USA 1999: The Mid-Atlantic States
(continued)
Dome-shaped and mainly devoid of any vegetation, the 825-feet high mass of rock amazes by its sheer size and presence. High and alone on
a gently rolling plateau, it is over 30-miles from a neighbouring mountain. And on its north face is the world's largest sculpture:
the
Confederate Memorial.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson, ride across the face of the mountain. The
carving is 90-feet tall, 190-feet wide, and towers 400-feet above the ground. We ascend to the top of the mountain by cable car, a
ride that provides an excellentl view of the sculpture but, due the poor visibility, no views at the top. Back at the base, we see
a film and view exhibits in the museum. A full-size replica of Robert E Lee's collar shows how large the sculpture is.
At the
park's Antebellum Plantation we follow a self-guided tour through many of the restored and authentically appointed buildings that
have been moved to the site including Dickey House (left). We then have a narrated 25-minute, five-mile journey around the base of
the mountain in an enormous, vintage 1940s train.
As we drive away from Stone Mountain, a thunderstorm commences which makes for hazardous driving on the I-285 and I-75.
However,
the weather eases as we approach the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, was fought here
between Generals William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union army and Joseph E. Johnston of the Confederate army, between June 18, 1864,
and July 2, 1864. A total of 5,350 soldiers died during the battle.
From the battlefield (first right), we drive north on US-41 to cross Allatoona Lake in order to rejoin I-75 and continue towards this
evening's stop at Chattanooga.
The rain eases as we leave the I-75 to visit the Chickamauga Battlefield (second right). The battlefield
is located just south of the Georgia/Tennessee border. At this time (6pm) the visitor centre is closed, but we manage to obtain a
map and use this to drive the 7-mile tour of the battlefield.
The Battle of Chickamauga was fought on September 19/20th 1863,
in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war fought in Georgia, the most significant Union defeat, and involved
the second-highest number of casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg.
We finish the autotour at 7pm and, using the US-27, we
drive into Tennessee and the city of Chattanooga. This road takes us through some depressed and derelict industrial areas. We
are relieved to find that the Holiday Inn located in the former Chattanooga Southern Railway Terminal is a secure resort complex.
Trains
stopped chugging into the 1909 showcase station in 1973. The station was subsequently renewed with restaurants, lounges, shops, exhibits,
gardens, and hotel rooms. We are booked into a restored Victorian parlour car that is parked on the tracks.
After settling in
to our unusual accommodation, we set out to explore the complex and have our evening meal in the Garden Restaurant. We start with
excellent chicken and sweetcorn chowder (2); followed by garden salads (2); New York strip steak with French fries (J), rib eye steak
with baked potato (D); Tennessee bread pudding with whiskey sauce (J), amaretto cheesecake (D); beer and coffee (D).
After a
stroll round the shops to help digest the very nice puddings, we retire to our Victorian parlour car for the night.
(above):
hotel lobby area
(left):
station platform
Our accommodation aboard the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.
We have a good night's sleep in the converted railcar; there are all the usual facilities of a hotel room, it's just that this one
is on wheels, and those wheels are on a railway track, in the centre of a former station. A guest notice in the railcar (left) draws
the attention of occupants to a couple of the unusual aspect of spending a night in a railway carriage.
So that you may have a most enjoyable experience sleeping aboard our unusual Victorian Parlor Car, we wish you to be aware, that in
spite of all efforts to totally soundproof each parlor, sound is conveyed through the metal structure of the train. Also, the water
heater aboard this car is limited to 30 gallons and may drain with extended showers. We hope this does not inconvenience you, and
that you will return again for a pleasant evening aboard the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.