What we're about

Chattanooga Hiking Meetup is an outdoor adventure and eco-volunteer club that plans hiking, backpacking, camping, paddling, and biking events throughout the year ranging from easy to strenuous, local to regional. The aim of the group is to explore the natural beauty of the region and to develop a social network for people with like interests.

In addition to our regular hikes and other outdoor adventures, we also plan social events and organize community volunteer projects such as park cleanup and trail building!

Upcoming events (4+)

Water to Wine Trip/Big Wills Outfitters kayaking and Jules J. Berta Vineyards

We have had great attendance for this event another group so I am offering it here initially on a limited basis. My record for the last time we did this event was 50 some people. If we fill up close to that with the Chattanooga Outdoor adventures Group We'll close it. If not I'll make the block on the Huntsville Outdoors Adventure groups and here bigger.

Note the Meeting time is 11:00 am Eastern and 10:00 am Central
This is a redo of a very popular event in the Huntsville Outdoor Adventures group I did a while back.

BE SURE TO MAKE A RESERVATION (THEY SAID BOOK NOW) Tell them you're with the Chattanooga Outdoor Adventure Group (We're doing this with three different groups so I needed to choose one)
Call[masked] to make a reservation

Try the Wine Slushy!

In a small farm town one day the Sheriff noticed that the Reverend was driving down the dusty road weaving, so the Sheriff went after him and stopped him. The Sheriff asked "what is going on, Reverend," to which the Reverend replied that he was just tired from working so hard.
Then the Sheriff noticed a bottle on the driver's side and asked to see the bottle. "Oh this is just water," the Reverend responded, "to keep me hydrated." But the Sheriff pulled the cork and smelled that it was wine and pointed that out to the Reverend. The Reverend then responded by saying, "Oh, the Lord did it again!"
While we will not be performing any Miracles we will be witnessing the miracle of transforming Water into wine by the Folks at Jules J. Berta. Okay, if you want to get all scientificky they are using fermentation. It's not something they can do instantly if they show up to the party late and forgot to bring a bottle.

Have you ever had a wine slushy?

They have those.

I did this a year or maybe two ago for the Huntsville Outdoor Adventures group and it was a hit! Over 50 people. A really nice paddle with Big Wills Outfitters. Then we take a very short drive over to Jules J. Berta for Wood Fired Pizzas and Wine Slushy's. Well they have actual wine too, but you've got to try a wine slushy.

So if you need to reserve a kayak you can do it here. If you're bringing your own Kayak they can shuttle you for a nominal fee. When you call or contact them tell them you are with the Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures group.

You want to start at 10:00 am Central time.

Okay to Book NOW
Here's the link
https://bigwillsoutfitters.com

Here's the wine place, Great pizzas and really good wines. Did I mention the wine slushy? They usually have a band playing if not I'll sing for you.... yea, you don't want that.

Here is their link to the Vineyard
http://www.julesjbertavineyards.com

Did I say Wine Slushy enough?

Those are really good!

They even have Charcuterie baskets at the winery. Pretty sure that's french for Lunchables. Ya know Lunchmeat and Cheese for adults.

Are you still reading?

You should be making your reservations. Tell them the group you're with.

6
Deli and Zoo Sunday-Cold Cuts, Cults and Pandas

The Yellow Deli Chattanooga

I bet that title got your attention.

This is a joint event with Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures.

A lazy Sunday Brunch club thing that's not really brunch. Okay it's lunch actually.

I've gotten a lot of comments on my write ups.

I heard it described several times as a stream of consciousness thing. I'm no T.S. Eliot, but hey at least I have some solid editorial skills and do not put everything that crosses my mind in here. You should be glad. Probably bumping up on the edge of that in this one.

Now what do Gummy bears have to do with Zoos and delis? First do yourself a favor and google Sugar Free Gummy bears Amazon review and read some. You're welcome. How did I get here? Online reviews. I love to read some of the funnier online reviews. So when I was looking at the deli I went to their online reviews.

Make sure I am taking my people to the right place.

You have to research what your getting your members into.

"The food was outstanding and such a unique place. Quite possibly the best chicken sandwich I've ever had."

Okay seems harmless enough. I like chicken sandwiches.

"Wow! It's like eating in a treehouse! The Pesto Turkey sandwich is to die for!!! Do yourself a favor and check this place out! Google Yellow deli and enjoy some interesting reading before you go. *wink*
"
So they're saying great food, but know before you go. Kind of Vague and foreboding.

"Say what you will about weird quasi-Christian/Jewish end-time communal cults, this one makes great Kosher food."

Wait! What the? Well at least the Kosher foods is good, but what was that other part?

