Georgia

Took the All Night Train to Georgia – The Trek

Published

1 year ago

April 1, 2025

Took the All Night Train to Georgia – The Trek

My sneaky family at my surprise going away party!

It’s been a long time since I cried as much as I did the days leading up to leaving for Georgia. I was blown away by a surprise party at work – my current and past (and some future) kids were there with families. I gave and received more hugs than I could possibly count. I sobbed and cackled through my “Good Nuck” video. It really hit me how nice it is to have a job I love so much that it hurts to leave it (even temporarily)!

My coworkers, these kids, and their families made me feel so supported, loved, and missed! Thank you MAP! Peep me in the sea of incredible MAPsters!

The Adventure to the Adventure

Monday morning my partner and I lugged our selves and our stuff onto the Amtrak headed for New York City after a very tearful goodbye to my family. Our first leg was quiet, probably because we ended up in the quiet car.

I realized as we left Massachusetts and crossed into Rhode Island that I won’t be back in my home state until I walk myself back! On my own two feet!

Me, my partner, and my family French fry in Penn Station

Big thank you to my Uncle Jeff for meeting us at Penn Station and treating me to lunch (does this count as trail magic? Or at least train magic LOL).

And then we were off to Georgia on the Cresent 19. I was excited to travel by train as a bonus adventure. It was certainly romanticized in my head but I also kept my expectations very, very low! My advice is to do just that if you chose to travel by train for a long distance. The food was microwaved, but yummy, and they have vegan options! The people were loud and got a little rowdy – complaining and taking very loud phone calls after midnight – but overall the majority were kind. It rained which was pretty on the windows but caused some delays. Overall, it was totally fine and I’m happy I added another new experience to my ever-growing list!

Sunrise from the train… through the very dirty window

What if My Plan is to NOT Plan?

Now, planning is not my strong suit, which I’m sure will be a recurring theme as I bring y’all on this 6 month-ish adventure. Our tickets got us to Gainesville, GA because I saw that was closer to Amicalola Falls than Atlanta. However, it’s also no where near an REI so that will have to wait until I’m on trail. I also didn’t think to call ahead for a shuttle (I wanted to meet Ron of Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttle!!!!) so we called a Lyft. Thankfully, the kindest woman picked us up, brought me through a Starbucks, and chatted with us all the way… until I realized we also put in the wrong address! Seriously, my planning – or lack thereof – will surely be at least a point of entertainment over the coming months.

Not much to see at the Gainesville Train Station

We updated the address and Asami brought us into the mountains, shared stories of growing up in Asia surrounded by similar views, and safely left us at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge!

I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude, absolutely humbled, and overcome with emotions as I saw the view from the lodge. It’s a view I’ve seen in pictures, videos, movies, and dreams. And I’m actually here. I stood next to the 3-floors-tall map of the trail in awe. It’s happening. I’m walking the Appalachian Trail.

Just incredibly humbled by this representation of the trail that stretch up 3 floors of the lodge!

So, next on the list is to rest, eat, register, walk the approach trail, and walk on! & on & on & on & on & on…

Thank you so much to Keira & Connor, my cousin Denise, Lucy, Camille & family, Audrey, my Martinezes, Satya & Arnav, Mackenzie & Maddox, the Strubles (Ellie you are so not a chicken!), Van, Dax, & Kara, and the DeVoes! And of course all the MAPsters, past and current who made me a video message and starred in a famous Kurt music video. I’m blown away by the support and am so incredibly grateful for all the words of love and kindness. I will see y’all soon – keep being you, because you rock!

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek’s ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Source link

Georgia

High Fire Danger conditions continue through Thursday in Georgia

Published

9 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

High Fire Danger conditions continue through Thursday in Georgia

Dry air and gusty winds are expected to create high fire danger conditions Thursday afternoon into the evening across parts of north and central Georgia.

GEORGIA FIRE WEATHER ALERTS

Relative humidities of 25 percent or less are expected for four or more hours Thursday afternoon into the evening. Winds are forecast to be from the northeast to southeast at 7 to 12 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. With dry fuels in place, the weather service said high fire danger conditions can be expected.

Everyone is urged to check with local burn permitting authorities about whether outdoor burning is allowed. If burning is permitted, use extreme caution.

