Head of the Hooch Regatta, Chattanooga, TN

Updated: Oct 9, 2026

If we hadn't cruised up the Tennessee River, we might never have discovered this lovely river town. Chattanooga has grown by leaps and bounds over the past dozen years, and it's been fun to see the changes.

This weekend, thousands of rowers descended on Chattanooga for the Head of the Hooch Regatta. I happened to be in town Saturday morning for my volunteer gig at the Tennessee Aquarium, which gave me a chance to get an early look at the event setup before the racing got underway.

According to the Head of the Hooch website at the time, 8,000 rowers and 20,000 spectators from around the country were expected to attend. The crowd seemed a little smaller to me than it did in 2019, the last time I watched the competition, when a friend’s son was one of the participants. Ironically, I used to live in both Philly and Boston, where thousands of rowers gather each fall for the Head of the Schuylkill and Head of the Charles, respectively, but I never once stopped to watch either race! Perhaps I was there a bit early this year. It was around 10:30 a.m. when I wandered among several vantage points, camera in hand, looking for good spots to photograph the action.

Spectators cheering on Walnut Street Bridge

The weather was certainly different this year. In 2019, it was very cold. This Saturday was cloudy, with rain showers expected later, but unseasonably warm, with temperatures hovering in the upper 60s to low 70s. Not exactly typical November weather, but certainly more comfortable for spectators!

Ross Landing

TN Aquarium celebrates its 30th anniversary this year

Earlier Saturday morning before the race

I’m sure the Head of the Hooch has helped put Chattanooga on the map, too. The popular rowing regatta moved to Chattanooga in 2005 after outgrowing its original venues on the Chattahoochee River and later Lake Lanier. The Tennessee River provided a spectacular downtown backdrop and room for the event to grow.

The 2026 Head of the Hooch is scheduled for November 7–8, but plans to redevelop Chattanooga’s downtown riverfront raised concerns about the regatta’s future. Construction at Ross’s Landing will temporarily close the south shore, creating logistical challenges for an event that draws rowers and spectators from across the country.

Fortunately, there’s good news! Organizers announced on October 8 that the regatta will remain in Chattanooga. In 2027, it’s expected to move across the river to the North Shore while construction continues at Ross’s Landing. I’m glad this exciting event will continue to call Chattanooga home!

If you haven't visited Chattanooga yet, perhaps this post will entice you to make the trip. It's an easy two-hour drive from both Atlanta and Nashville, making it a convenient getaway from either city.

With its beautiful riverfront, scenic surroundings, and plenty to see and do, Chattanooga is well worth a visit. And if you happen to be there when the Head of the Hooch is in town, be sure to take some time to watch the boats go by. It's quite a sight.

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and My Random Musings.

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Fall Colors and Chattajack

Goodbye Tennessee Aquarium, Hello Florida Botanical Garden!

Fall Colors and Chattajack

Updated: 10/29/24

A long time ago, the Fall Color Cruise festival was a tradition on this part of the Tennessee River (Lake Nickajack). Boaters from other marinas would cruise over here for the festival and the legendary potluck parties. We were lucky to be here for those fun times. The festival is no more. But ...

We have Chattajack! The paddling race that navigates the twist and turns of the scenic Tennessee River, all 31 miles of it from downtown Chattanooga to our marina at the old dam on Lake Nickajack. The event was last Saturday. The foliage was not exactly spectacular, thanks to the dry and warm weather. But what a lovely day it was (74 degrees F)! 

 The local Channel 3 captured a spectacular view of the Chattajack paddlers from above.

At the  finish line, courtesy of the mvmaithai crew.

this brilliant color caught my attention at the Arts Bluff's district 

Fall won't be the same without some bright cherry chrysanthemums (from my garden, I might add).

A Trader Joe's opened in Chattanooga last summer. I was in the store last week and was so delighted to find some apple cider donuts! According to their Fearless Flyer, they came from a family-owned bakery in Western Massachusetts. We used to go apple picking in Massachusetts, so we know how yummy those treats are :-) Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee.

How are the fall colors in your neck of the woods?

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Bleubeard and Elizabeth's Altered Book Lover and Slices of Life.

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On the Road Again: Gettysburg, PA

This is our second road trip from Chattanooga to Boston. We wanted to steer clear of traffic as much as we can, so avoiding I-95 was key. (To our dear friends in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, sorry for not visiting!) We took a more relaxing route that offered views of rolling hills and bucolic farmland. Passing near historic Gettysburg, how can we not stop to get a dose of American civil war history? 

