It was a fun day at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. We left the RV at 9:20 and drove to downtown Atlanta, arriving there just as it opened at 10. We were pretty surprised at the crowd that was there already, but we bought our tickets at the credit card kiosk (much faster than waiting in the cash line) and entered the Aquarium. It is laid out in a pretty convenient way in that one enters into a huge central area from which the various exhibits extended. We went first to the Coldwater Quest area. At the entry one could touch sea anemones, urchins, and starfish. They had an exhibit of Japanese Spider Crabs that was truly impressive. At most of the exhibits they had volunteers or staff members to explain and answer questions. We saw woody dragon seahorses, beluga whales and otters at feeding time.
The next exhibit was Ocean Voyager. This is the big aquarium, 280’ long. The first viewing area is an acrylic tube that one can walk through with the fish overhead and beside us. The big area was like an Imax theater with the whole front viewing glass. They have several whale sharks which are impressive along with hammerhead sharks, a leopard ray, huge groupers. It was mesmerizing. We stopped to have lunch at the aquarium food court. I had a decent mushroom and goat cheese pizza while Bill had a chicken Caesar salad. The Aquarium was beginning to fill up especially with lots of strollers. That was an obstacle course.
Then it was on to the Titanic exhibit. They had lots of relics retrieved from the ship plus many exhibits concerning the ship. We stopped to see the Georgia Explorer which was mainly a kids play area We did the River Scout exhibit which had mainly river fish (not so pretty or impressive) river otters, and some alligators. Finally we went to the Tropical Diver which had lots of coral and reef fish and was quite pretty. We finally gave up at 3 and headed back to the RV.
Bill watched a ballgame and a golf match while I chatted with Mandy and read. We had leftovers out of the refrigerator so that we will have less to haul into the house when we get home. About 10 we drove over to the main area of the park to see the carving lit up at night. There wasn’t any good way to view it, so I wonder why they even have it lit at night.
We leave tomorrow for home and will stop for one night at Concord NC arriving back in Raleigh on Tuesday.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stone Mountain GA
It was a fun day. We left the RV at 9:30 to do the park. We drove over, got our tickets, and got on the 10:30 cable car up to the top of the mountain. That was kind of interesting. There were some neat exhibits in the building along with a snack shop. There was a fenced off area for some endangered plants, a great view of Atlanta in the distance, and a good view of our campsite. We came back down and went to the Stone Mountain Museum. This area has had a rather dark side with the expulsion of the Indians and Klan rallies. We had lunch at the museum café. I had a really neat BLT with apple smoked bacon and fried green tomatoes which was really yummy. Bill had a Graceland sandwich, a grilled peanut butter, chocolate, banana sandwich. That was good, too.
From there we went to the Granite Exhibit which was really well done, showing the years of granite mining on the mountain. But the best part was the Antebellum Plantation. This was an area of buildings brought here and reconstructed. The buildings were open with wonderful descriptions of the furnishings. Everything was labeled which I truly appreciated. The major exhibit was the Dickey House, a huge 6250 sq foot mansion. That was a lot of fun, and we spent a bit of time there.
Bill stopped to see what was being offered at the antique store that was closing after 40 years. I stayed in the car and snoozed. He came back with a catalog of pretty impressive items. Finally we took the train ride around the mountain which was a 5 mile ride and rather anti-climatic.
We got back to the RV about 5:30 which was a longer day than we had anticipated. Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we relaxed a bit.
From there we went to the Granite Exhibit which was really well done, showing the years of granite mining on the mountain. But the best part was the Antebellum Plantation. This was an area of buildings brought here and reconstructed. The buildings were open with wonderful descriptions of the furnishings. Everything was labeled which I truly appreciated. The major exhibit was the Dickey House, a huge 6250 sq foot mansion. That was a lot of fun, and we spent a bit of time there.
Bill stopped to see what was being offered at the antique store that was closing after 40 years. I stayed in the car and snoozed. He came back with a catalog of pretty impressive items. Finally we took the train ride around the mountain which was a 5 mile ride and rather anti-climatic.
We got back to the RV about 5:30 which was a longer day than we had anticipated. Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we relaxed a bit.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Stone Mountain GA
We have gone from a stark parking place in a huge, muddy field to a lovely wooded lakeside campsite with a view of the side of Stone Mountain. The site is a very narrow one with steep sides, but we can put our chairs where we have a lovely view. We packed up this morning and made the weighing appointment Bill had made for 9:30 at the convention. They weighed all four corners of the RV, and we are well within our acceptable weight even with the tanks all loaded. Bill felt really good about that.
We only had a two hour drive to Stone Mountain, so we stopped at a pretty rest area near Macon, and sat in a pretty picnic area taking a break. We got here at 1:30. Setting up in this site was a little tricky because of the steep sides of the site, but we got it done. One RV site in another loop near the laundry has a big motor home on it, but the site is so not level that the owner has put bricks under his front jacks which took the front wheels at least 2 feet off the ground. We have no idea how that can be safe at all!! We took a ride around the mountain, checking out some of the things we want to do tomorrow. It was a lovely sunny day, but in the low 60s. It is supposed to be in the 30s here tonight, so we might beat spring back to Raleigh.
