Coffeenuering 2020 Week #5: Missionary Ridge

 

Shanina on the Ridge, with Lookout in the background

 

 Coffeeneuring: riding bikes, drinking coffee, seven times, seven places, seven weeks; there's some rules. 

On November 25, 1863 federal forces, commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant, sandwiched Confederate troops on a small ridge on the eastern edge of Chattanooga. Maj. General William Tecumseh Sherman attacked from the north and Maj. General Henry Thomas from the south. It was a decisive victory for the Union that changed the tide of war and opened the South up for Sherman's march to the sea.

On November 7, 2020 Rebecca and I rode our bikes up and along the ridge, following the same trajectory many of General Thomas' soldiers did. As a social studies teacher and lay history nerd, this fact is not lost on me.  

About the ride: This is my favorite city ride which circles the "main" part of Chattanooga. The ride begins with a climb up and then along the rolling Missionary Ridge (S --> N). It passes luxurious homes, 19th century cannons, plaques, monuments, and statues and aside from six-mile long history lesson, Crest Road offers up endless views of the city valley, Lookout Mountain, and Tennessee River. North Crest ends with an exciting and fun descent down into the Glass Farms neighborhood before it rides along South Chickamauga Creek. Finally, the ride cruises along the river-walk and around the city and ends back home in Ridgedale.

This was Rebecca's longest bike ride and it was so much fun to hear her cooing at the hard-earned views laughing through the well-deserved descents. She was even talking about a half-century and another triathlon by the time we got home! I truly loved sharing this ride with her. 

#coffeeoutside at the Bragg Reservation

About the coffee: We stopped at the Bragg Reservation at the southern end of the ridge and made coffee in beneath beautiful autumnal leaves and a monument to the union forces from Illinois. No specialty or fancy coffee this week, just some tried and true coffee made in my trusty aeropress; standard brew method with a 14:1 ratio. I ran out of fuel before I got a good boil going but plenty of "fisheyes" in the pot was hot enough. Aeropress recommends 175 degrees anyway, right? A little kid wished us a "good picnic... or coffee business... or whatever you're doing!"

Date: 11.7.20

Location: 35°01'09.1"N 85°15'48.9"W

Bike: Shanina

Coffee: Publix Premium Dark Roast, Aeropress (standard), 14:1   

Miles: 20.02 (strava) 

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