\n<\/div>\n
\nFriday evening October
\n21, 2011 (sixth travelogue of this trip).<\/div>\n
\n21, 2011 (sixth travelogue of this trip).<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe are in the parking area
\nfor the Blue Springs restaurant (map)<\/a>.
\n We wrote about this place in a blog a couple of years ago (here)<\/a><\/u>.
\n We have stopped here many times over the years and really like the
\nhome style cooking, blue plaid table cloths and there \u201cfoot high\u201d
\npies. We called ahead to see if we could park in their lot
\novernight. They said fine. When we got here the lot was much
\nsmaller that we had recalled, but we have a spot for the night.\n<\/div>\n
\nfor the Blue Springs restaurant (map)<\/a>.
\n We wrote about this place in a blog a couple of years ago (here)<\/a><\/u>.
\n We have stopped here many times over the years and really like the
\nhome style cooking, blue plaid table cloths and there \u201cfoot high\u201d
\npies. We called ahead to see if we could park in their lot
\novernight. They said fine. When we got here the lot was much
\nsmaller that we had recalled, but we have a spot for the night.\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nGetting here was quite an adventure.
\nWe were heading towards St Louis on I 64 and had to go across country
\nto get to I 70 (about 25 miles). I forced the GPS to re-route us,
\nbut did not check the route. That is always an open invitation to
\ndisaster. The GPS put us on some very marginal farm road that were
\nnot wide enough for two vehicles to pass comfortably. In addition,
\nthere were at least a dozen sharp turns that were quite a challenge. One
\nhad a drop-off on both sides and I just barely made it. We came to
\na bridge that had a 10 ton limit and before I could think we were
\nacross it (we weigh over twice that amount!!!!).<\/div>\n
\nWe were heading towards St Louis on I 64 and had to go across country
\nto get to I 70 (about 25 miles). I forced the GPS to re-route us,
\nbut did not check the route. That is always an open invitation to
\ndisaster. The GPS put us on some very marginal farm road that were
\nnot wide enough for two vehicles to pass comfortably. In addition,
\nthere were at least a dozen sharp turns that were quite a challenge. One
\nhad a drop-off on both sides and I just barely made it. We came to
\na bridge that had a 10 ton limit and before I could think we were
\nacross it (we weigh over twice that amount!!!!).<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe chose this spot because we wanted to
\nbe fairly close to St Charles, MO. We are about 50 miles away and
\ncan avoid the terrible traffic in St Louis by arriving early on a
\nSaturday. We plan to visit a friend from many years ago. Kay was
\nmarried to a good friend of mine who taught me how to paint cars. We
\nwere in the same car club and we really got to know them well as each
\nof us began to raise our families. Ken passed away a few years ago,
\nbut we have kept in contact with Kay. She and Pat have a lot in
\ncommon including genealogy. By arriving fairly early Saturday, Pat
\nand Kay can have a few hours together. We will then start home on
\nSunday.<\/div>\n
\nbe fairly close to St Charles, MO. We are about 50 miles away and
\ncan avoid the terrible traffic in St Louis by arriving early on a
\nSaturday. We plan to visit a friend from many years ago. Kay was
\nmarried to a good friend of mine who taught me how to paint cars. We
\nwere in the same car club and we really got to know them well as each
\nof us began to raise our families. Ken passed away a few years ago,
\nbut we have kept in contact with Kay. She and Pat have a lot in
\ncommon including genealogy. By arriving fairly early Saturday, Pat
\nand Kay can have a few hours together. We will then start home on
\nSunday.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nNow, let’s catch up. On Tuesday, we
\nleft the site of the rally and returned to Choo-Choo Garage. I was
\nscheduled to do a welding workshop today at Choo-Choo, but that got
\ncanceled. Tuesday we visited with some of the folks that came over
\nfrom the rally. We went to dinner with Sean Welsh on Tuesday. We
\nmissed seeing his wife Louise (she went to CA to visit family). We
\nhave met up with them several times over the years in lots of
\ndifferent locations. They are neat folks and I love to pick Sean’s
\nbrain on all kinds of subjects. Sean documented our visit in his
\ngreat blog (here)<\/a><\/u>.<\/div>\n
\nleft the site of the rally and returned to Choo-Choo Garage. I was
\nscheduled to do a welding workshop today at Choo-Choo, but that got
\ncanceled. Tuesday we visited with some of the folks that came over
\nfrom the rally. We went to dinner with Sean Welsh on Tuesday. We
\nmissed seeing his wife Louise (she went to CA to visit family). We
\nhave met up with them several times over the years in lots of
\ndifferent locations. They are neat folks and I love to pick Sean’s
\nbrain on all kinds of subjects. Sean documented our visit in his
\ngreat blog (here)<\/a><\/u>.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe set Wednesday aside to do some sight
\nseeing. Our first stop was the Battles for Chattanooga museum. They
\nhad a slide show detailing the civil war battles in the Chattanooga
\narea. We then went across the street to Point park. These are
\nlocated on the top of Lookout Mountain. Even though the weather was
\ncold and overcast, the views were great (see photos). The drive up
\nto the top of the mountain was very steep and twisty. It was heavily
\nwooded with gorgeous trees that were beginning to display the fall
\ncolors<\/div>\n
\nseeing. Our first stop was the Battles for Chattanooga museum. They
\nhad a slide show detailing the civil war battles in the Chattanooga
\narea. We then went across the street to Point park. These are
\nlocated on the top of Lookout Mountain. Even though the weather was
\ncold and overcast, the views were great (see photos). The drive up
\nto the top of the mountain was very steep and twisty. It was heavily
\nwooded with gorgeous trees that were beginning to display the fall
\ncolors<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XtPfU_HRF2Y\/TqITLsWaOrI\/AAAAAAAAAa0\/yn8hFZ-21yc\/s320\/Fall+Leaves+at+Point+Park+%2528Medium%2529.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n Point Park on Lookout Mountain<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-BICtSbDeyRU\/TqIT33hwc9I\/AAAAAAAAAa8\/muqS48QRr0Y\/s320\/Civil+War+Cannons+%2528Medium%2529.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n Civil War cannons in Point Park overlooking <\/div>\n
\nChattanooga and the Tennessee River<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nOur next stop was the Moon Pie General
\nStore in downtown Chattanooga. Moon Pies are very popular in the
\nsouth and they have been made in the Chattanooga plant since 1917.
