Day 2 - 725 miles - Fishes, Branding and our damage deposit

We started our day early, pulling out of the Flying J stop well before most of the kids had woken (Kelly inclusive). I made a quick trip into the truck stop to pay my respects to my brethren big rig drivers, top up our thirsty fuel tank and headed into Atlanta.

It's very nice to drive early in the morning, on a weekend, in a big city ... there isn't really anyone on the road. The typical Atlanta traffic was missing and we made it quickly to downtown. Our goal was to have breakfast at Ikea (a furniture store with decent pancakes), but it didn't open until 10A. So instead we found some nice street parking about 2 blocks from the new Atlanta Aquarium. Parking our motor home isn't that hard, we just need decent room ... since it was early, most of the street was empty and I had my pick ... I pulled up, just in front of a fire hydrant, so if anyone blocked me in front, I could back-up ... and pull out.

The Atlanta Aquarium (actually called the Georgia Aquarium) is billed as the largest in the world. I'm not sure I believe all the marketing hype, but I'm confident that using some criteria it is. Since this was our first "outing", we spent big ... and sprung for the complete ticket package, fish, the 4D movie (extra), the Titanic experience (extra) and since it was cheaper as a package the Coca Cola museum (also extra). We made it in by 930A and spent a great 4 hours in there.

We've visited several aquariums throughout the world, and the impressive part of this one was the main attraction of the whale sharks ... beautiful. The kids had a great time, we touched the stuff they won't go near at the beach and spent much time admiring the "big" fish. We'll have to come back for their "sleepover" nights, which let you sleep in the aquarium, this includes the "tunnels", so you are literally sleeping underwater. We'd also look to arrange a dive in the big tank at that time ... they let 6 divers at a time, in the big tank, so you can swim with the whale sharks, amongst other things.

The 4D movie (think, it sprays water for the 4th dimension) was probably 15 minutes (I missed it as Jack did not like being sprayed), was Ok ... but not worth the extra money. The Titanic exhibit would have been nice ... but by now, 1130A, the place was full ... and I felt like cattle being pushed through the different displays ... the little kids had no interest :(

Out for lunch at the CNN building and a walk around the Olympic Centennial park ... this ended in the Coca Cola experience ... and by experience I mean, look at some famous marketing stuff ... oh yeah, get a free coke bottle (included in the $15 entry fee) and taste all their products. For our kids who do not even get to taste coke, this was a huge highlight ... Kate and Jaci where so excited that they could taste anything they wanted ... one hour later and a massive dose of sugar ... and we where ready for the road ... probably not our best decision.

As I expected, we got blocked in front, but my planning was flawless ... 20ft of empty space right behind me. I loaded the kids, took off the parking brake and backed up 15ft proudly, flawless. Checked my mirror, and pulled out onto the street ... something unplanned happened ... some resistance to pulling forward was experienced and then a loud bang and off we went ... hmmm ... not as planned. I drove about a block and pulled over to inspect. Well, in my planning and complete confidence in my superior parking skills, I neglected to factor the 10+ft overhang of the motor home. Apparently, as you turn this thing, the rear end swings out ... hmmm ... need to remember that ... well ... Atlanta has a slightly bent parking sign and we are likely not getting out damage deposit back. We're now sporting our first battle wound on the rear corner of our unit :(.

We drove up to Chattanooga, TN and stopped around 6P at the Trav-L-Park RV "resort" for the night ... 40x60ft pool, full hookups, WiFi and easy to find. The kids all went for a swim (me inclusive), then some playing in the park while Michelle made dinner. We put to use our TV for an hour and everyone was asleep by 11P.