Sat. 6/6… (Stone Mountain , GA ) This is
our last day here. We decided to go into
downtown Atlanta
and explore a bit. Plans were to go to
Coca~Cola, Underground Atlanta, CNN, Georgia Dome, etc. We stopped at Cracker
Barrel for breakfast and then headed into the downtown area. We found the Centennial Olympic Park easily
enough and also found a parking structure ($10. all day) close to Coca~Cola.
Now we were here 10 years ago and toured Coke but this was way different. It used to be free but now you have to pay to
tour Coke, CNN, and others. We chose just
to pay the $14.00 senior tickets to Coca~Cola.
Since it was Saturday we fought the crowds in every area. You have to now go through a metal detector
just to get into the building (remember the Centennial Park
bombing?). You also do a lot of waiting in line to see the different
exhibits. We saw the Loft which is a
collection of Coca~Cola advertising artifacts, then the Happiness Theatre, then
you get ‘released into ‘The Hub’ and from here you can venture to the various
attractions in whatever order you choose. We saw the vault of the secret formula, the
bottling exhibit (actually just a small room with downsized machines and
equipment), the milestones of refreshment, and then went to the 4D film (which
was actually very good!). We both had a
chance to take a picture holding an official Olympic torch that was used in the
1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, before entering the tasting room where you
can sample as much of the 64 different coke products as you choose. Then you get dumped out
into the store. All in alI, I wasn’t
impressed very much. But they do have a lot to see.
Afterward, I took our
purchases and free bottles of coke to the car while the rest headed off to find
the entrance to Underground Atlanta. It
was just across Centennial
Park , they said. Yeah right!
Long story short – they rested in the park while I went back and got the
car. Since the coke tour took so long
and it was getting late in the afternoon, we just headed back home so Janie
could fix dinner and we could walk the dogs. They bbq’d strip steaks and zucchini
and she had mashed potatoes, and Lydia fixed a rhubarb dump
cake. All of which tasted very good
after our long day! Afterward we walked
a bit and then came home to relax and watch some TV. Tomorrow we head out.
Sun. 6/7… (Hixson , TN ) Happy Birthday,
LYDIA ! The drive today
was only 138 miles but since we had no idea what the Atlanta traffic would be like we left around
9:15 or so. No issues (except a few
wrong turns by Rick & Janie) and we got into camp and met up with Rick’s
daughter, Kelli. She had gone to the
park and reserved one space but couldn’t get two so she phoned a friend (Brent)
who came and got the second space. If
they wouldn’t have been here when they were we would not have gotten in. You drive to a place and wait and then go to
the campground entrance/ranger station and book a spot. Rigs can park in a lot (w/no hookups) for the
night just to wait to try for a space.
They got so lucky and we made sure to thank them for their efforts. They
got us spots right on the lake! We are
here for three nights. After getting
settled in we sat out in the shade trees (almost with our feet in the water)
and rested up a bit. This afternoon was
Bailey Day! She quickly went for swim
after swim. We had her on the leash,
then the 100’ rope, and then we let her loose!
She really enjoys the water and is an excellent swimmer and loves to
retrieve her sticks!
Afterward, Rick and Janie tookLydia (and me) out to dinner for
her birthday. We went to Logan ’s
Roadhouse and it was very good.
Afterward, we stopped by Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond before
returning back to walk the dogs and then went in to watch TV and relax for the
night. I have been texting Eric who lives about 150 miles from here and wants
to come visit us tomorrow. We will wait
for him and then set out for Lookout Mountain , Rock
City , and Ruby
Falls in the Chattanooga area.