That was how we found ourselves at the Gettysburg National Military Park on a Saturday morning. It was 10:30 am. The place was packed, and we had just missed the one and only tour of the day. Apparently only the entrance to the visitor center is free, everything else has a fee attached. We got a map and set out to explore on our own. We'll read about the history later. It was a good thing as we got to tour the grounds at our own pace, and don't have to cram into a bus full of people on a hot summer day.

The setting of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

President Lincoln

At the back of the visitor center, there is a trail that led us to Meades' headquarters and Cemetery Hill.

Meade's Headquarters on left

Soldiers' National Cemetery

We drove around to see other sights - the haunted Sachs Covered Bridge, crossed by both Union and Confederate armies; Devil's Den, where heavy fighting occurred; and observation towers at Culps Hill and near Peach Orchard.

Culp's Hill

Climbing up the observation tower to see

Eisenhower's farm in the distance

Gettysburg Titbits

The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1-3, 1863, with casualties of 51,000 (23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederate). On November 19, four and a half months after the Union armies won the battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln delivered his most famous speech at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery.

Did you know Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th president, had a farm adjacent to the battlefield? The farm served as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders during his presidency. Now part of the National Park Service, the Eisenhower Farm offers free tour, but there is a fee to take the shuttle from the visitor center. 

Back home away from home, we learned more about Gettysburg on YouTube.

Sources: History Channel

We managed to bypass I-95 altogether. Crossing the new Tappan Zee Bridge (built in 2017 and renamed Mario Cuomo Bridge) from Pennsylvania to New York was a breeze. No stop and go like the olden days to pay toll as no toll booth could be found. Ditto on the Massachusetts Turnpike. There is no doubt we have to pay. The bill is probably in the mail.

Happy Friday!

This post is shared on Image-in-ing, My Corner of the World and Skywatch Friday.

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Two quick pickled cucumber recipes, perfect for the summer

Sesame Spicy Cucumbers

Today is officially the first day of summer, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  And it's super HOT! We've had a heat wave in Southeast Tennessee since last week, but the last two nights have been surprisingly cool, in the low 60s. The days are sunny and the mercury goes right back up to the 90s. Hard to keep up with the changing weather forecast, but we'll take the cool temperatures any time.

Our gracious neighbors have shared their harvests from their bountiful garden. We've received cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, yellow squash, bok choy, and broccoli. 

Over the years, I have posted some easy to make recipes that are great for summertime potlucks or alfresco dining. The most requested recipes are sesame noodles, avocado and roasted corn guacamole and blackeye pea salsa (links below.) And what would summer be without a refreshing mojito? 

These two quick pickled cucumber recipes are pickled Asian style, using the milder rice vinegar. You can get most of the Asian ingredients from your local Walmart. Here are the recipes:

Asian-style pickled cucumbers

4 cucumbers
2 jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced

1 cup rice vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp Kosher salt
½ cup water

Heat vinegar, sugar, salt and water in a small pot until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. 

Slice off about 1 inch from the rounded ends of cucumbers. Rub cut ends with sliced-off pieces to bring up the sap. Quarter lengthwise, then remove soft centers. Cut crosswise into pieces, about 3 or 4 inches long. Wash and pat dry.

Place the cucumbers and jalapeno peppers in a jar. Pour pickling liquid into the jar until the vegetables are submerged. Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. It's good after a few hours, but the best flavor is after a day or two. Keeps in the refrigerator for a month.

 

This following recipe - Ma La cucumber or Sesame Spicy Cucumbers - is from Easy Home Cooking, a Chinese cookbook I bought in Hong Kong years ago. I made it for the first time last month; it was so good I've made it a few more times. It's now our favorite pickled cucumber recipe.

Ma La cucumbers (麻辣黃瓜)

8 small cucumbers 
1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp garlic oil
2 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp each salt, sugar, doubanjang* (豆瓣醬)

dash of sesame oil

Cut cucumbers into wedges and into thirds. Add 1 tsp salt and let it sit in the fridge for 1 hour. Wash lightly and pat dry.

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and add the cucumber. Let it sit for at least 2 hours before serving.

Note: 

* LeeKumKee brand is very popular. If you cannot find doubanjang (豆瓣醬), you can substitute with crushed pepper or chili oil.

Did you make it? Let us know how it turned out via the comments. Thanks! 

Bon appetit, stay cool, and have a great summer! 

This post is shared on Image-in-ing and My Corner of the World.

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