posted October 1, 2008
October is the busiest month of the year for outdoor events and activities. The air is cool and the sun is warm. So what’s keeping you indoors? Watch that lightning bolt ~to see something new.
Pictures from a New Building
The new Outdoor Chattanooga Center is beginning to look like home. The interior wall studs, plumbing and electric are going in. Check out the progress on our Picasa Web photo album.
~Bike Polo Oct. 1
An informal bicycle polo pick-up game is being held every Wednesday evening, at 6 p.m. at the Ross’ Landing Green at the corner of Riverfront Pkwy. and Chestnut St. The level of play is suitable for anyone interested in trying bicycle polo. Players should bring bikes and clothes that they don’t mind getting dirty. Helmets are strongly recommended. For more information, email Minya James or call (423) 643-6888.
Bike2Work Oct. 3
Gas prices are back up . . . if you can find the stuff. So what are you waiting for? Join Chattanooga’s bicycle commuters for coffee, breakfast, and good conversation at Bike2Work on Friday, Oct. 3, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the south end of the Walnut Street Bridge in downtown Chattanooga. Come meet some folks who are already pedaling to work. Email or call Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887 for more information.
Save the Gorge Kayak Eco-Tour Oct. 5
Get out your kayak and join the ChattanoogaHasFun.com GreenTeam and River Canyon Adventures, as they host their first kayaking eco-adventure on Sun., Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. in the Tennessee River Gorge. River Canyon Adventures will provide kayaks for those who do not have them, guides, and gear for participants to paddle through the Gorge to collect trash. Chattanoogahasfun.com will provide lunch and special volunteer t-shirts. Additional t-shirts will be available for sale with all funds benefiting the Tennessee River Blueway. Sit-on-top Kayaks are available on a first-come, first-served basis with reservation. Email Rebecca Cruz to make a reservation or learn more.
Beginner Hike at Chickamauga Battlefield Oct. 5
The Chattanooga Hiking Club will once again join Outdoor Chattanooga for a beginner day hike on Sunday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m., in the lower parking lot at Chickamauga Battlefield. Leader Tony Cook will take hikers on a gentle 3-mile loop trail that runs through the woods and fields of the national park. There will be several rest stops along the way where participants will discuss historic features, as well as hiking, exercise and nutrition. The hike is free, but an RSVP is required. Email Outdoor Chattanooga to make your reservation.
Events
Champion Duck Caller Buck Gardner at DU Banquet Oct. 2
World famous call-maker and duck hunter, Buck Gardner will be on-hand at the Chattanooga Ducks Unlimited 2008 Fall Flight banquet fundraiser on Thurs., October 2, at the First Tennessee Pavilion. Gardner won the 1994 World Championship, and in 1995 he captured the ultimate duck calling trophy, “Champion of Champions”, which forced him into competition retirement. He now participates as a judge in contests around the country. Banquet tickets can be purchased online at Chattanooga Ducks Unlimited.
~Tennessee River Rescue Oct. 4
Individual volunteers and community groups will spend Sat., Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., cleaning up trash from the Tennessee River watershed during the 20th annual Tennessee River Rescue. It’s not too late to volunteer. Email the River Rescue or call the Rescue hotline at (423) 785-4177 for more information.
~Tennessee Valley Start! Heart Walk Oct. 4
The American Heart Association will host the Tennessee Valley Start! Heart walk on Sat., Oct. 4, from 9 to 11 a.m., to support the fight against heart disease and stroke. The scenic 2.7-mile downtown walk will take participants over the Tennessee River, into Coolidge Park, and end at AT&T Field for post-walk festivities. The event is free. Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $100 in pledges to receive an event t-shirt. To learn more or register visit the Heart Walk home page.
Sequatchie Valley Century Oct. 4
Don’t miss one of the prettiest supported rides in East Tennessee, when the Chattanooga Bike Club hosts the Sequatchie Valley Century on Sat., Oct. 4, beginning at 8 a.m. at Marion County High School, in Jasper, TN. The event offers 100-mile, 64-mile, or a beautiful 25-mile valley ride. All pre-registered participants receive a long-sleeve T-shirt. A post-ride meal will be provided from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Online registration is open until 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2.
Discraft Ace Race Oct. 4
The Chattanooga Flying Disc Club will host the 2008 Discraft Ace Race at the Sinks Disc Golf Course on Access Rd., Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. Each pre-registered player will receive a players package including two proto-type discs, a full color mini and a Discraft ball cap. Online registration is open until 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2.
Walnut St. Bridge/North Shore Walking Tour Oct. 9
The Chattanooga History Center will present its third walking tour based on Maury Nicely’s “Chattanooga Walking Tour and Historic Guide” at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 9. The History Center’s Curator, Dr. Daryl Black will serve as tour guide. Black will highlight Chattanooga's transportation and geographical history as it pertains to the Walnut St. Bridge and North Shore. Cost is $3 for adults and $1 for youth aged 6 through 18. Registration deadline is Oct. 8. For more information, or to register, call (423) 265-3247.
~Joe Johnson 10K Oct. 11
The Chattanooga Track Club will host the Joe Johnson Mental Health 10K run on the roads of Moccasin Bend on Sat., Oct. 11, beginning at 8 a.m. The course is a fairly flat, even out and back on roads around Moccasin Bend National Park. Cost is $20 pre-registered, $25 the day of the race. A dowloadable race application is available Online.
~Chattanooga Head Race Oct. 11
Rowing teams from regional colleges, high schools, and clubs will take to the Tennessee River for the 16th annual Chattanooga Head Race on Sat., Oct. 11 at Ross’ Landing in downtown Chattanooga. The 5,000-meter downriver race will take 2-man, 4-man, and 8-man rowing teams along Chattanooga’s south shore and the Tennessee Riverwalk. The event is free and open for spectators. Racing begins at 9 a.m. and goes on all day.
