So I'm back. Maybe you didn't notice.

Anyway, had a great time out on the Chattooga---aka Deliverance country. Hiked a great deal, and saw some amazing sites. The county were in had 31 waterfalls, which were just great until I slipped on a rock and 1)busted my ass (bruise to boot!), and 2)nearly got swept away in the river while shooting video...camera went down on a rock, but survived.

Hit up Athens, and did the usual touristy things there. 5 Points is incredible, and I want my ashes to be scattered in the cold beer section. My god. Hit up Schoolkids and Wuxtry...which were about as I expected. Scored a MBV bootleg at SK. Was going to hit up a show at 40 Watt, but doors were at 9, and I didn't feel like waiting around, and I wasn't selling my wife on the band. School was just getting in session @ UGA, and all the southern girls were wearing their sundresses. My wife and I could not comprehend how some many amazingly beautiful women there were. I told my single bro-in-law he needs to move from Morgantown to Athens ASAP. Terrapin Beer is pretty great. Had some at a crepe place downtown.

Did the touristy Atlanta thing too. Went to the aquarium, which is nice, but I was expecting more. I still think the National Aquarium has more fish and whatnot, even if Georgia Aquarium states they are larger. Went to Junkman's Daughter per the recommendation of a waitress. Hrm.

Have a friend who works at CNN, and he took me, Mrs. Rabbit, and her bro on a behind the scenes tour. Good to see someone you haven't seen since college graduation, but probably saved my life more than a few times.

Best part of ATL was Sweetwater. $8 for a pint glass and 6 drink tickets. Fan for life. I swear there was a Derris look-alike there, but I was too chicken to go over and say anything. That and I've never met him and all I have to go on is drunken digishots posted on here.

Pics forthcoming.

Awesome. No need to reply to my question on Facebook as this answers it nicely.

Sounds like you had loads of fun!

Welcome back, Matt!

What usually comes out of my mouth at some point during revisits of Athens, "If I only knew then what I know now"

Also, I haven't been on the Chattooga in at least 16 years, but I remember how incredible the area was. I literally attempted to put together another rafting trip down there for the last 5 years, and it always falls through due to people backing out. It'll happen one day, I hope.

Just one of the gorgeous falls we encountered. But yeah, its on our list to hit back up.

Yeah, I've hiked/camped that area as well and agree that it is the awesomeness.

Do it next Spring when the water level is up and I'm in. The last time I rafted it was in college but it was late in the season and we'd had a bad drought. Water was low and there was a lot of sections of exposed rock that normally wouldn't be. Still, it was fierce enough to throw me out once.

Nice trip Rabbit. Did they point out the spot where the famous "Squeal Pig" scene was? It was literally right on the river. But to echo the others, really primitive in some areas along the river. I know in some sections it's National forest on both sides for miles and the only way out is the river or to climb the gorge. .

Wasn't me at Sweetwater but lord knows I've done the "tour" tons of times. The bar area there was literally built from the proceeds they get from doing that sampling deal. They first started doing it about 4 years ago and that bar area wasn't even there and it was $5 for 5 tickets and the pint glass. They would give you full beers too, not just a sampling. They would just have some kegs set up out in the parking lot and people would just mingle around. They had to start shutting it down at a certain time because people wouldn't leave.

Kudos on the Athens side trip and yes, the sundress will never go out of style as long as young co-eds keep reporting to school in late summer in Georgia. I'll be there in 3 weeks for the South Carolina game and I can't freaking wait.

I'm holding you to this

The last time plans fell through was this year. Femdisco and I had planned to stay at her college friend's parent's retirement pad in Salem, SC (40min. drive to Chattooga Rafting Center in Long Creek, SC), but the Nashville couple we planned to go with is going through a divorce and femdisco's friends hadn't yet returned from their stay in India. Usually it's just a matter of people getting excited about it, then just saying "eh, fuck it" when it came around to actually committing.

We actually didn't make it over to the gorge where a lot was filmed.

Yeah, my wife's bro's friend from college lives in atl and met us there at SweetWater. He said it used to be much different, and that the gov stepped in and mandated how much they could pour. Still, for $8 it was a great deal. We got plenty sauced since people who had no DD were pretty much giving away their tickets.

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=515894621&k=Z2E6X5QSSWXEUGBBU15XYU

more pics.

Nice, man! I'm glad GA treated you well.


I remember walking down the streets in Athens in late summer / early fall and falling in love 5 times on every block. It defies belief, and makes me want to punch myself in the throat for all that I wasted lo those many years.

I guess you didn't have time to run over and get your picture taken with Uga the bulldog.

You don't just run over and get UGA in a picture. You call his secretary, who politely informs you Mr Uga is indisposed until sometime in 2013.

I saw that UGA had an open photo shoot day this weekend. (They have one day a year and have had to move it to larger venues to accomodate the crowds.) I have no idea why they were showing this on the news Cincy other than it was ridiculously funny. It was like getting a photo with santa, but instead of a fat old guy, it was a fat wrinkley dog.

Yep. UGA had their "Fan Day" on campus last week. It's the one time of the year fans can come meet the team, get autographs, and get a pic with UGA.

I've never been to it but I've been told that the longest lines every year are easily for the dog. He's rock star.

FemDerris told me once that UGA came to one of their studios for some feature they were doing and when word got out that he was in the building people stopped what they were doing to go get pics with him. I'm talking big time sports coaches and former professional athletes, etc.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY wants their picture taken with the bearcat.

It can still certainly backfire, if you're dumb enough to wear an Auburn uniform...

That's an actual animal? I always thought it was just a made up creature.

haaa ha ha awesome


yeah they're mean as shit, I think, like badgers.