This weekend, thousands of rowers descended upon Chattanooga for the Head of the Hooch Regatta. I happened to be in town for my volunteer gig at the TN Aquarium Saturday morning, so I got a preview of the event setup before the race.
Per the Head of the Hooch website, 8,000 rowers and 20,000 spectators from around the country were expected to attend. I thought the crowd was a tad smaller than 2019, the last time I saw the rowing competition (a friend's son had participated). Perhaps I was early; it was around 10:30 when I ambled around several vantage points to take pictures. It was very cold that year. This Saturday was cloudy with rain showers later, but unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the high 60s, low 70s.
Spectators cheering on Walnut Street Bridge
TN Aquarium celebrates its 30th anniversary this year
Earlier Saturday morning before the race
If we didn't cruise up the Tennessee River, we would not have discovered this lovely river town. It has grown leaps and bounds in the last dozen years. I'm sure the regatta has helped put Chattanooga on the map, since it moved its venue from the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta to Chattanooga twelve years ago.
If you haven't visited Chattanooga yet, perhaps this post will entice you to do so. It's a two hour's drive from the major airports in Atlanta and Nashville.
