Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures

Sat, Nov 15 · 9:00 AM EST

Fiery Gizzard Loop

Dollar Tree, 3536 Cummings Highway, Chattanooga, TN, US

The Time listed is to meet at the Carpool location. It is about an hour depending on how on time we leave. We should be at the trail head between 10:00 and 10:30 CHATTANOOGA Time. Tracy City is in the Central Time Zone which translates into 9:00-9:30 TRACY CITY TIME. This isn't hard to figure out. If you want to meet there I think I have it explained. All times are estimated. If you carpool and are not planning to eat probably need to drive yourself. A self pool.

Hold on to your Giblets! We are doing the Fiery Gizzard. By request I am putting this up on the calendar. I want to in the cooler weather add some more difficult hikes to the list.

This is a difficult hike.

There is basically a sign saying abandon hope all ye who enter here.

Ye?

Isn't that Kanye West's new name? Apparently Kanye West is in Dante's Inferno. Who knew? Yeezy boots are not really suitable for hiking. So opt for some Salomons. Trust me.

I hiked this once in an August Inferno. About died. Cooler weather is better. Kanye was apparently still married and raising kid with Kim Kardashian when I hiked it. She hadn't yet turned to son and told him "North, my relationship with West has gone South."

Apparently love is difficult than being married to Kanye. Or most likely anyone. I am just saying. The trail is hard, but not that hard. I am going to stick to hiking. Safer and less expensive.

I hope you enjoyed the show. I am here all week. Don't forget to tip your waiters and waitresses. Try the veal.

This ladies and gentleman is a beast. Only eight miles of tough stuff. Please be an experienced hiker. I like to get almost every back when I go.

Though the origin of the trail name is unclear one legend has it that Davy Crockett bit into a superheated turkey Gizzard and spit it into the gorge. So remember half chewed gizzards on the trial should not be eaten. Good thing he didn't hawk a loogie into the Gorge. We could be hiking Slimy Loogie trail. Not nearly as catchy.

Here is the All Trails Spiel
All trails Fiery Gizzard Loop

Did I mention this is a tough hike. Like Michael death march tough. It is one of those if you're a serious hiker you have to have it on your resume. This will be my fourth time, but who's counting?

Apparently I am counting..

Be prepared for a difficult hike. Your skills and abilities are your responsibility. Be experienced, I am not going to even tell you what to wear, put in your pack etc... because if you don't know it's probably best to stay home.

After I like to eat at a great restaurant that is real close. It is a home grown favorite. I am talking about
Hanks Corner Grill
Great place to eat.

A varied and delicious menu. Options for everyone. Didn't see Gizzards on the menu though.

Sun, Nov 16 · 1:00 PM EST

The Brunch Club-Waffle House & Booker T Washington State Park

Waffle House, 4343 Highway 58, Chattanooga, TN, US

The Brunch Club

Front loaded so you don't have to scroll!

So it is my Sunday Funday. I love a four course Chef's choice meal paired with a wine at Easy Bistro, The Sofra shared table experience for two at Calliope is amazing and one of the top restaurant in the country, but in a weird twist of fate I also love todays brunch spot.
Waffle House 4343 TN 58 Chattanooga, TN 37416

Not nearly as classy, but also satisfying.

Find a girl (or guy) you take here on a date and they're happy you've found potential. If they get into a physical altercation or shouting match with the couple who, following an argument in a Nashville motel, took their dispute to the nearest Waffle House—without bothering to put clothes on first (true story) You may have a keeper. Life won't be boring.

Seating will be tougher, but we will figure it out. I don't want to sit next to anyone naked.

Then it's on to a bit longer hike than my usual Sunday Brunch club. It is fairly easy terrain though albeit a bit longer, but still doable. You can walk off your All Star special breakfast.

Here is the trail
Booker T. Washington Trail 7.4 miles

Know your limits. Cant do it? Don't go.

See I front loaded everything. Now the part no-one will read.

So I love the Breakfast Club Movie and have based some Sunday hikes off of the theme.

It's actually deeper than you think. This is blatantly stolen from Thought Catalog with my thoughts added. I found these thoughts on four takeaways from the movie.

I am just going to leave them here. I try to live like this. It may help you understand me and I hope each other. Isn't that what the movie tries to show and life all bout?

People are more complex than their labels.
I have been taught this over and over again. I had a long talk as a very young man with a very free spirited self described hippy about literature around a campfire one night. We became close friends despite his the tie dye and my preppy clothes. If you live on the superficial label level I feel sorry for you. You miss out on the good of others. Most of the time it is there. Most of the time.

Success in school, work, sports, etc... doesn't guarantee fulfillment... and failure isn't as bad as it seems.
It goes back to the saying "some people are so poor all they have is money" I have failed miserably and been wildly successful. The most fulfilling times had very little to do with success. Hearing your child cry for the first time, a first kiss in a secluded spot, a hug of a dear friend you haven't seen in a while, a call from a friend checking on you and so many more. That's true fulfillment. I live very simply very intentionally, but I am also very happy. That at the end of the day is success.

