28 May 2022--Went biking on the River Walk here in Chattanooga, a really nice trail that snakes along the Tennessee River for 13 miles. We only did about 8 miles total, but it was quite enjoyable.
Right at the city's Aquarium is a marker commemorating the forced march/relocation of thousands of Native Americans--from the land they owned here and in Alabama, all the way to Oklahoma--now known as the Trail of Tears.
A mile or so further along the River Walk is the Art Museum and another very stately building where special exhibits are housed.
Check out this video. I stopped to capture up close a whole section along the trail just covered with Kudzu. Tennessee has miles and miles of trees and forests, and it seems like no one is doing anything about this out of control growth. I would think someone should be able to figure out a cure, short of goats, to save these forests before they are completely smothered with Kudzu.
Just a couple pics along the trail.
You might be wondering exactly what I'm doing on the ground here. Well, I'm re-enacting the scene of Jeannie's misfortune...lol So what happened? We were all riding along, minding our own business, sort of single file on the right side of the walkway, except for Jeannie who was on the left. A guy on a bicycle came in her direction, and instead of getting over to the right where we were, she went further left, off the sidewalk--where there was such a steep drop-off she couldn't touch down with her feet. Over she went with her bike, but because of the mulch she fell into, and as she was behind us, Cathy and I had no idea she went down. We could hear Caja sort of yelling Jeannie's name, but we are so used to that we weren't initially concerned--lol. At the same time that Caja's voice went up a few octaves, I guy walking towards us suddenly ran, with a look of alarm on his face, in Jeannie's direction, so that's when Cathy and I stopped our bikes and realized Jeannie was in a pretty precarious situation.
It's sort of hard to tell from the picture, but it is a very steep drop off to the river behind me, and Jeannie was actually further down than I am in the re-enactment. She was only stopped by the leg of the sign on the left. It took Caja and 2 men to return her to the safety of the sidewalk, and unbelievably she wasn't hurt at all. We were lucky to have both a small crane and Mobile Medical Unit right where Jeannie went down, but alas, they weren't needed.
So in honor of her toughness, this area that used to be called Ross's Landing, has now been re-named Jeannie's Landing!
Tomorrow is a down day and then Monday we will be heading out for Lexington, Kentucky for a couple days. There is a horse farm there that is a big tourist attraction, I guess, so we are going to check it out.
Wow Jeannie provides entertainment 🤣
ReplyDeleteI got interested in the Kudzu plant and look it up. This is was I could found:
The kudzu is a very fast growing plant, growing 20 meters per season at a growth rate of 30 cm per day. This vigorous climber can grow taller than 30 metres. The stems are 1–10 cm in diameter. The roots of the kudzu are fleshy with massive tap roots. The tap roots are 10–20 cm or more in diameter and 1–2 m or more in length. They can weigh more than 180 kg. More than 30 trunks can grow from one root system.
Kudzu can grow in many different conditions and in different soil types. Kudzu often grows near forest edges, overgrown fields, roadsides and urban areas in places with a lot of sunlight. Kudzu grows best in places where winter temperatures do not fall below –15°C, average summer temperatures often exceed 27°C and annual rainfall exceeds 1000mm. In places where temperatures drop below -15°C, the plant will die to the ground, but the plant can then come back from the roots in the spring.
In the southeastern states of the United States and in northeastern Australia, the kudzu is an invasive species and a weed that grows explosively there due to the almost ideal conditions. Much money and effort is spent fighting the kudzu. It overgrows roads, bridges, power pylons and the local vegetation. The plant is difficult to control because the plant must be eradicated root and branch. One of the methods of control that caught the attention of CNN in July 2011 was to control kudzu by injecting helium gas into the soil around the root system. An invention of a 17-year-old high school student Jacob Schindler from the state of Georgia. In the United States, the plant has been nicknamed "the vine that ate the south" because of its overgrowth.
With such fast growth, you have to wonder what the area will look like 20 years from now.
DeleteIt was a fun trip along the river. Reminded me of Pittsburgh. Jean’s fall was very scary. If she would have not hit the sign post she would have fallen 50 ft to the rivers edge. Caja
ReplyDeleteI’m speechless! That one second that can change everything! So glad she’s okay - quite the dare devil there! Paula, your commentary is comically drole- thanks for taking us on this trip with you
ReplyDeleteThey have tried to get rid of it burning, pulling and poison but the state brought it in. Now they can’t get rid of it. That is what my nephew told me.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad Jeannie is ok but it was funny to read the story!
check out the horse farm and the scientific methods used for breeding and the cost for the studs!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I think we'll be checking out...time will tell
DeleteGlad Jeanne lived. Y’all are seeing some intersting things
ReplyDeleteI am alive and well!! Lol. Quite the orator that Paula, notice that she didn’t dare go where I actually landed! Three wheels from now on!!! Jeanne
ReplyDeleteOMG! Glad your traveling companion is up & about & unharmed, Paula. I felt awful laughing as you wrote comically of pedaling unconsciousness along until seeing the white's of a strangers eyes running towards Jeannie. Y'all sure know how to liven up a day.
ReplyDeleteSuch fun adventures! Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteJeannie's Landing is perfect!!! Once my friends and I were biking along the Missouri River near Columbia, MO and crossed a small bridge as some startled wild turkeys flew away...from then on...we referred to the bridge/creek as Turkey Creek....Not that there's any connection between turkeys and you all...nope not a chance...thanks for sharing....Joy G26
ReplyDeletePaula I hope you waited to laugh until you knew Jeanne was ok??
ReplyDeleteWhen they say “something’s will never change” they meant you!!
Marilyn here, Jeannie, your tumble and roll reminds me of my bike ride on one of the Maine islands, (I think we were onVinyl haven) when a pick up truck got so close to me I had to go down the the hill into the culvert.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Jennie is okay. What a scary situation. Caja are you okay? I can only imagine how you must of felt seeing Jeannie down over the hill. Keep safe girls and see you in Pittsburgh hopefully safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteYou gals sure had some biking adventure! It seems only fitting that the trail was renamed for Jeannie😉
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure for a short stroll along the river! Interesting facts and that kudzu is scary though very beautiful in a different way…So glad Jeannie came out of this unharmed, things happen so fast at times and it could have been so so bad!
ReplyDelete