Mon. 6/8… (Hixson , TN ) Today Kelli and Michael had to work so we were on our own. Our adopted son, Eric, came in (150 miles from Cullowhee , NC ) to visit with us. So all of us took off for Ruby Falls , which is probably 20 minutes from our campground. We bought the tickets ($17.95 senior and 18.95 for Eric) and took the 1 ½ tour. The elevator descended 260 feet into Lookout Mountain and then the tour guide directed us through the cave path where we saw rock formations that looked like candles, turtles, steak and eggs, and even a donkey’s rear end! The path stops at Ruby Falls , which is a waterfall that comes down into a pool and runs off from there and then disappears into the rocks. It comes out in the Tennessee River down the mountain. They have lighting in the pool which changes the colors from blue to white to red. We had been there when the boys were 16 and 13 and although it hadn’t changed it was still pretty cool.
Afterward, we headed into old townChattanooga
to have lunch at Five Guys. I like Five
Guys so I really enjoyed the burger and fries. I think everyone did as well.
Afterward, Rick and Janie took
Mon. 6/8… (
Afterward, we headed into old town
We returned back to the
campground to rest and soon after, Michael (Kelli’s boyfriend) showed up with a
BBQ smoker and a boatload of pork chops and corn. His friend Brent arrived later with the
charcoal and they got the grill going.
Kelli arrived after getting off work.
Although the skies literally opened up on us in a downpour and we all
piled into Rick & Janie’s rv, they managed to get the food done and we had
a terrific meal! Eric spent the night so he didn’t have to drive home in the
weather.
Tues. 6/9… (Hixson , TN ) Today’s plan was to go back into the city to see
the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Kelli is off
work today. Michael is working (he is a
butcher at a local grocery store). Brent
is a long haul trucker so he came over early with Kelli and got the smoker
going. They are cooking eleven pounds of ribeye for us for dinner tonight. Eric decided to stay so he so he is hanging
around the campground with us. He wants to add to the dinner tonight by making
‘not yo mama’s nana puddin’. Kelli went home to run some errands and maybe pick
up Michael who was getting off early. We hung around the campground waiting for
Kelli. Eric went to get stuff from the
store for his dessert then the girls took off for their stuff to add. Meanwhile Bailey spent the day swimming and
chasing ducks. She was in and out of the
water twenty times! Boy, she had fun!
Later, only the four of us (Rick & Janie, and Lydia and I) went into town. We found the train and took a few pictures
and went into a few shops. It was ok.
Parking was free and no admission.
Back at camp, Michael and Kelli arrived and the meal got assembled. Wow, what a feast! The best bbq we have had on this trip! Don’t ask how much we all ate….
Later in the evening Lydia and I had
decided to take off for a drive. We
wanted to go by her aunt and uncle’s place up in Birchwood, which was about a
45 minute drive. We made the drive and
found the place before dark but didn’t go visiting. We got back a little after 10:00pm and
watched a bit of TV with Eric and then turned in. We leave tomorrow.
Wed. 6/10… (Decatur , AL )
This morning we said goodbye to
Eric. He wanted to get on the road early
to get home before his visitors came in later today. We had decided to leave about 9:00am. We said our goodbyes to Michael, & Kelli
who dropped in for one last bit of family time and then took off. We wanted
this early start because Rick needed fuel plus we were heading to different
campsites that neither took reservations so the earlier the better. They needed
to go to Tiffin Mfg in Red Bay ,
AL for work on their
motorhome. They called ahead and were
told they don’t make appointments so they have to arrive and get in line. They also found out this morning that their
campground for service work was full but come ahead. We split off from them just outside of Decatur , AL . and they
headed on west to Red
Bay . We were headed to Point
Mallard Campground, in Decatur ,
AL . As I said, this park does not accept
reservations so we were lucky to get a spot!
We are here for two nights, and then will move on to Tupelo ,
MS , which is past Red Bay . We will be there for five nights so R&J
have a total of seven days for their work.
They will report back to us later today with an update. Meanwhile, we are on our own here in Decatur . Our plan is to
do a thorough cleaning of the coach (inside and out) and catch up on some
laundry. The last park did not have sewers but this one does so we can run the
washer/dryer in the rig. Once that was done, we went into town to find a pizza
parlor. Bout time for a pizza pie!
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