A milkshake at the Grill in Athens

Many moons ago during a visit to Athens, my sister Clare took us for a milkshake at the Grill which is a long-time Athens institution. It's very close to the main entrance to the University.

Presumably, you could eat outside in summer.

As an Aussie, I have been fascinated by these old milkbars and grills that you can occasionally come across in the US. It looks like it should come out of the 50's but actually opened in 1981.

Traditional condiments you find in every diner in the US.

We ordered milkshakes and mine was chocolate.

Robin will realize the significance of this photo.

And yes, we laughed about it.

It's probably our last time visiting Athens since we will be moving to Oz next year so I'm pleased we had the opportunity to try the milkshake one last time. It was very thick and excellent. The waitress thought the weather was too cold to be drinking a milkshake.

A hike at Sandy Creek just outside Athens, GA

Clare and Ric are keen walkers so we generally go for a walk in the woods while we are visiting.

We walked on the western side of the small lake in the middle of the map.

A Mr Cook donated the land beside the Oconee River as a nature park.

The start of the trail.

A marshy area off to the left.

It all looks a bit dank and miserable on an overcast Winter's day but in Spring it would be beautiful.

Quite swampy after recent rain.

It's quite pleasant wandering along.

This photo turned out more effective than I expected.

The lake was made from a former clay pit that supplied the clay for a nearby brick works.

Somebody near Athens must be making a good living out of metal seats. They are quite common and very beautiful.

Viewing platform to see bird life.

And finally a set of steps back to a road that took us back to the car. Fortunately, the pitch of the steps was low so climbing them was easy. I decided that walking on the uneven ground of the track was better for improving my sense of balance than walking on a predictable road surface so when I get home, I will do more walks to the lighthouse.

A stroll in Madison GA

For the past thirty years, we have travelled south to Athens, Georgia to visit my sister and brother-in-law for Christmas. We drive down in odd years and they drive up in even years. This is our last visit since we will move to Oz next year. In addition to the woeful tour of the Xmas lights in Athens, we usually drive out to one of the surrounding towns near Athens. This year we went to nearby Madison.

Athens to Madison with Atlanta off to the west.

Ric parked in a back street and we strolled along looking at the beautiful antebellum mansions and houses.

Since many of them are made of wood, the upkeep would be considerable.

It's definitely a classy neighbourhood.

Most grass in Georgia turns this horrible brown colour in Winter.

Definitely a mansion.

The word is 'dappled' with the magnolia leaves.

Some of the grass was greener than normal, perhaps because of recent rain and higher temperatures. Most years it was freezing but this year the temperatures are above 60. 

A different grass. It was so odd to see green like this.

You can click on the image to enlarge it.

Boxwood hedges.

Just to make sure you knew what that hedge was made of.

I wondered if there was a maze.

A lovely red barn.

The local cemetery.

The flowers are fake, but they look good. 

I liked the plaque idea. Very elegant and they stay in better condition than above-ground monuments and stones.

The ferns made a nice change.

Graves of Confederate soldiers.

Some have names.

The remainder 'known only to God'.

Part of US history.

A train track runs right next to the graveyard.

The black people were buried on the 'wrong side of the tracks'.

Or on a nearby hillside. Notice that there are very few markers.

Clare and Ric.

A small lake near the cemetery.

It was a lovely walk and we finished up drinking coffee in a cafe in the centre of town. If you get a chance to visit Madison, take it since it is a beautiful place.