Motto: On my mind - sorry, I couldn't resist the gag..:)

How to define Georgia in two easy steps:
"Urban Georgia is anyplace north of the Piggly Wiggly in Macon" - Lewis Grizzard (r.i.p)

REALLY good on - ramp for north bound travel on i-85:
Pleasantdale Rd - it's hard to reach but it's not too far of a walk from the Doravillle MARTA station.

Old Atlanta joke M*A*R*T*A = 'Moving Africans Rapidly Thru Atlanta' is based in a little truth - you may very well be the only nonblack person on the train or bus.
The fare is only $1.50 or 2.00 for the bus out by 6 Flags in summer and if you are walking in a relatively safe place on the interstate the state patrol wont bother you.
However, up by Gwinett Mall on 85 is just TOO much traffic - stay on the ramp. Hey, if the car is going to Athens, take it, then work back to 85 - trust me.

$3.00 showers available at the QUIKTRIP just north of the Tom Moreland interchange (I-85/285), go thru truck lot so as not to seem like a hiker...
Besides, Quiktrips got great prices on microwave sandwiches: chicken fried steak, cheesburgers, poor boys etc.
You can get a MEGA NACHOS, THE SUNDAY PAPER (too bad it sucks), a 44 oz Dr. Pepper & a shower for under 7 bucks in this particular Quiktrip!
And they have really fresh veggies on the toppings...

Gwinnett Mall note: the survey people in the Gwinnett Place Mall pay $2.00 to participants in market research surveys - and they test FOOD a LOT (esp twinkies and the like!).
Just walk around the mall 'til you see the clipboard lady...

T, gsahe truckstop in Commerce, Ga (home of the Bulldog Inn - a good clean hotel for under 25.00) (the exit w/all the factory outlets) 45 miles n. of Atlanta.

Key Marta stops: Doraville I-85 north toward Carolinas, Dunwoody then walk on 285 over to Cobb County (I-75 north to TN).
It is a festive neighborhood however...(so keep your bag on your lap).

If someone offers you in Atlanta a little plastic card w/a chip in it TAKE IT! this is money! REALLY!
For the 96 Olympics the visacorp came out w/a card w/a microchip that is inserted into readers at asssorted merchants in the metro Atlanta area.
3 particpating merchants are: Circle K, Chick-Fil-A and Dunkin Donuts (all very important to hitchikers). Circle K esp in *summer* 44 oz thirstbuster dr.peppers :), (and they're all over the place down there).

Hightower I-20 toward Texas - take bus to 6 Flags or walk, it's just 3 miles.
College Park: for travel to Florida (yeech) it's also a bad neighborhood.
To go into S.Carolina - Columbia area I recommend I-85.
You can go thru Macon and down to Savannah but a lot of Florida creepos hang out down there...
Or if you really want to fight I-20 thru Augusta go ahead, I can't stop you - but the Master's will have been played by the time you get there...
But don't say I didn't tell you so...

A place I've never been but wish I had: Mellow Mushroom pizza in *Buckhead District* which also has got a lot of good li'l Korean places too...
A place I've been but wish I hadn't:
ATLANTA CITY PRISON: a day to book in, a day to book out, plus 2 extra days when I didn't exist!
Atlanta jails people for a minimum of 3 days for status offenses: drinking in public and the like, even tho the fine is usually 20 dollars or less and the court imposed sentence is usually no more than a day. The booking process is what takes so long.
Also, Atlanta city prison gaurds are not sworn peace officers - they're just fools from the neighborhood the jail is in...So kiss your pocket money good-bye!
Try to get a receipt...
Yes, San Quentin books people out faster than the Atlanta jail - really!
And of course my internal affairs complaint wasn't sustained - *surprise*!

A place I've never been near but I hear is interesting: Stone Mtn. Park
Other places I forgot to go: Coca - Cola world - what can I say, I'm a pepper - not a *pibber*.
A place I'd go in a heartbeat if they had dark beer there: HOOTER's in underground Atlanta (near Five Points).
Good movie theater on the Buford Hwy bus line inbound - go to Doraville and transfer...Saw 'Cable Guy' there.
Internet access avilable at: DEKALB CO LIBRARY across from the Decatur station - none in Atlanta proper.
MARTA sells weekly pases good on all trains and buses in the system at the Five Points station.

3 final notes: there is a day-labor place across from the Doraville station so if you get really desperate you don't have to go all the way into the city. Also, near Doraville station - STEAK AND SHAKE - yum! Only really available in GA, IL, IN, and MO. Delicious, reasonably priced, but they give me gas...
There is also a K-mart for the truly downscale, an a&p, and a good li'l laundrymat that lets you fiddle w/the tv; death to Sally Jessy Raphael - turn on CARTOONS!

CONCERT VENUES: Omni - any Marta train - ask somebody where to get off. From the surface - it's near the Georgia Dome and CNN tower.
LAKEWOOD AMPITHEATRE: Lakewood station w/free shuttle buses 3 hrs before showtime. Be careful buying parking lot tickets, the Atlanta police will definitely haul yer ass in if they see it...and it takes a WHILE to get out...and they forget your in there when yer friends call to bail you out (really happened to me and a few friends.)
CHASTAIN AMPITHEATRE: up in Cobb Co on I-75- "If you don't drive they don't want you there." is their motto.
See to understand, Cobbco = Newt Gingrich, get the picture?
I saw a trade ad once that promoted a place in Macon as "NOT MASS TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE" like it was a good thing...
Like duis are?

Average crossing time: 4-6 hours on I-85
10-12 hrs on I-95
3-5 E-W from Savannah to Atlanta.

See you guys in Hawaii (sort of) ;)

Marta's Homepage
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
And, oh yeah, Cobb County (I-75) connects but you gotta go downtown so...

Write to Legendary Rob.