Husband Pieter became SUPERMAN - When Push Came to Shove

Having your own home and a huge garden to take care of is quite a challenge at times!

Well, one day I was lucky enough for standing on our balcony to videotape husband Pieter's ACTION.

He'd rented a heavy chain saw for cutting some more trees.

It started also raining and suddenly his 'rented' saw got stuck!

This short 2:39 minute video shows the action.Cutting out a wedge, while it rained heavily...If you watch this on YouTube on your PC, you can see the text below with clickable time where it happens.Pieter had already changed into dry clothes ones!Now he came home after he literally PUSHED that stubborn sucker to the side...So proud for having it TAPED... no one would believe it.Pieter gathered his once stuck chain saw, and walked home to yet again take a shower and change into dry clothes and return the rental chain saw.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

 Both of us woke up well rested at our Hyatt Regency Suites and after our own prepared breakfast, we went on our way...

It would be a one hour 20 minute drive to our destination. 

The weather was foggy and very cloudy with some drizzle...

By 14:15 we arrived at our destination of BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

I'd ordered our tickets on line and we had to present proof of purchase at the ticket office...

Ticket office right around the corner.

A very small mountain village and our biggest challenge was for finding a parking space.

Luckily it was on a Sunday, so we could park behind a medical office where parking was prohibited from Monday thru Friday... 

It was a little walking distance and going back, uphill it was more of a challenge for Pieter.

The 1 hour 21 minutes were correct and I was glad I selected the Interstate, not all the way but biggest part of this 129 kilometer stretch or 80 mile.

Here I stand in front of the very long BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

We had to walk to wagon 549... A 2 hour express train ride without a layover in Copperhill, Tennessee, due to COVID

There was no class difference in this train and for boarding we had to walk quite a stretch!

Somewhere in the middle of that stretch, they had a concession stand.

Pieter was a happy man here at 15:08 with his hot coffee!

Most Railways follow a river...

Fall colors were just starting out.

The river is again visible below.

It was a very rural area!

Crossing the river...

Across from the river we stopped in Copperhill, Tennessee but no layover due to COVID.

So sad for restaurants and shops that depend on the influx of tourists!

Yes, in times past copper was the main reason for this railway.

We started out in Blue Ridge on 241 Depot Street in the state of Georgia.

Across the river we arrived in Copperhill, Tennessee.

While using the app Relive and having my portable battery, I noticed that at times there was no signal.

But the way over was not the same route as the way back, there are different rails.

One such things that indicate that there was no signal is this weird sharp V-shape that we did not ride!

Guess due to the absence of any signal, the dots got connected a few seconds later but erroneously.

Our Relive video

The total was not more than 39.8 km or 24.7 mi and the average speed was 16.8 km/h or 10.4 mi/h.

Just outside of Copperhill, Tennesse and back on Georgia territory we passed through an extreme poor area. We got told by the guide that was in each wagon (talking loudly about what we were passing etc.) that there was a kind of a community vegetable garden. 

Volunteers worked it and the actual crop would be divided among the poor families...

As from my childhood, we do recall that often a railway will pass by the back of homes and their tiny gardens or whatever. Often a lot of rubbish was visible too. The front from the street might have looked better... but not the back of those homes!

It was an okay railway experience but fell short in comparison with the previous one we took in Bryson City, North Carolina. 

There is no service on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and you get seated without any seat assignment.

Loud due to children and kind of noisy was one of the biggest differences we noticed.

But still we feel bad for that region and they MUST draw tourists for pouring in some more cash before any update or improvement can be made.

Just an oversight for Blue Ridge Scenic Railway tarifs

Before dark, we safely got back to our cozy Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest for our supper and a good night rest. It was well chosen, for this Blue Ridge Scenic Railway adventure.

Related link:

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Nantahala Gorge Excursion | previous post

Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest | previous post

Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest

 Yes, on October 10, we drove up to Atlanta, Northwest for a two night stay at the Hyatt Regency Suites.

We'd been there before, on January 13, 2018 and loved the fact that they have a kind of kitchenette with a microwave and roomy refrigerator.

During the crazy COVID times, they did not serve their usual breakfast, which always was so good!

So with this option of having a kitchenette, we brought our own and it worked out perfect.

The building of Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest on the outside makes us always think of the Camino Réal hotel in the Aztec style, in México City. Click through on link...

So here we went.

To the left you see the large sized microwave and next to it the refrigerator.

Also coffee maker of course.

This really feels like home away from home!

Photos are from 2018, this time we had a room in the back, overlooking the garden and oh so quiet on the 5th floor.

The king size bed with down duvet (no synthetic down!) and pillows sleeps like a dream on their pillow top mattress. Exactly like our down duvet and pillows at home...

We'd stopped at Whole Foods Market for some food from their food bar.

Easy supper, heating it up in the microwave and staying in for the evening!

Relaxing for me, after the drive up...

Bathroom is also well equipped. 

Hallway with closet... 

In the mirror is my reflection, wearing still my Escada Rose Sweater for our choir performance at UGA Athens Stegeman Colliseum... (home of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball and gymnastics teams).

From there, I drove to this Hyatt in Northwest Atlanta.

Me, third from left... Photo inserted as a back flash only!

~

Yes a true Suite!

So we stayed here again now.

We woke up well rested and were on our way to our special destination...

Stay tuned!

Related link:

Gym Dogs Athens captured by Pieter J.C. Vedder | very short video