College and Cholesterol - Counting Down the Days (Redneck Wonderland Part 2)

[Noel Mugavin]

Weights room, again didn't want t o take too many shots as a few people using the facilities



Up the corridor to the locker room where you needed a keycard to get in. Obviously I didn't have one, however I was fortunate that a fella was about to walk in to drop some gear off. Asked him if i could come in and have a look. 'Sure'









Bowl Swag - all the free gear they get given by the sponsors of the bowl games - watches, kindles, i-phones, shoes, clothes etc




Off course you've got to look your best


Got to have a barber in your locker room. There was a fella sitting in the chair reading a paper who got up and moved when i said i wanted to take a photo. Am assuming he was the barber. These guys do some strange things so wouldn't be beyond them to employ one full time.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Flash showers and sinks







Did they? You'll have to stay tuned for another exciting installment


The fella that let me in


Went upstairs to the reception area




Very hard to get decent shots through the glass

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Still in the reception area







Amazing facilities, $30 million's worth. Shows the size of the program here though when compared to Clemson, current National Champions, have upgraded their facilities to the tune of $70 million.

Thought I had probably outstayed my welcome so took off to pick some bits and pieces up, firstly to the University bookshop. A few pictures of the campus and some of the student accommodation.









Keeping with the poor diet, picked up a frozen custard



Picked up a few things here and there, ended up at a Walmart Superstore. Another friend living in Wickham plays for the town's rugby team, Wickham Wolves' and requested a Red Wolves tank top. Only place I could find them was Walmart.
Decided to pick up lunch there as well, not a lot on other in the fresh food area, so counted on an old friend in the freezer section

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Bit of a rest back at the hotel and another cup of the iced tea.
Back up at the college for the 2 o'clock team meeting, not before a bit of a conversation with the lady at the reception desk who just loves the Australian accent. Went to the coach's offices and dropped off some chocolates and Tim Tams as a bit of a thank you. Young fella happened to be in the kitchen room making himself a coffee, he was quite amused when I told him how i stumbled into a bible study group.

He's a bit of a gym junkie so wanted to show the gym off, had told him i didn't go in and have a look earlier as too many people around.



The to the theatre for the team meeting, followed by the special teams meeting.
Training in the indoor facility today, I had about 15 minutes to have a few shots at goal before anyone came out. Grid Iron balls stay 100% true when you kick them, however they have only a small sweet spot. Miss it and they underkick like you wouldn't believe.

Young fella and rest of the special team s came out, they get about 20 - 25 minutes before everyone else comes out. Able to have a bit of a chat with a few of them, then had a bit of a kick with the young bloke (Aussie Rules style) Think he really appreciated that, asked him what he wanted me to bring him over from Australia, all he asked for was a footy as he said he missed having a kick. Think he liked that someone could actually kick it back to him accurately.

Was like a sauna in there with the running around, felt a bit for all those blokes running around in helmets and protective gear.







More yarning with the special teams blokes when their work was done, then headed off for dinner and the hotel.
Picked up a sub on the way back to the hotel, got some washing done, then to bed.
Another early start the next morning.

16 943 steps 11.96km

 

[JohnM]

Clemson, current National Champions, have upgraded their facilities to the tune of $70 million.

A good friend of mine is on the faculty at Clemson. Go the Tigers!

 

[craven morehead]

Bit of a rest back at the hotel and another cup of the iced tea.
Back up at the college for the 2 o'clock team meeting, not before a bit of a conversation with the lady at the reception desk who just loves the Australian accent. Went to the coach's offices and dropped off some chocolates and Tim Tams as a bit of a thank you. Young fella happened to be in the kitchen room making himself a coffee, he was quite amused when I told him how i stumbled into a bible study group.

He's a bit of a gym junkie so wanted to show the gym off, had told him i didn't go in and have a look earlier as too many people around.

View attachment 194634

The to the theatre for the team meeting, followed by the special teams meeting.
Training in the indoor facility today, I had about 15 minutes to have a few shots at goal before anyone came out. Grid Iron balls stay 100% true when you kick them, however they have only a small sweet spot. Miss it and they underkick like you wouldn't believe.

