I've got the next 2 weeks off of work. Pretty monumental
Yesterday the temperatures got to 70 degrees in Chattanooga. Pretty monumental.
My favorite long ride these days takes in lots of civil war history - again Pretty Monumental.

So here are some monunental photos, though the quality of the photos is not as monumental as thier subjects.

1. From my house quick quiet rides are on Missionary Ridge, site of the confederate siege of chattanooga, and the federal assault. The Illinois Monument.
2. Today I'm glad to be riding up here, and not down there...
3. Monuments of more recent vintage
4. Winding quiet roads

On south to the Chickamauga battlefield. The first national battlefield. Someday I'd like to read about the movement to build all these monuments.

1. There are cannons and there are rockets. Which would I prefer? You guess.
2. Bragg's tower. I think there are 200 steps to the top. Today I want to climb other hills.
3. Who knew they built monuments to the bycicle riders of the civil war?
4. Downtown Chickamauga. Beautiful small towns
5. Low winter sun: Good day for shadow shots.

Ah yes!

We do like our battlefields and monuments.

I know it is a nice post when it makes me want to ride there.

Nice post.

70 degrees?!!....lucky dawg! It's blowing snow hard here.

I had to go to lunch - now back to posting about yesterday's ride....

Once I got through Chickamauga, I took the route of last years time trial in the Tour de Georgia. No monuments, but monumental none the less. What Floyd Landis did in just more than an hour, took me maybe 2 and a halfl. He had to be juiced! Or I have to be lame....

1. My eyes look to the hills, from where will my strength come?
2. The long straight road is deceptive, the climb is coming
3. Working my way to the top, but the hard climb is at the end
4. The hard work starts showing itself in the distance.
5. Aaah, the top

One more set of photos. (I see the other three sets are ordered backwards - I'm just getting the hang of this - lets get this one straight).

1. Long straight country roads
2. Rest stop for the weary
3. Tourism of another sort happens on Lookout Mountain.

I didn't take any shots of my ride down Lookout Mountain, but going 40 miles an hour, I didn't think it wize to take my hands of the brakes ... And I really didn't want to stop -- too much fun.

70 degrees?!!....lucky dawg! It's blowing snow hard here.

not snowing, but the fog is freezing, forming this real nice slick layer on the ground. I still rode in though. My wife looked at me like I was nuts then pulled the covers back over her head... lol

Gotta love it.

Joe

Great stuff. Those warmer winter days are awesome.

Looks like you had a great ride!

Hey, it's Wilder Tower. . . and a million steps. . .

Bump. Thinking about heading up to this area with the kid and tandem over Thanksgiving. Any places to tent camp where we can we hit Chickamauga and Lookout Mtn by bike? How far apart are they? Routes? Is there something else that an 8 year old boy would prefer to see?

Local beta is good.

I see boy scouts tent camping in the Chickamauga national battlefield. So I imagine it must be allowed. You should check out the NPS site (http://www.nps.gov/chch/)which is pretty comprehensive. November tent camping can be dicey, or delightful. Fortunately there are hotels in Ft Oglethorpe or in Chattanooga itself which are not bad at all. The town of Chickamauga is a really nice small historical place - with its share of B&B's if you are into that.

There are plenty of routes that use the battlefield. South of the battlefield are miles of quiet farm roads. The local bike club has a standing Thursday night ride that loops in the park. Lookout Mountain is about 10 miles west of the battlefield, and there are some really nice quiet roads over that way. Climbing the mountain itself may be a bit much for your son, but coming down would certainly be a blast. If you attempt the climb, I'd recommend the roads that are further south, rather than the roads that come straight out of Chattanooga. St Rt 136 is a nice easy long climb, and there really isn't much traffic.

One option that you might find interesting is to ride up the mountain on the Incline Railroad - they will let you put the bike on the back of the railcar. And then ride down on the tandem. You can come down the roads, or on an old rail bed that is now a gravel trail (Guild Trail or Hardy Trail).

Your son might like the local tourist traps (Rock City and Ruby Falls) and you can probably bike to them once you are on top of lookout mountain.

Here are some routes I've mapped out.

30 miler that includes the part and the town of chickamauga: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=459632. (careful with one wall at the end of the ride)

Route from Chickamauga down to a lovely cove in the mountain.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=510066.

Tour de Lookout Tourist Traps. (up the incline railroad, over to Rock City, Down the Rail trail, by Ruby Falls and back to the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain).
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1361535

Downtown Chattanooga also has tons of cool things for both kids and fathers. And the town is becoming more and more bike friendly. I think you'll have a great time.

Thanks! Looks like it'll be a great trip! :)