MIDDLE GEORGIA FIRE WEATHER ALERTS

The statement covers a wide area of Georgia including the following Middle Georgia counties: Butts, Jasper, Putnam, Hancock, Upson, Lamar, Monroe, Jones, and Baldwin.

Source link

Georgia

Georgia football knew it couldn’t make same mistake twice with Khalil Barnes

Published

21 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Georgia football knew it couldn’t make same mistake twice with Khalil Barnes

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs initially missed out on the defensive back, but the Clemson transfer is expected to make an immediate impact.

Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes — pictured taking part in the second day of spring practice in Athens in March — has spent most of the spring starting at the STAR position despite Rasean Dinkins playing there late last season after Joenel Aguero was injured. Aguero transferred this offseason. (DawgNation staff)

ATHENS — Landing prospects out of the transfer portal is often a dart throw.

And after bringing in three defensive back transfers for the 2025 season and another four this offseason, Georgia finally seems to have hit the mark with former Clemson standout Khalil Barnes.

s’eH“ emaC“ ”,dehcaoc-llew yrev .yvvas .dias yllaer ,margorp .snoitisop ”.reyalp deyalp elpitlum elpitlum .boj ,tnegilletni ni doog doog doog morf llabtoof enod ,sesnefed gnihcaoc hcaoc neeb .dnuorgkcab a a tramS ,prahS deyalP ybriK s’eH dooG aigroeG

tnew saw owt srefsnart ot raey-eerht eht eht eht eht taht smret maet retrats neves gniyalp fo level tsal ni ni hgih evah sah rof rof .ecneirepxe egde evisnefed ,selcyc elbaredisnoc kcab ta dedda a a a a ffoyalP fO eH llabtooF egelloC ,nosmelC sgodlluB senraB .4202

htiw hcihw tahw saw denrut delatot ot eerht esoht eht taht maet selkcat detrats neves snosaes ,nosaes deknar skcip tuo fo enon tsal ylegral .snoitpecretni eh rof tnemtnioppasid emac yb eb dna dna a a teY ,sregiT ehT .sserP .oN nI nosmelC senraB detaicossA 6-7 4 931

pu eht ,stnelat daor deyalp fo gnol tsuj eh sah morf .supmac neeb erawa ta sa ,loohcS eenocO htroN hgiH s’aigroeG aigroeG ’senraB

lliw ediw ediw ohw eht loohcs reviecer reviecer sreyalp yalp edistuo eno fo rekcabenil denioj si ni hgih s’eh morf ruof rof yb sa dna ,nadloR nodnaL iramahK aigroeG .nosrekciD sallaD skoorB senraB ,6202

eW“ tuB“ nehw tnew ot esoht er’yeht eht dilos .dias yllaer yllaer ”.margorp tuo no no dessim .sdik retcarahc-hgih eh ,syug tnorf morf dne emoc lla a yehT tramS BK ”,nosmelC )senraB(

saw srefsnart ot siht eht eht eht eht margorp ,nosaesffo enin nioj tsrif dedda fO sgodlluB .senraB

uoy htiw rieht eht eht eht taht gnisirprus ,yradnoces .ytinutroppo fo tsom gnikam ti t’nsi si ni seloh sih sih evah ecneirepxe enibmoc lla nehW sgodlluB senraB

refsnart siht eht eht retrats xis margorp .noitisop tuo ,nosaesffo fo gnidulcni dah evisnefed skcab ta ehT RATS leneoJ sgodlluB oreugA

ohw nehw saw koot eht eht eht gnirps tneps ,nosaes .noitisop revo fo fo tsom tsal s’ti derujni eh sah rof dne ta ta elihW naesaR snikniD senraB oreugA

uoY“ s’eH“ htiw eht os .edis emas .dias yllaer syalp ”,reyalp no em ,wonk tsuj mih mih hgih eh ,doog ”.gnihtyreve .ygrene kcabrenroc gnitacinummoc thguorb neeb era dna dna ,RATS nosniboR s’tI taerG sillE

gnisu refsnart ot dnuor-driht eht eht eht sseccus detrats maet-dnoces noitisop latrop kcip ni ni ni sronoh sih sah dah denrae tfard reerac yb ,erofeb erofeb gnimoceb ta sa sserdda a tseW ainigriV eekyT apmaT htimS RATS eH aigroeG sreenaccuB yaB CES-llA .4202 .3202

