Summer of 18-#64 - Our campground was a Civil War Battlefield & Rock City, Chattanooga

Wednesday, September 19th, 2018

We took some pictures of the campground before we headed out for the day.

We're at Holiday Travel Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee.  This park is actually right on the border of Tennessee and Georgia. 

There's a lot of Civil War history here and the campground is actually on one of the many battlefields there are in the area.  Here is a LINK to the history of the 84th, just one of the many battalions, and details of this marker, between the cannons.

Lily looks over this grassland, part of the battlefield.

and this trail is to the left of us.

Here is the monument to honor the 84th Infantry battle.  This was placed here in 1920, to mark the location of the 84th, on September 19th, 1863. We were staying on a former battlefield where exactly 155 years ago, to the day, civil war soldiers were fighting.  Little did we realize that, when we chose this campground.

Ok, after that fascinating history lesson we went to Rock City, which is on the top of Lookout Mountain.  Lookout Mountain played a significant part in the battles of the Civil War. You are led along a pathway, that leads you past pretty flowers, and through the gift shop.  Does that sound familiar? It seems to be the norm these days to force you through the gift shop, to get to, or out of any attractions.  I guess it's good marketing.  Anyway, this jolly gnome was waiting for us, in front of the gift shop.  I got the picture for free though, someone has missed an opportunity here, pictures with the huge concrete gnome!!!!  Sorry, my sarcasm is coming out.

We got to the rocks.  It truly was a lovely place, even if it was a little commercialized.  I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the huge rocks, though it was a little tight in places.  It reminded me of Blackgang Chine.  When I was a child we often went to the Isle of Wight, for our summer holidays, staying at Fort Warden Holiday Camp.  I always wanted to go to Blackgang Chine, it was my favourite.  I took Bryan & Ian there in the late 80's, but it had changed, not for the better.  Anyway, enough reminiscing back to the present!!!

There were gnomes in this section, which you had to sometimes look closely for.

This seat was welcome as there was quite a lot of walking, and a lot of steps, up and down.  Bryan's knee didn't like it and I was a bit out of puff as well.  

After a short rest we carried on.

There were various carvings.

and, as we got higher and higher, awesome views.

At the top there is a viewpoint where you can see 7 States.  That's pretty amazing.

A map of the seven States has been integrated into the rock floor.

There are monuments giving details of each of the States.  I took pictures of all of them, but here's Tennessee.

The views were incredible.

There was a small waterfall.

There was another way back, but it was a longer route.  Bryan & I decided I would go the longer way, and meet him at a point where the paths crossed on the way down.

Here's my pictures of my walk back.

That wasn't a real eagle, but a very good model.

I didn't walk the swinging bridge, mainly because there were so many people going the opposite direction on it, and I didn't want to wait.  I would have loved to do it.

Look at that view.

A very narrow stairway down

Here are Bryan's pictures on his way back.

We met back up at the old truck, after I called him and he talked me to where he was.  It was a bit of a maze and some parts weren't clearly marked. We were going to head out, when I remembered that there was supposed to be a fairy cavern here, which I wanted to see.  Poor Bryan, his knee was killing him but he came along with me.  It's much more fun when he's with me.

Looking for the cavern was an adventure in itself.  Down winding paths and narrow steps. Can you see me in the picture below?

We were ready to give up when we came across this narrow tunnel that we hadn't been through.

and there it was.............Phew!!!!

It was full of fairyland and nursery rhyme characters.

There was a section that had black light and made everything glow.

Back outside there was a small area with a waterwheel.

That lead to the exit and the gift shop!!!! Ha!!Ha!!  We were glad that we managed to find the Fairyland Caverns and headed home, exhausted!!

I took a picture of this old car on the way home.

What a great day, we both got a workout, and tomorrow we have another busy day.....