Bill did some laundry. I did some unpacking chores around the RV. We have a weak WiFi connection, but our Verizon card is working well. The satellite isn’t getting a signal, but the antenna is bringing in the major networks, so we can at least watch the news and The Amazing Race on Sunday.
We only had a two hour drive to Stone Mountain, so we stopped at a pretty rest area near Macon, and sat in a pretty picnic area taking a break. We got here at 1:30. Setting up in this site was a little tricky because of the steep sides of the site, but we got it done. One RV site in another loop near the laundry has a big motor home on it, but the site is so not level that the owner has put bricks under his front jacks which took the front wheels at least 2 feet off the ground. We have no idea how that can be safe at all!! We took a ride around the mountain, checking out some of the things we want to do tomorrow. It was a lovely sunny day, but in the low 60s. It is supposed to be in the 30s here tonight, so we might beat spring back to Raleigh.
Bill did some laundry. I did some unpacking chores around the RV. We have a weak WiFi connection, but our Verizon card is working well. The satellite isn’t getting a signal, but the antenna is bringing in the major networks, so we can at least watch the news and The Amazing Race on Sunday.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was our last day at the Family Motor Coaching Convention. Bill left at 7:30 for a seminar on tips for RVing. I went over at 9 to meet him for the Canadian Maritime Province seminar. On the tram, some folks were talking about the convention and stated that the entertainment was worth the price of admission. Can we say Kazoos?!?! Te seminar was kind of a bust since their big screen had so much glare that we couldn’t see the beautiful photos. The first speaker started talking and people in the back (when there were lots of good seats up front) said they couldn’t hear. The speaker turned up her mic, and the lady said she still couldn’t hear, and the speaker told her to move closer to the front. Hee.
After that we went through the building of booths that I hadn’t seen. Bill bought a $5 kneeling pad which I liked since I put the wood under the jacks, and a pad will save my knees on gravel. We split a Philly cheese steak sandwich and wandered through some new motor homes. Some of them were really gaudy. We went back to the Camping World booth and Bill bought a water hose on a reel and a new lawn chair that finally is comfortable for him. We came on back to the RV. The guy next to us just had his 15 year old RV repainted and put new furniture in. The paint job looked great in shades of black, gray, and dark red. He invited us in to see the new leather furniture. I was stunned. He had his pilot/copilot chairs, sofa, and recliner done in a shade of avocado that I haven’t seen since the 1970s! And I know it wasn’t cheap.
We ate leftovers for dinner and then watched some guys working on the RV across from us. They were buffing the exterior, and it really was starting to shine. I talked to the guy who said they were taking off the corroded paint and then were going to wash and wax it. It really was making a difference. Tomorrow Bill signed up to get the RV weighed at 9:30, and then we head out to Stone Mountain.
After that we went through the building of booths that I hadn’t seen. Bill bought a $5 kneeling pad which I liked since I put the wood under the jacks, and a pad will save my knees on gravel. We split a Philly cheese steak sandwich and wandered through some new motor homes. Some of them were really gaudy. We went back to the Camping World booth and Bill bought a water hose on a reel and a new lawn chair that finally is comfortable for him. We came on back to the RV. The guy next to us just had his 15 year old RV repainted and put new furniture in. The paint job looked great in shades of black, gray, and dark red. He invited us in to see the new leather furniture. I was stunned. He had his pilot/copilot chairs, sofa, and recliner done in a shade of avocado that I haven’t seen since the 1970s! And I know it wasn’t cheap.
We ate leftovers for dinner and then watched some guys working on the RV across from us. They were buffing the exterior, and it really was starting to shine. I talked to the guy who said they were taking off the corroded paint and then were going to wash and wax it. It really was making a difference. Tomorrow Bill signed up to get the RV weighed at 9:30, and then we head out to Stone Mountain.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was another sunny day in Perry GA. We both got up early and caught the 7:30 tram over to the South Africa RV seminar. This was presented by a company who sponsors these trips, but it was a rather neat photo presentation of an RV trip in Africa. Bill and I want to go to Africa, but not this way. They are gone for 37 days, and it costs $15,000 per person plus gas. We are looking at a National Geographic tour that is also expensive but is a much more civilized trip.
After the presentation we shared a breakfast at one of the two restaurants. Bill went on to his three hour RVing seminar, and I came back to the RV. We lost power for about 15 minutes. This has been an iffy electrical setup. Our clocks are losing about 10 minutes every 24 hours. Bill went to the ice cream social that was supposed to start at 1pm. They were out of ice cream by the time he got there at 1:15, so he wandered around talking to some vendors before he came back to the RV. I took a nap before we headed into Perry at 5. We went to Walmart and then had dinner at a Chinese buffet. It wasn’t too bad. We did drive around the outskirts of the fairgrounds, and the number of RVs here is mind-boggling. Hopefully we can get an aerial photo of the convention. That would be impressive. Bill also picked up some info on Stone Mountain, our next destination.
