Mike and Beth's Adventures

Pardon me, boy, Is that the Chattanooga choo choo? (yes yes) Track twenty-nine... The Chattanooga Choo Choo Tucked between the mountains of Southeast Tennessee, along the beautiful Tennessee River, Chattanooga is a jewel of a city. For years it was a rail transportation hub of the south. From here lines stretched into the fertile valleys of the Tennessee, the Mississippi, and on into Atlanta, Alabama and beyond. The Great Locomotive Chase took place here as the Union Army, during the Civil War, wrested control of the rail hub from the Confederates. Following the war, a rail line was built to Cincinnati, to provide a route for southern goods and products to reach the northern states. Commerce and industry continued to fuel Chattanooga's growth. It is also home to a branch of the University of Tennessee. I would recommend you add a stop in Chattanooga to your next vacation. The Aquarium on the City Front The Art Museum and the bike path up the bluff. The waterfront is the fo...

Free Dock at Shellmound Park When travelling the river system your location is by reference to the "mile mark".  We spent a night at the Shellmound Park free dock, adjacent to Nickajack dam and lock.  It is at mile mark 424.  Shellmound was a quiet and tranquil spot to spend the night.  We had departed Goose Pond earlier in the day in the company of 2 other boats. Sweet Day, a Camano Troll and Mirth, a nice 40 foot trawler.  We got an early start as we wanted to beat a storm front, which was following right on our heals, to the Shellmound anchorage.  We were not anxious about the rain, it was the forecast of winds gusting to 30 knots that we wanted to avoid. The Tennessee river must be a major source of electrical power.  The dams generate hydro-electric power and we have seen two nuclear power plants along the shore.  The river water is used for cooling and the river water temperature is monitored to insure the water temperature rise in less than...