Photo album

Forgive the slightly out of order post!

How often are you driving down the highway, headed from point A to point B, when you see a sign for some place that sounds interesting? You think “that sounds cool, maybe, I’ll stop there one day”.  But that day rarely comes.   We really have to stop doing that! Take the few minutes and the slight detour. You never know when you might get the chance again.

Yesterday, when I saw the sign for Bristol Motor Speedway, I took the detour. The speedway was closed, but it was exciting just to stop and look.

A little farther down the road, the signs for Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls and Rock City started appearing. The adventurer in me, said, Why Not!

After the winding drive up the mountain, I decided to skip the lines at Ruby Falls and Rock City. Instead I stopped at Point Park – the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.  I have to give a big shout-out to the National Park Service.  This park is beautiful and educational. The period appropriately dressed guides are engaging and informative. I even got to see and hear a musket and cannon being fired!

I have a bunch of photos to download from my camera that I will add to this post later, but here are a few that are on my phone.

The view from Lookout Mountain is stunning.  What struck me as much as the view was listening to the park rangers tell the stories of the Civil War battles that happened in the area. Looking down the mountain and imaging battalions of soldiers scaling that steep face.  It left me awestruck.

It also set the tone for much of the rest of yesterday and today’s drives. Imaging our forefathers and mothers crossing the harsh, unforgiving, early beauty of this country with only their feet, horses or wagons to carry them. Certainly puts our first-world problems into perspective.