\nRC Cola was also formulated in Chattanooga. The video in the Moon
\nPie store said that the coal miners loved their 10 cent lunch (Moon
\nPie and RC Cola each cost 5 cents in the 20’s).<\/div>\n
\nStore in downtown Chattanooga. Moon Pies are very popular in the
\nsouth and they have been made in the Chattanooga plant since 1917.
\nRC Cola was also formulated in Chattanooga. The video in the Moon
\nPie store said that the coal miners loved their 10 cent lunch (Moon
\nPie and RC Cola each cost 5 cents in the 20’s).<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nFor our last stop we went to the Choo
\nChoo Hotel. This hotel is the converted train station (details)<\/a><\/u>.
\n It is a fabulous hotel. There are several train cars that have been
\nconverted to hotel rooms. In addition there are several other train
\nrelated displays including a Baldwin Steam locomotive. The hotel
\nlobby is the original train lobby\/waiting room with a beautiful domed
\nceiling. I have included a couple of photos.<\/div>\n
\nChoo Hotel. This hotel is the converted train station (details)<\/a><\/u>.
\n It is a fabulous hotel. There are several train cars that have been
\nconverted to hotel rooms. In addition there are several other train
\nrelated displays including a Baldwin Steam locomotive. The hotel
\nlobby is the original train lobby\/waiting room with a beautiful domed
\nceiling. I have included a couple of photos.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-A6B1zuzAB18\/TqIUJt4h-nI\/AAAAAAAAAbE\/7b_5BgBcvxA\/s320\/Choo+Choo+Hotel+%2528Medium%2529.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n Choo Choo Hotel Garden with train cars used for sleeping rooms<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-4O-gBtbe6lg\/TqIUb61cRjI\/AAAAAAAAAbM\/PdoU4cXId20\/s320\/Train+at+Choo+Choo+Hotel+%2528Medium%2529.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n Baldwin Steam Engine<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nA lot of businesses and locations have
\nthe words Choo Choo in them. Apparently that all stems from the
\nGlenn Miller song in the 40’s with the title Chattanooga Choo Choo.<\/div>\n
\nthe words Choo Choo in them. Apparently that all stems from the
\nGlenn Miller song in the 40’s with the title Chattanooga Choo Choo.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe left the Chattanooga, area on
\nThursday and drove to Kuttawa where we stayed at Huck’s Travel Center
\nTruck Stop. We don’t normally stay in truck stops, as they tend to
\nbe very noisy with the truck engines idling and trucks coming and
\ngoing. Since it was chilly (got down to 34 degrees) we did not have
\nthe windows open and the noise was not a problem.\n<\/div>\n
\nThursday and drove to Kuttawa where we stayed at Huck’s Travel Center
\nTruck Stop. We don’t normally stay in truck stops, as they tend to
\nbe very noisy with the truck engines idling and trucks coming and
\ngoing. Since it was chilly (got down to 34 degrees) we did not have
\nthe windows open and the noise was not a problem.\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe drive from Chattanooga, to Kuttawa
\nwas beautiful. There is a pretty good pass which the locals call
\nMount Eagle. There is a town at the top called Monteagle, which
\nprobably gives the pass its coined name. In any case, it is not
\nquite as dramatic as some of the passes in Colorado, but it is still
\npretty steep and long. The road is lined with trees beginning to
\ndisplay the fall colors.<\/div>\n
\nwas beautiful. There is a pretty good pass which the locals call
\nMount Eagle. There is a town at the top called Monteagle, which
\nprobably gives the pass its coined name. In any case, it is not
\nquite as dramatic as some of the passes in Colorado, but it is still
\npretty steep and long. The road is lined with trees beginning to
\ndisplay the fall colors.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThat is all for now<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hello from Highland, IL Friday evening October 21, 2011 (sixth travelogue of this trip). We are in the parking area for the Blue Springs restaurant (map). We wrote about this place in a blog a couple of years ago (here). … Continue reading