Basically the sentiment on Yelp is there is this Cult that runs a deli in Chattanooga, BUT THEIR FOOD IS DELICIOUS! You've got to try it. Twisted for sure, but now I am interested. I gotta go to his place.
Goggle? 4.6 stars on Google. More things like 'yes it is a cult, but the sandwich was amazing'.

I mean for a good sandwich I am willing to take my chances. This is the twisted things you see in some online reviews. I personally think my review of the Cajun Steamer in Huntsville on Yelp was a literary masterpiece. Management at that restaurants thoughts on it? Not so much. Some people do not have a sense of humor. Really should go back to writing Yelp reviews.

Note to self to really be cautious about beverage choices. I mean it is supposedly a cult, Hey what could go wrong? I love a good Ruben and their Deli Rose sandwich sounds fantastic.

Here is their website
https://yellowdeli.com/chattanooga

Then I thought We'd get our exercise with a Sunday Urban Hike. To where? Why the Zoo of course. They have Red Pandas and they are like me, adorable... Okay, they're actually way cuter. I mean by a lot. Walk the 1.2 miles to the Zoo and look at the Fuzzy animals. I don't ever want to get to old to go to the Zoo.

It's always a great experience in a zoo unless a monkey has a really good throwing arm. ;)

Here is their website
https://www.chattzoo.org

Bring money for your food and Zoo entrance fee.

Do I really need to tell you that?

You'd be surprised.

Did you actually Google the Sugar free Haribo Gummy bear reviews on Amazon? I and someone were driving to the mountains. I had to pull over I was laughing so hard.

After the Zoo?

Who knows. Maybe we go grab a beverage somewhere. Find something to do.

Or maybe after the Deli you wake up and find yourself wearing a bed sheet handing out brochures in a major metropolitan airport. With sandals of course, but at least we had an amazing sandwich before we signed up.

You didn't read this far did you?

3
Foodie Tour of Chattanooga-Pinball Machines and Artsy stuff Day

Niedlov's Cafe & Bakery

A Too Hot to Hike Summer Series event

See the notes on signing up at the bottom.

Wear your stretchy pants. Think Thanksgiving clothes. Manternity pants for your food baby.

Comfy Shoes! We're going to walk a lot on this one.

This will be a series of full days in Chattanooga with a tour of multiple venues and food places. This is my first in a bunch I am planning. You can go out to eat and experience cool stuff with great people, and me. I'm not so bad.

My daughters have called me a food hipster. I mean Foodie? Okay, I can see that. I love to explore all different kinds of foods. But a Hipster? I did have a beard for a while, but never any skinny Jeans.

Yeah okay me and skinny jeans are not something you'll ever want to see me in, but food...

One of the Benefits of having a significant other, a partner, special someone, whatever term you want to use is the ability to have someone to go out to eat at cool places. Sadly, my partner Sam a Yellow kindofalab dog is not eligible to go to nice places to eat with me, but I guess you guys could come. He isn't much of a conversationalist and prone to inappropriate sniffing. Probably better table manners from you guys anyways. At least I hope so.

Sam once shamelessly Conned a table full of women at at an outdoor patio at Straight to Ale out of 3/4 of their soft pretzel. When they left they all knew his name, stopped to say goodbye, loved on him, told him how cute he was. Me? They had no clue to my name and never said goodbye.

That's when I realized I am not even his wingman. I am just his driver.

Does he ever pick up the tab? Nope. He's truly mans best friend, but he does like to test a guys limits of that.

So I'll bring you guys. If you promise not to beg from the table next to us. This is a pretty packed day.

Breakfast
We start at Niedlov's breadworks. The Beatles actually had this place in mind in there song All you niedlov's. Bread is so much more uncomplicated than love and considerably less expensive. I am pretty sure that's what the Beatles meant. The bakery. Keep it simple. They have Ham and cheese Croissants too.

Then thanks to help from a friend pinball at the Pinball Museum. Hey, it's only $20 to get in and its unlimited play. That's way cheaper than Chuckie Cheese and no one is going to look at you funny as you a grown person jump into the Ball Pit. I mean I would, this place just doesn't have them. The wristband is good for all day so we can go back!
Here's the link
https://www.chattanoogapinballmuseum.com

Lunch
Lupi's Pizza Pies. Pizza is Foodie? You Betcha! Doris Shober opened Lupi's and uses local fresh ingredients from the ground beef and tomatoes (when available) to the honey and whole wheat in the dough--Lupis has their very own farm, Flying Turtle Farm (Cool Names)
https://lupi.com