After the presentation we shared a breakfast at one of the two restaurants. Bill went on to his three hour RVing seminar, and I came back to the RV. We lost power for about 15 minutes. This has been an iffy electrical setup. Our clocks are losing about 10 minutes every 24 hours. Bill went to the ice cream social that was supposed to start at 1pm. They were out of ice cream by the time he got there at 1:15, so he wandered around talking to some vendors before he came back to the RV. I took a nap before we headed into Perry at 5. We went to Walmart and then had dinner at a Chinese buffet. It wasn’t too bad. We did drive around the outskirts of the fairgrounds, and the number of RVs here is mind-boggling. Hopefully we can get an aerial photo of the convention. That would be impressive. Bill also picked up some info on Stone Mountain, our next destination.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was a lovely sunny day finally. Bill took off for a seminar on batteries. I had breakfast and took the tram over to the main fairground buildings to meet Bill for lunch. I had an hour to kill so I went into one of the main exhibit buildings. It was typical fair booths with an RV emphasis – brakes, tow bars, campgrounds, cleaning products, and an assortment of jewelry, handbags, bed sheets, Tupperware (my, how it has changed since I bought it!). By the time I made it through this one building, it was time to meet Bill. He only had a half hour, so we went to a Beef Tips and Spuds tent. They had run out of ‘spuds’, so we got a dish of beef tips, onions, and mushrooms. Lord.
Bill went on to his 3 hour RV Driving seminar. I hung around for a half hour because I had to see “Rick Hubbard and the Kazoobie Kazoo Show”. This was a one man, guitar/banjo/kazoo player show. We all got free kazoos. He put on a surprisingly interesting show. It was the audience participation I could have done without. The average age of the audience had to have been 75. He had them up there blowing bubbles for a bubble song he had written, shaking maracas, and playing household objects in an audience band. And through it all, he had the audience playing along with their kazoos. Mr. Hubbard also is owner of the only US manufacturer of plastic kazoos. After the show, I caught the tram back to the RV and sat outside in the shade reading.
Bill showed up at 4:45. He said the seminar wasn’t too bad, but lots of audience members had to insert their own stories into the seminar. He has another 3 hours tomorrow of the same thing. He grilled steaks for dinner, watched Judge Judy, and then we rode his bike back over to see Tony Kenny’s Irish show. He didn’t stay too long. I keep waiting for the chamber music which will never happen.
Bill went on to his 3 hour RV Driving seminar. I hung around for a half hour because I had to see “Rick Hubbard and the Kazoobie Kazoo Show”. This was a one man, guitar/banjo/kazoo player show. We all got free kazoos. He put on a surprisingly interesting show. It was the audience participation I could have done without. The average age of the audience had to have been 75. He had them up there blowing bubbles for a bubble song he had written, shaking maracas, and playing household objects in an audience band. And through it all, he had the audience playing along with their kazoos. Mr. Hubbard also is owner of the only US manufacturer of plastic kazoos. After the show, I caught the tram back to the RV and sat outside in the shade reading.
Bill showed up at 4:45. He said the seminar wasn’t too bad, but lots of audience members had to insert their own stories into the seminar. He has another 3 hours tomorrow of the same thing. He grilled steaks for dinner, watched Judge Judy, and then we rode his bike back over to see Tony Kenny’s Irish show. He didn’t stay too long. I keep waiting for the chamber music which will never happen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was a cold, nasty, rainy day all day! I kept rolling over and going back to sleep as is fitting on a day like today. Bill was up early and over to the info pavilion to sign up for a safe driving seminar tomorrow. He hung around there and went to a seminar on RVing in Atlantic Canada and a towing roundtable. He didn’t learn anything new about towing, but he got some info about Canada. He ate lunch there, went to some exhibits. He spun the wheel at a booth sponsored by Minute Rice and won the ‘big’ prize. He even got his photo taken with his prize – a microwavable brown and wild rice product containing two individual servings. We got a laugh out of that.
I stayed here drinking coffee, chatting with Mandy, and watching the folks try to ford the huge Georgia red mud puddles next to us. They have to get to the road to catch the tram to the main exhibit/seminar buildings. The best thing I saw was a little old couple. The husband had on plastic grocery bags tied around his shoes. His wife had on Zip Loc baggies, and they walked gingerly through the mud. The RV in front of us gave up and left even though the rain should stop late tonight, and the sun should shine the rest of the week.
I stayed here drinking coffee, chatting with Mandy, and watching the folks try to ford the huge Georgia red mud puddles next to us. They have to get to the road to catch the tram to the main exhibit/seminar buildings. The best thing I saw was a little old couple. The husband had on plastic grocery bags tied around his shoes. His wife had on Zip Loc baggies, and they walked gingerly through the mud. The RV in front of us gave up and left even though the rain should stop late tonight, and the sun should shine the rest of the week.
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