After departing International Falls we headed to Chattanooga to spend some time with a few of our friends who are building a (4) place Sling TSI. While in Chattanooga the girls and I took Karrie to Rock City to experience the Caverns. On the way to Rock City we enjoyed some Publix subs at the base of Lookout Mountain. Just as the first time the girls and I travelled to Rock City, we had a good time. This visit we took in an animal show highlighted by the display of a large own they keep. Karrie enjoyed the unique design elements of the Caverns before we pulled up anchor from Chattanooga to head to Elizabethton to meet Bryan and Amanda for our 17 mile downhill bike ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Grandfather Glows event.
The ride down the Creeper Trail was exceptional. The temperature was perfect and the majority of the trail is under canopy of trees and downhill. Violet took a spill a few miles into the ride as she got tank slapped on a high speed portion of gravel. The smaller tires on her bike made the ride more challenging, but in typical Violet fashion she displayed a bit of grit and lead our group down the hill. While on the trail we passed at least two places to purchase food, one of which we stopped at to consume a few calories. As you get back into Damascus, the last mile or two of the trail is somewhat flat and does require you to pedal the bike. Overall the ride was exceptional and I would highly recommend doing it.
The next event on the trip was Grandfather Glows on Grandfather Mountain. Bryan and Amanda entered the lottery to get tickets and invited us to join them at the event. For a few weeks each year the mountains (10) species of luminescent bugs provide an opportunity to view them. While there we saw synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) and glowworms (Orfelia feltoni). The synchronous fireflies we had seen before. They are what you think of when someone says lightning bug. The blue ghost fireflies and the glowworms on the other hand we had not seen before! The glue ghost has a blue-ish hue. They glow for 5-7 seconds each “strobe” as they fly around. While I only saw two of them, it was really cool to see. The glowworms also provided an exceptional experience. There were hundreds of them on the banks of the roadway continuously glowing. We ended up walking up to the top of the viewing area and saw the best stuff near the top. While it took a good bit of effort and expense to attend the event, I am glad we did.
Some beautiful workmanship on a pair of Sling wings in Chattanooga.
Rock City at Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Entrance to the “Caverns” at Rock City.
Karrie enjoying the weirdness!
The first and only covered bridge we have ever seen.
Some excellent Waffle House humor inscribed on the inside of the bridge by an unknown author.
Our humble accommodations for the Grandfather Glows Firefly event.
Adjoining the motel was this well appointed firepit.
Of the many options I chose The Bike Station after speaking with them on the phone. They provided nice bikes.
Karrie and the girls getting outfit with their rentals.
Our passenger van for the 40-ish minute and 267 turn ride to the top of Mount Rogers.
The beginning of the 17 mile, downhill coast.
95% of the trail was under a canopy of trees and out of the sun.
The trail crosses Laurel Creek again and again on its way down the mountain. We went across 21 bridges.
One of the 21 bridges.
The kids enjoying “gem mining” at Grandfather Trout Fishing Place. The lake in background was stocked with fish.
I don’t remember the last time the four of us ate dinner for less than $30. Amazing.
After ascending the Grandfather Mountain road on foot we selected this spot to wait for the sun to drop below the horizon.
Venturing further up the hill to see what else lay ahead.
Violet ecstatic that Bryan gave her $0.25 to put in the binoculars.
As good at it gets.
Thanks Auburndale Propeller Works for the overhauled prop that had not since seen rain that despite your paint promise looked like this after less than 10 hours of flight!
