2025-Atlanta Georgia

Atlanta Georgia
From March 19, 2025 through April 1, 2025 

The Time : Our People :Trail Lessons : Trail Log : References : Abbreviations

The Time:
 We have a companion fare through Alaska Airlines. Each year we choose a city or area to wander around in. Most of the time, it is using public transportation.

Our People:
It was a trip which only Sherri and Gary took.



Trail Lessons:

• After all, you do not live in pictures, you live in life
• Leave room for error.
•  Different places have different things and people. Different may not mean wrong or bad. 
• A map only gives you direction if you have a destination. 

 
Trail Log:

Our journal is given by each day.
 

Date	Title	Miles Walked	Dining	Activities
March 19, 2025	Go to Atlanta		At AirBnB	Settle into our accommodations
March 20, 2025	Atlanta Botanical Gardens		Maggioni Little Italy	A somewhat relaxing day as we figure out how to navigate around Atlanta
March 21, 2025	MidTown Walk	2.34	LeftOvers	Saw Margaret Mitchell House and returned for Jazz at the High
March 22, 2025	Krog Street	3.6	Krog Street Market	Murals in Cabbagetown, Beltline, Krog Street tunnel and Krog Street
March 23, 2025	Lenox Park	3.94	Peanut Butter	Sherri came down with something. Tried getting a CLEAR pass
March 24, 2025	Brookhaven North	4.51	Soup and Lasagna	Sherri is not feeling well. I walked the neighborhood
March 25, 2025	Oakland Cemetery		BBQ	Margaret Mitchell grave and Atlanta library
March 26, 2025	Martin Lther King, Jr NHP		Grindhouse Burgers
March 27, 2025	Atlanta History Center		Taverena	Cylcorama,
March 28, 2025	Carter Presidential Library		MaryMac
March 29, 2025	Atlanta, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival		Food trucks and left overs	Flowers, music, vendors
March 30, 2025	Georgia Aquarium		Lasagna	Sharks, whales, octopus
March 31, 2025	Brookhaven South	3.64	lasagna and salad.	Lenox Park, thunderstorm
April 1, 2025	Return to Fresno		Fast food and sandwiches	Got back at 11

References:
For those of you who might be interested in hiking this hike, here are some references which you can consult:

• Georgia Battle Fields
•  GPS My City-Atlanta

Abbreviations:

• NPS - National Park Service
• ATL-Atlanta
  

Hawk at the Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens

A friend of Gary's at the Botanical Gardens

Parabolic mirror at the High

Margaret Mitchell House

Krog Street Tunnel

Reynold's Town

The Carter Center

Brookhaven

Oakland Cemetery

Old Ebenezer Baptist Church

Walking to Freedom

Atlanta History Center Cyclorama

Lenox Park

Brookhaven Station, Gold Trail

April 1, 2025 - Leaving Atlanta

 

Title: April 1, 2025 - Leaving Atlanta

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Touring, Flying 

Description:

Living room of AirBnB

Not sure why I did not sleep well last night. I was not nervous nor was the mind focused on anything. Maybe I did not work hard enough? Unknown. I did get up a little after 7 and just moseyed about until Sherri got up about 8. She also did not sleep well.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs and toast. It was a relaxed time as we were mostly packed. Only a few last minute things need to be put in. We work on cleaning up, such as tossing garbage, washing the AirBnB towels and sheets, and getting dishes washed. By 10, we are all ready and we sit down and relax until 11.

Gold Train

A couple of minutes before 11, we leave the AirBnB. It has served us well. A few things could have been a bit better, such as a few more pieces of silverware, or the bed on my side not being broken down. But everything functioned and we could relax when we were there. It was a good placement to a MARTA station-15 minute walk if we walked at a good pace. Also it was quiet.

We walked to the Brookhaven MARTA station with our packs on. This should get us ready for backpacking, well sort of. We caught the Gold train for the last time on this trip. We had debated on stopping at The Varsity around North Station. The Varsity is a large hamburger place. Its web site said there is a seating capacity of 800 people. I guess this is not your ordinary McDonalds. Also Ashley said we must go. But as we thought about navigating through 800 people with our backpacks, we decided to opt for the ordinary-airport food. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We get off at Airport Station and make our way into their terminal. Now the question we have is whether we are in the South, North or the main. But we have four hours to figure this out. So we sat and looked around the courtyard. Sherri figures out we are to be in the North wing, on Concourse E. We now we make our way through the TSA without incident.

Airport from Gold Train

Sherri and John Lewis

By now it is 2pm. We get on the “Plane Train”-cute title isn’t it? We take it to Concourse E and come out in a food court. Sherri goes to a Panda Express and I, the Arby’s. We come all the way to Atlanta for real Georgian food, right? I guess that was MaryMacs a couple of nights ago.

It is now time to find our gate, which is at the very end of the concourse. I guess I will get in many steps today. We wait around to almost 4 when our plane, Alaska Airlines 474, begins loading. We are in the first third of the folks, so we have no problems finding places for our luggage. We take off close to being on time.

