8-31-2013, Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, 31st:  Got up early and walked the Walnut bridge. It is the nation’s longest pedestrian-only bridge and it connects the downtown area with the Northshore District and Coolidge and Renaissance Parks.  After our walk we toured the Tennessee Aquarium, both the Fresh Water and the Ocean Water parts.  Then we took the “Free Electric Bus” up to see the Chattanooga Choo Choo.   Was a long day; we came back to the boat to rest up and have dinner.  This evening they had free Saturday Night Music on the River.  It cooled off some and was a very pleasant evening temperature wise.  There were two different bands, lots of beer tents and food tents, and at least 1,000 people were there.  This morning we were the only boat at the dock and this afternoon it was full and some boater had to be turned away.

8-31-2013:  We had to walk all these stairs before even starting our walk this morning

8-31-2013:  XO on our walk

8-31-2013:  The Walnut Street Bridge.  It used to be the railroad bridge.

8-31-2013:  Kim Jo IV from the Walnut Street Bridge

8-31-2013:  Chattanooga Choo Choo.  Battles were fought in and around Chattanooga primarily to control the rail road network.  By 1861 the city had become one of the South's most important rail road hubs.

8-31-2013:  Free Music Night on the River Front


8-31-2013:  We went through the River Journey and the Ocean Journey of the Tennessee Aquarium which is one of the top aquariums in the nation and located right on the river front.  Below are several picture.

Fresh Water Sting Rays

 

 

 

Hyacinth Macaw's-Native to Brazil.  Their beaks are the strongest of any kind of bird and can exert up to 300 pounds of pressure to open nuts and seeds.

 

 

Bonnethead Shark

 

 

 

 

 

This is a huge fish tank covering most of the building; several story's high and it is all around you and above you too.  There were several hundred kinds of fish  of all shapes, color, and size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a whole section dedicated to Butterflies.  Most of  them would not sit still long enough for me to get a good picture but I did get a few.

 

 

 

Penguins prefer close quarters and live flipper to flipper in the wild.