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Chattanooga Travel Journal

In late September & early October, we traveled (drove) to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Roger was invited to judge the the Dixie District barbershop singing contest. In route, we plan on some sightseeing in Chattanooga, Nashville & St. Louis.

Day 1: Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Today was a day of just driving - in fact, we made about 350 miles after not leaving our home until 11:00. And Mom even drove for almost an hour. We saw the early changing fall landscape as we drove down through the beautiful central part of Wisconsin and got about 100 miles into Illinois. We're staying at a Super 8 Motel along the highway in a small Illinois town. Nice room and it was very inexpensive - about $50. And Dad is impressed with the free wireless internet connection here.

Didn't even take the camera out of its case, although as stated, we did see some coloring of leaves as though they were "thinking" about Fall. No real driving challenges; just a bit of construction. We did stop every hour so Mom could walk around and keep from getting too much pain and stiffness.

More tomorrow. Hoping everything is cool at home; we have our cell phone on if you need to call.

Mom & Dad

Day 2: Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Here we are on the other side of Padukah, Kentucky, in our second Super 8. Great bang for the buck. This would cost $125.00 in the Cities.

All is well; we saw miles and miles of semi's today; even talked to a black female driver of a double bottom. What a character! Very friendly. Traffic is only moderate: we have seen license plates from ND, MN, WI, IL, KY, MO, TN, FL, and little else. Quite a few RV's pulling a car, probably going south for the winter already.

Corn and beans are maybe 1/3 harvested and totally out of clean fields. Fall foliage comes and goes, even tho we are fairly South now.

This noon we ate at an Amish type restaurant in mid Illinois; the photo is of Roger on their mainstreet. Interesting; but barely something to write home about. I think Iowa is better in this regard. Then tonight we had a beautiful view on the lake of Kentucky dam in a state park. Our waitress screwed up and they gave us free dinner.

Tomorrow we hope to see the Parthenon in Nashville, and then get to Chattanooga by supper. (Mariott there.)

Hoping all are well. Take care of each other. (The knee is OK. By next summer I should be able to say it is great.)

Love,
"R&T"

Day 3: Thursday, September 30, 2004

Another day of freeway travel, punctuated with the Tennessee hills, and the ever present semi's, and travel trailers. Weather has been perfect the whole way; dry roads and sunshine. We have one slightly low tire but it seems fine; stranger is a brown fine dust on one wheel . What is that???

In Nashville we stayed only a few hours late this morning, to view the full sized replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon. It is set in a large public park with tall trees and large grassy areas. Many bus loads of obedient school children were visiting. We had missed going there last time, and felt it would be quite educational. We actually did learn a few things, but both felt that they missed a golden opportunity to teach a lot of ancient history... seems like they should have had a short movie or at least miniature dioramas of the Greek one; but no, it was all about the building of this one, about a hundred years ago.

The giant statue of the Greek Goddess, Athena, was remarkable. Gold and ivory, she is over 40 feet tall inside whatever they call their great hall. Almost colossal, but I felt it was "Gull darn ugly" ... made Roger laugh. Of course whether it is ugly or not is not the point. Anyhow we saw it, and now we can school ourselves again in Greek history and put it all together. One thing I want to clear up is that I thought I had learned that Zeus (or was it Jupiter? Is one Greek and the other Roman?) sat in that hall. Maybe it is at another one.

Then across the state through heavily wooded beautiful little mountains to Chattanooga. Of minor interest, in order to get to Chattanooga Tennessee, (even if you are driving in from TN) you go to Georgia for about 10 miles, then loop backup to TN. Chattanooga is exactly on the border.

Tonight for supper we ate at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. It is a complex of Holiday Inn, with little shops, and full size trains as well as model ones; etc. About a mile from here. The bellman said it was only a "long three blocks". It was all of 10-12 blocks. Took me a long time. But we made it. Took a shuttle home.

I was so tired last night that I was asleep at 7:00PM. If I would have put up my feet, I think I could have done it tonight too. Someone tell me how we get so tired just sitting all day!

Roger meets with his friend late morning; then the judging responsibilities begin at 3:00pm; but the contest is not until early evening. Their big chorus contest is tomorrow late morning. I think we get to hear BIG CHICKEN chorus from Marietta GA, (Atlanta). They often win their district; we then hear them at International.

Well, I am done; Roger will clean this up and maybe add something along with a couple of photos. Not sure if we will write Fri and Sat. More for sure eventually.

"T"

Day 4 & 5: Friday & Saturday, October 1 & 2, 2004

Wow; a jam packed weekend with a very large quartet contest and a also a large chorus contest kept the judges busy. We heard some good singing; and there were several groups deserving of top honors. We enjoyed renewing old acquaintances. Theresa even managed to get in a nap every day which helped her to stay up a bit late. But gone are the days for both of us when we stay up until 4AM singing and listening at various hospitality rooms! We are leaving that to the young! 

We are planning on staying an extra day at the Chattanooga Marriott in order to take in some more sights before leaving on a sort of circuitous route home. That way we will leave rested and more ready for the rest of the trip.

The knee is OK, but I feel I have lost a bit of rehab progress so will have to regain that. All  is well, though.

More probably late Sunday .   

 "T"&R"

Day 6 - Sunday, October 3, 2004

Another pleasant day: among the many that I have called the "gravy" in a life where we have visited many beautiful sites. Today, after reviewing a lot of brochures, we decided to take our car and just "go" to where ever we wanted. So, first we visited Lookout Mountain, just a few minutes drive outside of town. It was a winding wooded road with many vistas, and a treed military park where we stopped to see the sites. There was at least one Civil War battle on the mountain (another thing to research when we get home.)

After that we went to  the very large and well designed aquarium which had both salt and fresh water sea animals, including sea dragons and a great many other things.  Although we had been advised to go there, we had always felt that most aquariums were all alike; but this is definitely different, so seriously considered not going. It was very nice, although I had to use my cane to get around as my knee and back were really barking. Oh well, it is better than being left behind. 

Tomorrow we have decided to go a little out of the way (east of Chattanooga) to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Might take in a Louise Mandrel Show.

After that we will have to plot our course for home. Probably will get there on Wednesday.

LOVE,

"T"&R"

Day 7 & 8 - Monday & Tuesday, October 4 & 5, 2004

We are home one day earlier than we planned, not having gone to Gatlinburg. That will have to wait. After sightseeing in Chattanooga all day Sunday, Theresa wanted to find a way to get off her feet and make a leisurely trip home. In addition, her Oncological Dentist left her a message that he wanted to see her Tuesday (which of course we couldn't make). So that will be soon set up. Also back to physical therapy on Thursday to work out some kinks.

So at about 9:30 on Monday we headed for Minnesota. On Monday we drove just over 500 miles to Springfield, Illinois. That was about half way. Tuesday, we drove the rest of the way, arriving home at about 6:00pm.

The only real stop along the entire homebound stretch was at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum in Iowa. It is conveniently located right along the freeway on a beautiful large acreage of tall trees and expansive lawns. We have visited about half of the similar museums; and this seemed a little different, in as much as it was a nice teaching tool for school kids about other presidents too.

The whole trip was most enjoyable. The driving was not too taxing. The hospitality and the contest were great. And we saw lots of beautiful country between Chattanooga and Minneapolis and seeing lots of harvest of both corn and beans from America's bread basket.

This wide and beautiful land has so many things to see, that all we can say is to get out and go see something--- anything! If you can enjoy even half of what we have. then you will have a joy beyond words.

"T"&R"

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