7/26/26 – For the first time in a long, long time Maria felt well enough to venture out. We decided to drive to Racoon mountain near Chattanooga. The drive is about 1hour 15minutes and, if taking side roads, is an adventure on its own. We took TN 111, then TN 127, a short stretch of I-24 and then up the mountain on a nice winding road. On top is the reservoir and visitor center run by TVA. TVA is producing electricity via hydro power. This station is used during high demand times, where the valves are opened and the water falls about 1000 ft and electricity is produced. During low demand water is pumped up from the TN River into the reservoir again. This whole operation acts like a giant battery, charged (water pumped up during low electricity usage) and released (battery discharged) during high usage time.
Afterwards we went to Jasper and grabbed lunch at AJ’s on Main Street and went back home. All in all a nice little trip.
