posted July 24, 2008
It's hot, hot, HOT in 'nooga, so don't forget to take sunscreen and lots of water on your next outdoor adventure. Look for the lightning bolt ~ to see new events and activities this week.
BYO-Boat Downtown Sunset Float July 25
Outdoor Chattanooga will host a kayak and canoe float down the Tennessee River, from Rivermont Park along the north shore to Coolidge Park on Friday, July 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. All experienced paddlers with their own boats and gear are invited to come along. No alcoholic beverages are allowed and every participant is required to wear a life jacket. The trip is free, but reservations are required. To make a reservation or get more information, call (423) 643-6889 or email Ruth Thompson.
Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Tour July 26
Bring your bicycle and join Outdoor Chattanooga and Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park on Saturday, July 26, 9:30 a.m., at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors’ Center for a history tour by bike. The ride will be approximately 7 to 10 miles in length, feature flat to moderately hilly terrain, last approximately three hours, and will be appropriate for adults and children ages eight and older when accompanied by an adult. All participants are required to wear helmets. Loaner bicycles from the Outdoor Chattanooga Bicycle Fleet will be available for riders 5’ tall and over. Reservations will be required for use of these bicycles by calling the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center at (706) 866-9241.
~Bike2Work Aug. 1
The monthly Bike2Work breakfast will take place on Friday, Aug. 1, from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., at the south end of the Walnut St. Bridge. Join Chattanooga’s bicycle commuters for coffee, breakfast, and good conversation about two-wheeling to work. Call or email Philip Pugliese for more information at (423) 643-6887.
Events
~Friends of the Cumberland Trail Chapter Organizational Meeting July 22
The 300-mile Cumberland Trail linear State Park runs through East Tennessee from Chattanooga to Cumberland Gap. The Friends of the Cumberland Trail are forming chapters in each of the 11 counties the Trail crosses. An organizational meeting for Hamilton County will happen tonight, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Creative Discovery Museum, 255 Northgate Mall, in Hixson, TN. Interested public who wish to be involved with the trail are invited to come. For more information, email or phone Del Truitt, State of Tennessee Rural Transportation Planning Coordinator at (615) 253-2419.
~Quality Deer Management Expo July 24-27
Chattanooga will welcome over 1,000 hunters and wildlife conservationists for the 8th annual Quality Deer Management Convention and Whitetail Expo, Thurs. - Sun., July 24 - 27 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The public is invited to attend the expo, which will feature the latest in hunting and fishing gear, and wildlife conservation information. Full registration for the convention costs $240 and includes seminars, group meals, and special events. A daily pass to the Whitetail Expo is $10, $15 for a two-day pass. A 1/2 price coupon is available at the QDMA Website.
Bar-B-Que for Bikes Police Fundraiser July 26
A Bar-B-Que for Bikes benefit for the Highland Park Bicycle Unit of the Chattanooga Police Department will take place on Saturday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Deli Man and Cake Lady restaurant at 1414 McCallie Ave. Tickets are $18 and $12, and all proceeds will go to purchase equipment for bike patrol officers. For more information, call (423) 624-0505.
~Missionary Ridge Road Race Aug. 2
The 35th annual running of the John Bruner Memorial Missionary Ridge Road Race will happen on Saturday, August 2, with proceeds from the race going to the local chapter of the American Red Cross and a scholarship fund. The 4.7-mile course runs out and back atop Missionary Ridge and is heavily shaded with gently rolling hills and a couple of major climbs. To learn more and get a entry application, visit the Chattanooga Track Club.
Adventures
Walking History Tours Aug. 12, Stroller Stroll July 23
The Chattanooga History Center will present a walking history tour based on Maury Nicely’s "Chattanooga Walking Tour and Historic Guide" at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, and a special Stroller Stroll on Wednesday, July 23. The tour routes will focus on the Irish Hill section of Chattanooga. Sites included will be Fountain Square, the Dome Building, First Methodist Episcopal Church Tower and many more historical sites. The fee is $3 for adults and $1 for youth aged 6 through 18. Stroller occupants are free. To register or learn more, call (423) 265-3247, ext. 10.
Bat Watch with CNC July 25
Take a trip to Nickajack Cave with the Chattanooga Nature Center on Friday, July 25 to visit the home of 60,000 endangered gray bats. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. with a slide show at CNC, then continues with a trip to the bat cave. As the sun sets, thousands of tiny gray bats wing their way out of the cave to feed on insects. Space is limited. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to register. Cost is $9 adults/$6 CNC members, $4.50 kids/$3 CNC members.
