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Earl Aagaard’s opinions about everything that interests him. Og also enjoys gardening, travel, reading, woodbutchery, and lots of other stuff.

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ON VACATION, AND WITH MY BROTHER VICTOR IN TOWN…...

Since he was a history/biology major, and a big civil war buff, we’ve been touring some of the interesting sites in the area. One of the major turning points of the “war of northern aggression” was the BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA.

After spending yesterday afternoon driving along Missionary Ridge and walking over Orchard Knob and the Federal cemetery on (I think) Indian Hill, this morning we got up early and drove out across CHICKAMAUGA DAM

Then we turned south and drove along the north bank of the TENNESSEE RIVER GORGE, that reaches from the city of Chattanooga to Nickajack Lake, where the river turns north and runs all the way to the Ohio, just before that river joins the Mississippi. Much of the immediate watershed is protected by a LAND TRUST and BEAUTIFUL VIEWS abound, even in wintertime. The dangerous whirlpools and rapids that threatened the pioneers in this area are covered by the waters raised by Nickajack Dam, downstream.

dandavis1960

We returned toward Chattanooga via Interstate 24, and went directly to KRYSTAL for lunch. This is a hamburger place that originated right here in Chattanooga - the oldest fast food franchise in the South….really an INSTITUTION in this area. We had the Krystal Combo #1 and decided we don’t need to be going back to Krystal anytime soon—OK food, decent surroundings, OK price. It’ll be Taco Bell next time, though…...

From lunch, we walked a hundred feet up the street to the INTERNATIONAL TOWING AND RECOVERY MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME. Believe it or not, the tow truck was invented and patented by a sharp guy living right here in Chattanooga back in 1916 or so.

The original setup was sold to be bolted onto the back of your own truck - here a 1913 Locomobile. This was a fascinating museum, with lots of tow trucks, a “Wall of Fame” with scores of “tow-people” from around the world (but mostly from the U.S.), and another wall out front to honor those who are killed in the line of duty - about 60 last year, making the risk of death per capita about the same as for policemen and firemen.

Having finished at the Museum, we visited the sites of the BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN . Fabulous views of the city that somehow won’t paste into this post. You’ll have to go and look for yourself. We paid to see the electric map of the battle, which helped get the events in order and in the right places, then we visited the Park at the northern tip of Lookout Mountain, and from there we went down to Craven’s House, where the last Confederate resistance held the Yankees in the afternoon and then melted away over night.

Leaving the Mountain, we drove past the CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD to the south - site of the last major Confederate win in the war. We headed over toward RINGGOLD GAP, where Cleburne saved the Confederate Army in the BATTLE OF RINGGOLD GAP, and through which Sherman passed in the spring of 1864, headed for Atlanta and the sea, playing a big part in bringing the war to an end. It was also quite near here that THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE came to an end.

The station at Ringgold was built in 1849, and has been in continuous use ever since - the only one in the south that can make that claim. My program isn’t letting me place ANY MORE PHOTOS, or I’d be showing you one of the station house (boo). After reading the plaques at the gap, we drove north on the Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, and ate portobello mushroom fajitas for supper at a local Mexican restaurant. Then home.

Tomorrow we’re headed north for Kentucky - we’ll stop at the original KFC restaurant, and at the Museum of Appalachia on our way to Morehead to visit with family.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/17 at 08:20 PM

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