~North Chick Family Reunion and Greenway Farm Festival Oct. 12
The North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy will celebrate their 15th anniversary on Sat., Oct. 12, from 2-5 p.m. with the North Chick Family Reunion and Greenway Farm Fall Festival at Greenway Farm, in Hixson, TN. The event will feature free cake and ice cream, live music, and outdoor fun. The reunion is co-hosted by Friends of the Cumberland Trail and Outdoor Chattanooga OutVenture. Each visitor to the festival is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. For more information, call Susan Bryant or Larry Cook at (423) 842-1163.
Adventures
~”Walk With Your Dog” Fitness Walk Every Tuesday through Nov. 18
Archer Physical Therapy will host a weekly 30-minute Walk with Your Dog every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m., weather permitting, from Sept. 30 - Nov. 18. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a 6-foot leash, bags for poop clean-up, and water for you and your dog. Walks begin at the Absolute FIT Fitness & Weight Management Center, located just north of the Chickamauga Battlefield on Hwy. 27 at 3012 Lafayette Rd., in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. For more information, call (423) 693-5490.
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.
Open Gate Day at Lula Lake Oct. 4
The Lula Lake Land Trust will hold their monthly open gate day on Sat., Oct 4. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to hike, mountain bike, picnic, and even bring the family dog, as long as he’s kept on a leash.
News
~TN River Blueway Race Photos
Outdoor Chattanooga hosted the 2nd annual TN River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race on Sat., Sept. 20 at Ross’ Landing. Check out race photos on our Picasa Web photo album and from race photographer Bob Edens.
~T-shirts to Shopping Bags at Rock/Creek
Bring and old t-shirt to the Rock/Creek store on Manufacturer’s Rd., now through Oct. 31, and they’ll turn it into a reusable shopping bag, for free. On Oct. 3, noon-6 p.m., a seamstress will be present at the store to convert t-shirts for the Rock/Creek Stump Jump pre-race fair.
~TN State Natural Areas Conference Oct. 14-17
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will host the 35th annual Tennessee State Natural Areas Conference in Nashville, Oct. 14 – 17, co-hosted by the Natural Areas Association and the National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils. The focus of the conference will be on climate change and invasive species.
Registration Now Open for Chattanooga Dragon Boat Fest. April 18, 2009
Registration is now open for the 3rd annual Chattanooga Dragon Boat Festival presented by General Shale Brick, on Sat., Apr. 18, at TVA Chickamauga Reservation on Chickamauga Lake. The festival will once again benefit the T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation. Last year, 44 teams raised $113,000 for the Foundation. To get a team in a boat or learn more about sponsorship, contact Penny Behling at (877) 580-7223.
Classes and Clinics
~Street Smarts Oct. 11
On Sat., Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the downtown Development Resource Center, Bike Chattanooga will offer their monthly Street Smarts class. The course is a great resource for adults and teenagers who may be new to road cycling, or who want to pull the bike out of the garage after a hiatus. League of American Bicyclists-certified instructors teach cyclists the rules of the road in Tennessee, as well as basic bicycle maintenance and how to handle on-road situations. More information is available by emailing Philip Pugliese or calling (423) 643-6887.
Volunteer Opportunities
Rock Creek Stump Jump Oct. 4
Registration is closed, but volunteers are always needed for the annual Rock/Creek Stump Jump 50K and 11-mile trail race on Saturday, Oct. 4, beginning at 8 a.m. The event raises funds for the Cumberland Trail Conference. To learn more, email race director Jamie Sanders.
~Cumberland Trail Conference Work Days Oct. 6 - Nov. 9 and College Week Oct. 9 - 16
Volunteers are invited to join an AmeriCorps NCCC team for bridge building in the Possum and Rock Creek Gorges with the Cumberland Trail Conference, Oct. 6 - Nov. 9, and during a special College Week, Oct. 9 - 16. Volunteers are needed to pack in the bridge components, materials for bridge footings, scaffolding, tools, and to participate in bridge construction. Food and lodging will be provided at the Lutheran Camp located in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. For more information, email CTC or call (931) 456-6259.
Website of the Week
Our friends at the Tennessee Clean Water Network came to help us with the TN River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race. They’re doing great work for the water that we drink and play in.
Last Week’s WebSite and Water Saver Tip:
The Tennessee River Rescue was started by a small group of Chattanooga citizens who got fed up with garbage in the river. The event has now grown to include hundreds of volunteers, supported by dozens of organizations, collecting tons of trash. To see about participating, as a group, individual, or sponsor, email the River Rescue or call the hotline at (423) 785-4177.
Weekly Water Saver Tip
See above . . .
Coming Up . . .
October
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
~Chattanooga Flying Disc Club 2-State Race
Toyota of Cleveland/YMCA Strong Adventure Race
18-19 Fall Colors Weekend at Fall Creek Falls
23 Chattanooga Asthma Walk
25 Wild Foods Day at Fall Creek Falls
November
1-2 Head of the Hooch Rowing Regatta
5 ~Chris Sharma at Rock/Creek
7 Bike2Work
7-9 ~TN Mountain Bike Summit at Fall Creek Falls
8 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon & 10-Mile Race
9 Beginner Hike w/ Chattanooga Hiking Club
15 ~Upchuck 50K Trail Race
~High Heel Race
27 Thanksgiving Dinner at Tennessee State Parks
29 ~Belch'n Turkey VI "Smashed Potatoes" Disc Golf Tournament
December
5 Bike2Work
6 Triple Crown Bouldering Competition
Beginner Hike w/ Chattanooga Hiking Club
13 Wauhatchie Trail Run
20 Lookout Mountain 100K Trail Race
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