Coming into Atlanta, the landing felt like we were going all over the runway. Leaving, it is the same. I do not know if it is turbulence, the runway or if we have the same pilot. Once we get up, things level off. It was just a long flight with the usual discomforts of being on a plane. There were a couple of times where we faced turbulence, but nothing which felt tremendously threatening. Even though I made a comment to Sherri that I felt about the same about plane flights and landings as I do about roller coasters.

Then coming into San Diego, there is more bouncing around. But the landing at least got us down safely, even if it felt like the pilot was not sure if he should brake and how much.

Our arrival was pretty much on time, about 6:20. Now we have about two hours and 40 minutes to wait for our trip back to Fresno. We eat our sandwiches. Then spend our time reading. I decided to go for a walk. When I pass a board with departures, I see our flight has been delayed by half an hour. Then they announce our arrival time has been moved to almost 11. It is a long day.

TSA Dog

The problem is the arriving plane was delayed. As soon as it came in, we got loaded into the plane and left. Even though the pilots said that there would be turbulence all the way, it was mostly at the start. Our landing was smooth.

It is cold when we get off the plane, in the upper 40’s. Also it has rained pretty good before we arrived. Steven is picking us up. He comes by a few minutes after we arrive at the pick up area. It is good to be back home after two weeks. We finally get to bed around midnight, which would be 3am Atlanta time.

March 31, 2025 - Atlanta

 

Title: March 31, 2025 - Atlanta
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Touring

Trail head: AirBnB

Trail: Streets south of Peachtree

Destination: None

Actual Destination: Lenox Park 

Distance:  3.64 miles

Start Time: 10:53

End Time:   12:28

Travel Time:  1:35  (2.30 mph)

Moving Time: 1:28  (2.48 mph)

Elevation Rise:  308'

Descent: 368‘

Maximum Elevation: 1,074'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Walker Gary

I must be trying to revert to California time as I got up after 8. When Sherri got up an hour later, we had our pancake breakfast. I think I over-ate. Now to decide if we want to go out and where we want to go. We look at the weather forecasts and there is even a warning of a tornado. To this California boy, that seems rather ominous. But looking at a news station, this may be more in the northwest part of Georgia than here in Atlanta. But then it looks like a heavy thunderstorm with lots of water coming down may be in store for about 1pm. So we decided to just walk the neighborhood for a couple of hours and just say we have enjoyed our stay in Atlanta.

We left the AirBnB about 10:50 and went over to Colonial. Then wandered about the area south of us. The houses are pretty good, but nearly the country club houses north of Peachtree. It is pleasant walking around. Eventually we hit Druid Hills Road and continued south on it. The busy road does lessen the enjoyment of a wander, but still it is good being out.

Eventually we get to an intersection called Lenox Park Blvd. Does this sound familiar? Eight days ago, we walked this road to Lenox Park. It is a nice Park, so we walked up the boulevard to the Park and entered it by the English telephone booth. We find the area where we sat before and enjoy the view for about 20 minutes before deciding to go on. Last week we circled around the South side of the Park. Today we went to the North side. Still a lovely walk.

We get to Roxoboro and walk up it to Kinsboro. There has been a slight drizzle off and on, only enough to make us wonder if it will start raining before we get back to the place. Kingsboro is a neighborhood street with some interesting houses. Even on a weekday at noon, there are some dogs out walking their people. We get to Peachtree a couple hundred yards before our place. And then back into the comfort of our confines by 12:30.

As we sit back to enjoy, the sky gets noticeably darker. And then the rains come down. We literally can barely see across Peachtree. Is this how tornadoes look? Then there are flashes of lightning followed by the boom of thunder. Some within a mile. This lasts for about half an hour before the rains lighten up.

 The rest of the day is spent reading and playing games and getting packed. We had the same dinner as last night: lasagna and salad. Then it is shower time. After that, it is doing some preliminary cleaning. By 10:15 it is time for bed.

March 30, 2025 - Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium

 

Title: March 30, 2025 - Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium

Hike Info : Description :  Menu : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Touring

 

 

 

Description:

Back to sleeping well again. I got up about 7:45. Sherri is sleeping soundly until close to 9. When she gets up, she makes us scramble eggs for breakfast. Now to decide what to do today. Thundershowers are in the forecast for this afternoon with some pretty good rain. We are not wild about having to spend time outdoors trying to dodge lightning bolts. It takes us a while to figure out that we can get to the Georgia Aquarium before the thunderstorm may hit. If we really feel threatened, we can Uber back to the AirBnB-it is just money after all.

