Hales Barr to Chattanooga, TN

We crossed over the AL-TN state line again just before reaching Nickajack Lock.  This is the newest lock on the TN River which has a reputation for quirky, strong winds but we had no winds.  The turbulence in the lock when it was filling is not nearly as extreme as the older locks due to an improved design.  Nickajack lock replaced the very leaky Hales Bar Lock which was demolished after Nickajack was finished.

Hales Bar Marina is located on both the upstream and downstream sides of the the old lock.  The old concrete building housing the electricity generators still remains and is used for boat storage.  We were met by the first floating pump-out unit we have encountered servicing SaSea Sally--an old pontoon boat with a large tank and pump powered by plugging into a 115v AC outlet on the dock--it worked.

Floating motel cabins at Hales Barr Marina

The TN River Gorge in Chattanooga

We had fantastic scenery on the trip from Hales Bar to the Chattanooga waterfront where we tied to the "concrete hard edge", a concrete wall with cleats.  The Chattanooga waterfront has undergone a fantastic redevelopment; the aquarium, walks, stairs, fountains, museums, hotels and restaurants all combine to make it a "must stop".  Walking bridges and the Delta Queen are also located here.

Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, TN

Upon our arrival we saw several other Looper boats and met our first AGLCA Harbor Host, a volunteer who provides "local knowledge" advice and assistance to Loopers passing through their area.  He provided a bag of information about Chattanooga and offered some other tips.

The navigator

The helmsman

On the way to Panara Bread Co to eat at lunch Sally and Caroline encountered a huge police presence and saw the police putting up crime scene tape around a huge area.  After inquiring they were told the "bomb squad" was on the way to inspect a suspicious device.  On the way back after lunch the police were gone and upon inquiring "what happened", were told the bomb squad blew up a laptop someone left on the sidewalk--oh, well, that laptop is a goner. Ty and I had Bloody Marys and burgers at a nice place across the street from the boat.
 

Ty's friend Randy will drive from Columbia tomorrow (starting around midnight tonight) and pick Ty and Caroline up at the boat in Chattanooga around 9am tomorrow, Oct. 3 and they will drive back to Columbia.  When they depart, we will proceed up the river through Chickamunga Lock to Chickamunga Marina, a 7 mile trip.