Young fella and rest of the special team s came out, they get about 20 - 25 minutes before everyone else comes out. Able to have a bit of a chat with a few of them, then had a bit of a kick with the young bloke (Aussie Rules style) Think he really appreciated that, asked him what he wanted me to bring him over from Australia, all he asked for was a footy as he said he missed having a kick. Think he liked that someone could actually kick it back to him accurately.

Was like a sauna in there with the running around, felt a bit for all those blokes running around in helmets and protective gear.

View attachment 194637

View attachment 194638

View attachment 194639

More yarning with the special teams blokes when their work was done, then headed off for dinner and the hotel.
Picked up a sub on the way back to the hotel, got some washing done, then to bed.
Another early start the next morning.

16 943 steps 11.96km

The facilities are outstanding

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Early morning start, on the road by about 5.45am for the hour or so drive to Memphis Airport. All went well until just before crossing the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge when a tanker of some description decided he wanted to move into my lane, without bothering to get in front of me. Bowels were about to evacuate when he must of caught me in his mirrors and decided to stay where he was.
Had pre-paid for a tank of petrol, bit costly, but meant I didn't have to worry about stopping for fuel in the dodgy area around the airport.

Quick check in and painless through security, then to my favourite aspect of Memphis Airport - the annual student art competition.



















Work is continuing on with the gutting and re-development of Terminal 2, which will become the main terminal at Memphis.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

More competition art as I wandered over to Terminal 1 (or 3)





Probably my favourite piece





And the winner. Thought it was a bit meh, but it's growing on me




Brought some Corky's BBQ sauce from one off the stores. I really love the south but it sometimes it is infuriating when the slow pace that things get done. As happened a few times during this trip, two people working the registers, one having an issue with putting a payment through. Second workers goes over to help out, what follows is about 5 minutes of both of them working in slow motion to fix the issue, all the while Noel Mugavin, with his pet hate of standing in lines, starts twitching and fiddling and thinking awful thoughts about the customer and the two workers. All is forgiven however when going to pay the cashier asks, in that delightful southern accent, 'Where's the dry rub? Do you make your own dry rub sugar? Give a non-logical answer, a smile back from the cashier and 'you'all have a good day'

Bacon biscuit for breakfast


My ride and my first Delta experience


Last glimpse of Memphis and Arkansas on the far side of the Mississippi

 

[Noel Mugavin]

About a 50min flight, uneventful and safely landed in Atlanta.



Big airport. De-planed at Terminal 4, followed the signs and on the train to the Terminal 1 (I Think), to the baggage claim. Quickly out of the airport and on the MARTA, $3 to the Peach Tree Centre Station, which was 30 metres, or 4 blocks to my hotel, depending on which exit you took. Can you guess which one I took?
About midday, checked in by a Brazilian fella who noticing the accent told me how he went to Australia with the intention of settling and gaining citizenship. Unfortunately for him he said, he got knocked back and eventually ended up in Atlanta.
I do like to stay humble and don't like to brag, however I can't not take the opportunity to big note myself a bit here. As a member of the Marriott Rewards Program, I was presented with a 300ml bottle of water at check in, and a thank you for being a member. I could get used to the high life.
Struggling to get my head through the door, I was more than happy with my choice of hotel.







With a spring in the step and a DYKWIA attitude, off I went to explore a new city for me.
Exterior of the hotel.



7 - 8 minute walk to Centennial Park









I have read that you can still see evidence of where fragments of the bomb hit on the sculpture in the photo. I couldn't see any, but then again I didn't really make a huge effort to find any.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Over to the College Football Hall of Fame


Every college football team represented by their helmet. Desks by the side, type in the college you're after and the helmet will light up for you


Bo Jackson's Auburn number 34; Trevor Lawrence, Clemson's current Quarterback and current National Champion 16; and don't remember the Georgia 71


Bit of a hands on area




Kyler Murray's gear. First round draft pick in baseball for the Oakland Athletics; Heismen Trophy winner; Number 1 Draft pick in the NFL by the Arizona Cardinals. Picked football over baseball, Oakland however still hold the rights to him if he ever goes back to baseball.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[Noel Mugavin]

It was a bit of information overload by this time and it was about time to move on.
A few of the major college trophies.
National Championship



The Heisman


Some of the Bowl Trophies. Orange bowl pretty easy to spot





A few of the College tunnel/entering the ground traditions






Quick few minutes in the hands on section. Young fella running the passing activity was a little aggrieved when I threw it on the boot and across the body into the net rather than throwing it. Suitably admonished, off i went.