Okay so we've done two foodie things and one fun thing. Let's keep it classy. You don't hear me say that much so you should take advantage of the moment. Look we had a moment! Just like Sam's moment with the table full of women. Me? I didn't get a moment, or really a glance for that matter. We're going to walk over to Hunter Museum. Always wanted to go here because it looks like Tony Starks mansion. I am convinced Iron man is in there. We can look for the cool cave with all the Iron Man suits and the Shelby Cobra. Okay maybe a little lost there. My inner nerd is shining. He's probably not home. After there's an Art walk around the surrounding area.
General admission is $20. Grab a ticket here.
https://www.huntermuseum.org/visit

Dinner:Allelia
Mangia! Rustic Italian. See? I have managed to keep it classy this far. Personal best. This place looks nice. Personal favorite is Easy Bistro, but for you guys its italian.
Here is their site
http://alleiarestaurant.com/menu-3/

If you're still with me we ain't done yet! It is Ice cream Time! I love me some Clumpies. A walk over to Clumpies Ice cream for dessert. Then we all go home and settle into our own food comas. Foodie day one complete! I have more days coming

A note on attending. If you sign up show up! I'll be watching the attendance. There are limited spots so don't take one only to bail on me. If you're one of the habitual sign up and bail people please skip this one. What happens is you sign up to reserve a spot then drop out last minute leaving a vacancy someone else could've filled. They then only have moments to make the decision to come and of course can't. Be kind.
You are responsible to get your own tickets at the Pinball museum and at the museum. Each stop does involve some expense. You can come with us to some locations and just get a glass of water if you want.

2
Hiwassee Blueway Rail to River Paddle Event

Hiwassee Ocoee State Park

Another one in conjunction with Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures.

This is a train ride, and a kayak trip, and dinner, and music, and animal presentations, and I am being grammatically incorrect and should use less ands and more commas. And I need to stop using and.

Book your trip now. It sells out! Don't leave me doing this with strangers...

Well, I talk to strangers so I'd be okay, there is never any free candy in their van though. Friendly faces would be cool though.

I was going to work something in from a Classic movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles thanks to a movie quote Tyler reminded me of this past weekend. "Those aren't pillows." We of course chuckled a lot. The older the guy the more mature... Yea, not. You'll have to look up the quote, but he had me laughing. I like the less fine art movies, but couldn't work that movie in to it.

So, from the quote and the picture cinematic classic Without a Paddle...

“So you're saying you lost the map? You don't have it?
"No, I'm saying I forgot to hold on to it while my a** was free-falling over a 100 footwaterfall."
"So you don't have it?”

I confess to loving some of the less cultured cinematic events and this buddy rafting trip is a classic. One of my friends actually saw it, called me and said it reminded them of three of us that grew up together. They're searching for D.B. Coopers money.

You can pick out a little of each of us in the movies characters.
A more poignant sentiment comes from Burt Reynolds character.

“You can lose your money. You can spend all of it, and if you work hard, you get it all back. But if you waste your time, you're never gonna get it back.”

The point? This one is a little more pricey, but includes A LOT!

Life is about experiences.

It's well over a Hundred bucks of fun for well, actually a just a hundred bucks.

So much fun for such little money.

Here's the deal
"Paddler Ticket price includes: Saturday train ride, paddle event, paddling equipment from Webb Bros or Outshine Adventures, dinner and live music at Fireside Outpost, other recreational activities throughout the weekend (hiking, biking, rock climbing, fly fishing lesson, animal presentations, freshwater snorkeling) and tent camping at Gee Creek Campground group campsite."
Oh and they have this going on on Sunday. They even have Yoga so bring your stretchy pants. This thing is a deal!
"Sunday, June 25, morning yoga at Fireside Outpost with Outshine Yoga, Group hikes, bike rides and rock climbing, animal programs at the park, freshwater snorkeling (must bring own snorkel/wetsuit), and fly fishing lesson with Trout Unlimited. Visit Savannah Oaks Winery on your own, Ride the Train on your own ($5 discount for event attendees)."
I may camp, I may not. depending on who else wants to join me and listen to my soothing snoring. I mean the nearby babbling brook.
We could turn it into a campout, hike the next day, or go to the local winery place. It is a work in progress, but I already bought my ticket. I am trying to get all of you to get on this one early.
Here is the link. Click now, it sells out.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hiwassee-blueway-rail-to-river-paddle-event-tickets-598844218177

See! I look out for you.

I am becoming responsible...

Yea, I don't even believe that one..

It sells out.

What are you still reading?

You should've clicked the link above. Made your reservation and ignored all this stuff.

You're still reading?

It sells out.

Really? Click the link.

No limit on this one folks. If you can make a reservation you're in. If you can't get some adult arm floats on Amazon.

4

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