Driving In The Metro

The ATL... I spent 16 years of my life there. So, it is always nice to go back, even though I was only in the Metro area and didn't go into Atlanta proper. However, a cloud hung over the trip down, our time there and the trip back, but it wasn't really a cloud...it was smoke. As I chronicled in my previous blog the cause is the wildfires raging in the Southeast, with the largest in North Georgia, the Rough Ridge Fire, above Ellijay (which has now burned over 28,000 acres). So on our way down I-75 Thursday morning (we had to leave at 5am) smoke was present most of the way down but became more noticeable as the sun came up about Athens. Cleveland and Chattanooga had more smoke, because of the Lookout Mountain blaze. Still, the thickest spot we encountered was and we were halfway between Dalton, Georgia, and Cartersville, which was the closest I-75 passes to the Rough Ridge Fire.

Head down I-75.

Entering Georgia.

Sun looks like that because of smoke.

When we reached Metro Atlanta, smoke was the biggest issue it was the usually one... traffic. Since construction started on the new Atlanta Braves Stadium traffic has gone from bad to atrocious. Good luck Cobb County with that. After Deb's doctor's appointment, it was lunch at Chipotle (later) and trips to REI and Total Wine. Then we headed to our old friends Clint and Cindy's as they graciously host us for the evening. This included a trip to L. Marie's (yes, later) for dinner Thursday evening.

Always love a trip to REI.

Friday morning I had an appointment then we shopped around Alpharetta, which included a trip to North Point Mall. I mention this because of the new for a better word Santa Attraction, Bad Santa it ain't. Called An Adventure to Santa it is a Dreamworks Dreamplace and features a huge house that you buy a ticket (starting at $35) and I take it this is an interactive experience. By contrast at the Dawsonville Outlet Mall, it was an "old fashion go up and get your picture with Santa."

Piano Lady at Von Maur.

Santa House at North point Mall...

...just Santa in Dawsonville.

Even with the smoke Sawnee Mountain...

...Black & Big Cedar Mountains...

...& Blood Mountain were visible.

One final thing we did see a lot of over the two days was fall colors, which was a nice surprise.

Fall colors in Dunwoody...

...Dunwoody...

...Kennesaw...

...Alpharetta...

...& Sawnee Mountain from Cumming.

Overall it was a nice trip, trying (just under two hours sleep before we headed out) but good.

Tennessee Welcome Center still into Halloween.

Finally Saturday, snow on Camp Creek Bald.