Well worth a visit if you're ever in Atlanta.



My next port of call i really was unsure whether or not to visit. Felt a bit of a hypocrite as I absolutely abhor the product. But when in Rome I guess.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Over to the box office and you have a couple of people handing out cokes to anyone in the area. Ticket purchased, through security and into a large hall where, once again, free cokes. Went against everything I stood for and grabbed one. It was a hot day and what happens on holiday stays on holiday. My vices have had a slight adjustment since my younger days and the annual Bali footy trips.
Everyone's herded into a largish room and a quite entertaining old fella gives a spiel for 5 or 6 minutes.



The into a theatre and a 7 minute feel good coke ad.
Were then released in to the museum proper, but once again herded as a group before the doors of the first exhibit room. Made things a lot more crowded than they needed to be.
Bit of a drive by look around by myself. There's 4 rooms of exhibits if I recall correctly, including a bottling/processing exhibit.
Took a few photos















The second to last room, last being the gift shop of course, the tasting room. Coke products from around the world, unlimited samples. Lasted about 4 minutes and 2 samples. Others though looked like they were settling in for a while.



Back to wandering, through Centennial Park again and then to downtown.
Georgia State University is in downtown and the College were showing it's support for tomorrow's game.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

View from the sidewalk of Centennial Park



After a little bit of a search and a bit of frustration with google maps, eventually found a favourite





Another view of the hotel, Ellis hotel right next to it has a bit of history





Another early night.

16 403 steps; 11.58km

 

[Julesmac]

Knew a fellow many years ago who worked for one of the big accounting firms, seconded onto the body trying to win the Olympic Games for Melbourne. Atlanta won, of course - who could combat the marketing power, money and name of Coca Cola. I remember being gobsmacked at some of the amounts he was talking about, and of course at his level he'd not have been privy to the scullduggery and bribery which we've become aware of since then. Still, the 2000 Sydney Games were just so fabulous it made up for that long ago dose of commercial reality

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Kudos to the Courtyard Marriott, the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in.
Bit of an early morning explore, mostly just me and the homeless starting to get up an about.







There's quite a few of the flat Ironish buildings and street corners in downtown


Bit of preparation for a festival or the like for later in the day. A few BBQ stalls, so put in the back of the mind for a bit later on.


Capitol building not too far away


Park where the food vendors were setting up, few early morning dog walkers


Interesting little momument to the founder of Chick Fil A and the recognition of the millions he's given to students to enable them go to college




More wandering

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back to the hotel, picked up breakfast on the way.
Again, when in Rome.



Back out to explore some more and firstly to the stadium district.



CNN building in close proximity





Out the front of State Farm Arena







Falcon outside Mercedes Benz Arena


'The Flair', from the time of the Olympics

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Mercedes-Benz Stadium


Continued moving, over a bridge back towards downtown.




The bridge and road I was walking on was completely deserted. Wide, open road and to be honest a bit off-putting being no one else around. Running parallel to the road I was on was another road with plenty of people, could see them from the bridge and some sort of organised walk. Bit of safety in numbers, so off I went.


Don't know what they were walking for, or where they were going, but I was now one of them.



Ended up at Atlanta City Hall



Happy with that as the next block was the Capitol Building. The walk veered off, suited me as I went off to have a look around the grounds of the capitol.

 

[OZDUCK]

More great photos. But those plaques outside the Capitol Building shows that despite what Churchill said - history is not always written by the victors!

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Jimmy Carter







MLK


Heading down here later in the day


Time to head back and see if the BBQ was ready to go
Still not a lot of activity on the streets