River Gorge Kayak Trip July 26
Paddle the Tennessee River Gorge with Outdoor Chattanooga OutVenture and the Tennessee Aquarium on Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kayak past majestic cliffs and visit the Tennessee River Gardens, a private nature reserve, to picnic and explore. Cost is $40 ($35 Aquarium members) and includes all equipment, guides, snack, drink and transportation from Greenway Farm. BYO lunch and water bottle. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 14 and older when accompanied by an adult. To make reservations, call (423) 265-0698.
Sierra Club Cherokee Chapter Meeting
The Cherokee Chapter of the Sierra Club has re-organized and is now holding meetings to determine a course of action for the club. The next meeting will be held at Sticky Fingers BBQ restaurant, 420 Broad St., in downtown Chattanooga, on Tuesday, July 29, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Interested members of the public are invited to attend. For more information, email Emma Ford.
Cumberland State Park Activities
The South Cumberland State Park in Monteagle, TN offers special hikes, seminars, and other activities every week. Visit the Friends of South Cumberland Park for a complete calendar.
Fall Creek Falls State Park Activities
About an hour and a half drive north of Chattanooga is Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville, TN. In addition to camping, hiking, and biking, the park boasts an inn, restaurant, and lake. See a calendar of park activities for the week of July 20 - 27.
News
Soddy Daisy Rail Trail Garners Public Support
Over sixty citizens and government officials from Soddy Daisy and Lakesite crowded Soddy Daisy City Hall on Monday evening, July 14, for the initial public hearing on the proposed Soddy Daisy-Sequoyah-Lakesite Rail Trail. The planned six-mile, multi-use greenway would be constructed either on or along the existing TVA rail spur which connects US 27 in Soddy Daisy to Igou Ferry Road and TVA’s Sequoyah Nuclear Facility. Members of the public who would like to be involved in the planning of the project may email or call Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887.
Tennessee Approves the Use of NEV’s on More Roads
On July 1, the State of Tennessee enacted a law that would allow the use of NEV’s, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles traveling up to 35 mph on public streets with speed limits of 40 mph or less. This makes Tennessee only the third state in the U.S.—behind Montana and Washington—to raise the standards from a 25 mph limit in a 35 mph zone, established by federal law in 1998. Read a Chattanoogan.com article about the legislation. NEV’s are rechargeable, battery-powered, low-speed vehicles. With brand names like GEM, Kurrent, Reva, Xebra, and Zenn, there are dozens of companies producing the vehicles world-wide.
VW Is Coming to Chattanooga. Can Their Concept Car Come Too?
Speaking of efficient vehicles, now that Chattanooga has officially landed a Volkswagen manufacturing plant—slated to begin production in 2011—we’re keeping an eye on a new 238 mpg VW. The One-Liter Car, highlighted in this Wired.com article, goes 100 kilometers on one liter of gasoline. According to Wired, the vehicle is starting preliminary production about the time the Chattanooga plant opens. May we have one please?
~Website of the Week (and Water Saver Tip)
As we head into the hottest, driest part of our year still in a drought, please read this New York Times article about some hard choices that people in other parts of the world are facing. It kind of makes you want to put down the kayak and fix your leaking faucet.
Coming Up . . .
August
9 Greenway 5-Mile Trail Race
Beginners’ Kayak Adventure – Booker T. Washington State Park
Family Mud Day at CNC
~Battlefield Day Hike
10 Sports Barn Sprint Triathlon
17 Fall Creek Falls Triathlon
~Beginner Day Hike
23 River Gorge Omnium and Downtown Criterium
Raccoon Mountain Road Race
Battlefield Bicycle Ride
24 Raft for the Cure
30/31 Booker T. Washington Mtn. Bike Race
September
1 FCA 5K
5 Bike2Work
6 Beginners’ Kayak Adventure – Harrison Bay State Park
UTC Powerade 5K Cross Country Run
13 BYO-Boat Williams Island Kayak/Canoe Trip
Dragon Boat Regatta
14-20 Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee
20 Tennessee River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race
Battlefield Bicycle Ride
25-28 Women’s Hanggliding Festival
28 Komen Chattanooga Race for the Cure
October
3 Bike2Work
4 8th Annual Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K Trail Race
Sequatchie Valley Century
11 Joe Johnson 10K
11-12 Chattanooga Head Race
18 Festival of Jack ‘o Lanterns at Chattanooga Nature Center
Sublime in Art and Nature Scavenger Hunt – Greenway Farm
Signal Mountain Road Race
Battlefield Bicycle Ride
18-19 Fall Colors Weekend at Fall Creek Falls
24 BYO-Boat Moonlight Paddle
25 Wild Foods Day at Fall Creek Falls
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