Filed by Mallory Carra
12:30 p.m. —; Mountain view site
I’m on the corner of Nickajack Lane in a church parking lot, and I don’t know how I got here or where I am. I followed a bunch of signs toward Lookout Mountain that said “Tour de Georgia view site.”
Here, a small, much quieter group has gathered. They’re also a lot less commercial, lounging in their lawn chairs and eating their own packed snacks. There are no loud commentators, just cheers when riders pass by one, sometimes two, at a time.
A little boy started inching his way on the grass near the road and then took a small step onto the road.
“We’re going to need him away from the road,” one of the officials shouted, trying to get the attention of the boy’s parents.
You can get close, but not too close to the race.
1:15 p.m. —; Chattanooga
It’s going to be a little crazy here. I can tell already.
I spent a couple of minutes on the phone with a colleague, both of us baffled by the parking situation. Still with their work IDs and business clothes on, lots of people are checking out the route going downtown.
With trucks and detours everywhere, walking —; and biking —; are probably the best options right now.
E-mail Mallory Carra at mcarra@timesfreepress.com
