer to small, forgotten, out of the way roads connecting rural America (which were drawn in blue on the old style Rand McNally road atlas). Well, our geekiness has emerged, and we are venturing into the big city of Huntsville, Alabama, to see the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the largest space museum IN THE WORLD! Yes, that's enough to get these two space camp wannabes to fight the traffic and the crowds on our vacation.

Our trip from the Natchez Trace to Huntsville was uneventful. The sun finally came out, the dogwoods are in bloom in the state of Alabama, and the local folks were fishing on the Tennessee River in and around Joe Wheeler State Park. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon in the spring. Tomorrow, look for photos and updates from our space adventure!

Day 1 Part 2- Lobelville, TN, Springfest

Day 1 - Lobelville, TN, Springfest, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Lobelville, the tiny town near our place on the Buffalo River, held the first ever Buffalo River Springfest. Organized by our neighbor, Hugh Waddell, along with the owner of the liquor store, it drew people from all around. It started with a pancake breakfast, then a girl's softball tournament, and wrapped up with a concert and street dance. I thought it was a grand success.

Day 1 - Lobelville, TN, Springfest, originally uploaded by Gail S.

People arrived in cars, trucks, and golf carts; on motorcycles, on horseback and on foot. This little girl was enthralled with two horses who were tethered near our bike.

Day 1 - Lobelville, TN, Springfest, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We arrived in time to see the concert. These entainers came from Nashville to perform for the town. There were 10 acts in total performing for nearly 5 hours. It was fantastic. Hugh did a marvelous job organizing this great day for our community.

Day 1 - Chickasaw State Park

Day 1 - Chickasaw State Park, originally uploaded by Gail S.

On the way to our place on the Buffalo River we pass this great park. This is a view of Lake Placid just down from the lodge. Isn't this foot bridge pretty?

Chickasaw State Rustic Park is situated on some of the highest terrain in west Tennessee. Of the area's 14,384 acres of timberland, 1,280 acres are used for recreation. The remainder is state forest managed jointly by the State Forestry Division and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The park is located in Chester and Hardeman Counties, 18 miles south of Jackson, Tennessee on State Hwy. 100.

Rowboats and dreamboats are available for rent on Lake Placid. No personally owned boats or gasoline powered motors are allowed on the lake. However, electric trolling motors are allowed. Fishermen, young and old, enjoy the lake and often dine on fine catches of bass and bluegill.

Day 1 - Blooming at Chickasaw State Park, originally uploaded by Gail S.

We headed on toward Middle Tennessee, stopping for a brief visit in Linden, Tennessee, where they were celebrating the season with the annual Bloomin' Arts Festival at the town square. Folks set up booths to display and sell all sorts of arts and crafts. There was music and food. One vendor told me that she had seen "everyone in Linden" at her place. It wrapped up at about 5 pm and we headed on to Lobelville, Tennessee, for more festivities!

2009 Spring Bike Trip

Spring Bike Trip, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Yay! We are hitting the road tomorrow. This should be a slow-paced trip. We are heading to our place on the Buffalo River in middle Tennessee for a Springfest. On Sunday, we'll take the Natchez Trace Parkway down to Alabama. We're planning to spend a day at the US Space and Rocket Center. Next we're planning to take a few mountain roads up to Chattanooga. After that, who knows? Keep your fingers crossed for smooth roads and good weather.

Cat Packing!, originally uploaded by Gail S.

Spooky gave me a hint that he is planning to join us on our trip. What a cutie. Making sure we get plenty of cat hair on our clothes to remind us about our kitties waiting for us at home...