Hales Bar Marina came alive this Saturday when the unique paddleboard/kayak event Chattajack31 ended their race there. The Chattajack31 race course starts at Ross Landing in downtown Chattanooga and snakes around the Tennessee River for 31 miles to end at the marina on Lake Nickajack. The event began in 2012 and has grown tremendously since. It is amazing how efficient they have become.
We're lucky to be in "our own backyards" to witness the event. Every year, it has gotten better and more exciting! The marina community was on board to cheer them on, complete with music, horns, conch and cowbells! They certainly deserve volunteer T-shirts, don't you think?
Cheering volunteers hard at work
marina parking lot
Cloudy skies, rain or not, the race must go on
Below are a few pictures from last year's event. We actually went out in our kayaks to watch the paddlers get to the finish line.
Drones were put to work
Get ready for another event on the river in downtown Chattanooga next week - Head of the Hooch. See you there!
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Another heat wave is gripping much of the South. Temperatures rose to 100 degrees F yesterday, the last day of September! Apparently, it was the hottest September ever recorded for many cities, not just in the South. We have enjoyed swimming in the river, but seriously, it's time to move on. To fall season.
Pumpkins and squashes galore at a store in Ellijay
Grocery stores and shops exude fall atmosphere. Cider, apples, pears, pumpkins, Halloween costumes line the aisles. As we step outside with our purchase, it feels anything but fall.
So we'll have to wait a tad longer to go apple picking or hiking in the mountains of North Georgia. A couple hours drive along the scenic backroads brings us to charming mountain towns like Ellijay (famous for its Apple Festival), Blue Ridge (artsy downtown, apple picking at Mercier Orchard), Dahlonega and Helen. The last two towns can be quite busy as they are closer to Atlanta, so be prepared for traffic! Dahlonega is the site of the first major gold rush and home to the University of N. Georgia while Helen is a replica of a Bavarian Alpine village with wineries and Oktoberfest is a popular fall attraction.
Go apple picking at Mercier Orchard in Blue Ridge
or buy your apples at the store
Dick's Creek Falls, half hour north of Dahlonega
Even closer to us is Cloudland Canyon, one of our favorite places to hike. If you're thinking of hiking down to see the falls, check with the state park to see if the falls are dry, as we had a hot and dry September.
Cloudland Canyon, Rising Fawn
Hiking down to the falls
The falls at Cloudland Canyon
Our weather app says high 90s for the rest of the week, mid 70s next week. We can hardly wait!