Shark Tank gazing

By the time we leave, it is a little after 11. We wait a few minutes until Google says the next bus is in another 20 minutes. So we took off walking. A minute later the bus comes. At least we get our walking in today. We then get to wait another 15 minutes at the Brookhaven station for the Gold train. Then it is off to the Civic Center station. Since it is not raining, we decided we can walk another 15 minutes to the Aquarium. Our walk takes us down Ivan Allen St. The route takes us past the closed-for-renovations National Center for Civil Rights. Next to that is the World of CocaCola. The Aquarium is right beside there. So we go over and get our tickets and get in line to go in. There is a mini-screening which we wiz through.

 

 

The Aquarium is divided up into sections. The first one which we went into was the shark tank. Well, not into the tank, but around the tank. The area is called Predators! There is a single tank holding over a million gallons of water and with many windows to view. In the tank were an assortment of sharks with a school of small fish in it. What kind of sharks? Great Hammerhead, Tiger, Silvertip and others. It was fascinating to see them swim around each other. The walk ways are crowded. There is a short talk given about the sharks, but with the asides to keep the walks available for movement. 

 

There have been announcements that there is a 2pm dolphin show. This means going up an escalator to the dolphin tank. After the shark tank, this is a bit disappointing to me. There are maybe four to six dolphins with a single viewing panel. While the dolphins themselves are interesting, they are a poor second after the sharks. Sherri mentions that I swam with the dolphins though. These are bottlenose dolphins, I swam with spinners.

The Georgia Aquarium has designed their building as a set of interconnecting areas. As you leave one area, you follow a hallway, sometimes level, sometimes including or declining. In the hallways there are additional exhibits.

Connecting Hallway

Leaving the dolphins, we go through a hallway of insects which leads us to the Gator Crossing. Kell talks about the differences between alligators and crocodiles, their habitat and how their teeth are structured. I do not think I want to meet up with either a gator or croc. They have three albinos which they got from St Augustine. We are able to look down onto a number of fish as well. I do not know what they are.

We head back down to the base layer and into the River Scout area. The first thing we see are some piranhas. They look so cute and all they would like to do is to have a bite with you! Those fish we saw with the gators? We are at a level with them now and see them swimming beside us. Something which the Georgia Aquarium does well is bring the kids into the exhibit. They have built little tunnels which allow the kids to pop up and be inside the tank, giving them a 360 degree view. While not being able to interact with the fish, they are right there with them. Fun to see their expression of wonder.

 

 

 

Then it is on to the Cold Water Quest

Electric Eel

. The first thing we see is a Beluga Whale. Rachel did a report on Belugas when she was in 5th grade. So we stayed and watched them for about 15 minutes. I believe we were told there are five of them, with one being a young one, and they keep three or four out all the time.

 

 

 

 

  

 We moved on and there are the California Kelp beds-why have we come 3,500 miles to see what is right off of our Coast? Then there is an Alaskan Coast exhibit. The star is the Great Pacific Octopus. Why the star? First he crawled down the glass right in front of us, then went in the far upper corner. He (she?) must have been fed there. Pretty soon we see a hand come down and pat and rub its head. I am thinking when David has gotten close to an octopus, he has been inked by it. Impressed. Note: When we got back to Fresno, I started reading the Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

 

There is an exhibit of puffins and then penguins. The otters I am not sure if they are wrestling or playing or fighting. At least one of them seems to grab the other and carry the second all around the tank. Once the second finally gets away, in a few seconds, he is in the clutches of the first again.

In the Ocean Voyager section. There is a stingray petting area plus a green sea turtle. My comment to Sherri is, I have swam with those as well as manta rays. About this time I am wondering if she thinks I should have swam with some piranhas or sharks-actually David and I did swim over a couple reef sharks at Two Step once.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beluga Whale

 

 

There may have been a few other sections, I cannot remember. But we are getting a bit tired. And it is about 3:30. The exit is through the gift shop where we dutifully look through their assortment of stuff. After leaving the Aquarium, we sit down on a planter in Centennial Olympic Park and have some smoked almonds I have been carrying for a week, along with some potato chips and jelly belly's. A CocaCola vending machine is calling to Sherri and she gets a bottle of Coke.

Things go better with Coke

Afterwards we are feeling a bit better, so we decided to retrace our steps of this morning, back to Civic Center Station. The station is mostly empty and very quiet. We catch the Gold train back to Brookhaven and decide to walk back to the AirBnB. A woman asks us if we know where to pick up the shuttle to the Cherry Festival. We can answer that question and told her to walk with us. She is rolling some luggage and I offer to roll it for her to where we will part-it is heavy. We point her in the right direction and continue on our way.

We decided to stop at Krogers and pick up a salad and milk. We think we have enough food for the rest of our stay. We get back to our AirBnB about 4:45. We rest until 6 when we have a lasagna and salad dinner. Then more resting. And then taking a shower as I am stinky. We stayed up till 10:15 and had our Family Zoom call at 9:30. David and Steven were on it. But went to bed pretty quickly afterwards.

 

 

Menu

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Scrambled eggs and toast.		Lasagna	Smoked Almonds

Extra Photo's

Beluga Whale

Beluga Whale