Escaping from our problems can't solve them, but it can help us deal with them.
Even those successful types from above still have problems. I may not have their money and success, but they may be lonely. It is a little bit of escapism in the movie and on our events, but sometimes the days activities provides a bubble for us to escape into. It doesn't solve anything, but it gives us respite. That in itself can be powerful.

Stop worrying about what others think and be your authentic self
I lost a friend several years back. He was a larger than life character. He honestly did not care what anyone thought. He was always all about the good time, but also always nice. It was standing room only to say our goodbyes and when we went out later all anyone could talk about was how he made them feel about theirselves not what he had or how successful he was. Quite honestly the guy was a mess, but wildly loved life, others and was wildly loved by many. I asked a friend later what kind of car did he drive, what was his house like, what brand were his clothes... All to prove a point. My friend said He had no clue, but he always made him feel incredible. I told him that was right! I want to be that person.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey

Ooh, woah
Won't you come see about me?

I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts

Giving everything inside and out and
Love's strange, so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on..."

Now the song is running through your mind. You're welcome!

Sun, Nov 23 · 11:30 AM EST

Dogwood White Oak & Valley Trail & Tropical cuisine & Little Debbies

Bauxite Ridge Trailhead, Sunkist Terrace, Collegedale, TN, US

This is a reschedule of the event. I was helped and I appreciate it. The Restaurant I wanted to go to is closed on Saturday (Seventh Day Adventist), but open on Sunday. I REALLY want to try the restaurant. They have empanadas. I moved this to a Sunday I may play hooky from church on Sunday. I may go and come flying in on two wheels. The rest of you can get out of bed hit the early service and get your tail to the trail.

So I have a lot going on with this day. I will actually be brief so you read it. Would it be Christmas without Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes?

Of course not.

I actually created the picture of the Christmas tree cake hiking in the mountains with the aid of my phone. I worked hard for your amusement.

This is a multistage day, but everything is close together and close to my Noodlewah and Cleveland friends for once. Yes I know how to spell Ooltewah, but was told it was pronounced like Noodle, thought is was funny so Noodlewah it is.

This is a new one, never been to this college. I did graduate from one believe it or not. Not sure I would have been Church college material.

First stop meet at the Dogwood, White Oak and Valley Trail. Its on the Southern Adventist College campus. 4.4 miles, 600' elevation gain, pretty easy. You know what to bring and do. If you don't probably need to walk the mall instead.

Details here
All Trails-Dogwood, White Oak and Valley Trail Info

Next Stop the Goliath Climbing wall. We're not rock climbing. I just want to see it. It looks cool. Somebody is invariably going to ask "Are we rock climbing?" No we are not rock climbing.
Goliath Wall Info

Third stop the Adventure turns to the Caribbean. Favorite Pirate Phrase? Surrender the Booty! Probably not a big phrase at a place owned by the religious college, Bring your own eyepatch. This place looks so cool and different. It is Tropical food at
Tropical Cuisine Restaurant-Website

The reviews are insanely good for this place. The menu sound delicious

They have Empanadas. It is a fun to say word and a delicious treat.

Fourth Stop If we have time. We will be cutting it close, but because it is Christmas and we all need the Little Debbie Christmas tree Cakes it is a stop at their Company Store.

They have shopping carts. Because who doesn't need a shopping cart full of little Debbies?

Little Debbie Company Store

They also have T-shirts. For those of you who know me well I am proud to say I visited here and did not buy a t-shirt. I am a recovering t-shirt addict. if you go help me stay strong!

A possible side trip if time allows for Photo ops with Ginormous Snack cake sculptures is to the
Little Debbie Park

Now the Extraneous brain droppings.

Fun fact! I once hiked with this obnoxious dude. Very condescending. He was talking about nutrition and how healthy he ate. Hikers he said needed to eat some overnight rolled oats and berries concoction soaked in milk from virgin woodland nymphs or some esoteric nonsense.

Anything I said was ridiculed with this dude. This went on for a long time until I realized I could do interesting things with his name. He was not a fan, but I had so much fun.

Anyways...

I told him I had section hiked a bunch of the Appalachian trail up to and through most of the Smokies. Most of the through hikers were Snickers addicts, Not rolled oats soaked in virgin woodland nymph milk and my go to was the Little Debbie Peanut butter Cream pies.

He laughed at me and said I was an idiot. That was mean.

Told the story to a through hiker while section hiking one time on the Appalachian trail later and we both laughed at the dude. Next thing out of the hikers mouth "you got any of those Peanut Butter Cream pies?"

I did and they were the big size. I was legend with everyone in the shelter that night.

Do Virgin Woodland Nymphs even lactate? I mean his logic had some holes in it. Maybe it was Soy, Oat, or Cashew milk. I can't remember. He was all into that stuff so maybe no on being the Virgin Woodland Nymphs. Whatever. Pretty sure none of those lactate, but I am no expert.

Little Debbie will hook you up on the trail and Snickers are like gold. Stock up and hike close to me if you have any of the Peanut Butter Cream Pies.

I am a bit of a health nut... not really.

Little Debbie Peanut Butter Cream pies > Rolled oats, Berrys and Virgin Woodland Nymph milk. Or any lactating Cashews.