raey htiw lliw ot ot emit eerht eht eht .metsys snosaes yalp eno fo tsom ekam nrael tsuj ni sih evah evah did dna htimS aigroeG senraB .snehtA

refsnart refsnart refsnart ot ni evisnefed thguorb ,kcab ta dna noitidda ,smailliW nrehtuoS .elddiR amohalkO yelraM’aJ nI aigroeG yrtneG tsaE yelnoC aniloraC laC nolyarB senraB

elihw deificepsnu emit siht dereffus gnirps srevocer gniyalp detimil yrujni eh eh sah morf rof ,kcabrenroc gnitepmoc neeb ta ta sa era dna na smailliW elddiR .UCE yelnoC

emoclew aiv refsnart ot ot eht taht margorp denoitisop latrop ,nosaesffo ekam tsal si tcapmi etaidemmi flesmih s’eh pleh rof dnif deliaf ta na .noitidda a a .aigroeG roF ,senraB senraB sA

s’eH“ eH“ yaw ot siht eht eht eht maet .erus dias ytefas .moor ”.noitisop .syalp no fo fo fo sekam ”,tol tol tol ekil ni ni sih eh .kwah sdnah steg rof stif ecneirepxe kcabrenroc sgnirb ,reyalpllab llab llab ta a a a a a RATS senoJ I eH eH ollemeD .senraB A

Elijah Griffin takes part in the second day of spring practice in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (DawgNation staff photo)

Connor Riley has been covering the University of Georgia since 2014 before moving to DawgNation full-time before the 2018 season. He helps in all areas of the site such as team coverage, recruiting, video production, social media and podcasting. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2016.

Source link

Georgia

Republicans win Georgia race — but Democrats post largest swing yet in special House elections

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Republicans win Georgia race — but Democrats post largest swing yet in special House elections

Republicans padded their slim House majority with a special election win in Georgia on Tuesday night. But the race also marked the biggest swing against the GOP compared with the 2024 presidential results out of seven House special elections in President Donald Trump’s second term.

It’s the latest sign of an encouraging political environment for Democrats, though the results in lower-turnout special elections never translate exactly to November. Democrats hope to mobilize voter frustration with Trump and his party to break the Republicans’ unified control of Washington this year.

Republican attorney Clay Fuller, Trump’s pick to fill the seat vacated by GOP former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation this year, is projected to defeat Democrat Shawn Harris and hold Georgia’s 14th Congressional District for Republicans. But the results Tuesday look nothing like in 2024, when Trump won the district by almost 37 points and Greene won by about 29 points.

Fuller led Harris by 55.9% to 44.1% with 99% of the expected vote in, according to NBC News’ Decision Desk. That’s a 12-point margin — and a 25-point swing from Trump’s margin.

The previous biggest swing in a House special election during Trump’s second term came about a year ago, in Florida’s 1st District. There, Democrat Gay Valimont lost by about 15 points, a 23-point improvement on Trump’s 37-point victory margin, even as Republican Jimmy Patronis won the seat. In another special House election the same day, in the state’s 6th District, Democrats improved on Harris’ 2024 margin by 16 points.

And in a December special House election in Tennessee, the Democratic candidate lost by 9 points about a year after Trump won the district by 22 points.

The trend across those House special elections has also extended to other special elections, helping Democrats flip 11 state legislative seats in special elections since the start of last year. And there are signs the party isn’t doing that just by turning out more Democrats while Republicans stay home: An NBC News Decision Desk analysis found that Democrats’ most recent state legislative wins in Florida came despite the fact that more registered Republicans voted in those races than registered Democrats.

Harris’ overperformance in Georgia stands out from the other Democratic congressional candidates in Republican-held seats because he spent the least amount of campaign funds on ads, according to the tracking firm AdImpact.

Harris spent $1.1 million on ads in the race, including $298,000 since the first round of voting March 10. Fuller and Republican outside groups spent a combined $4 million, including $1.1 million since March 10.

Harris’ most recent campaign finance report, which detailed spending through March 18, showed that his campaign spent heavily on digital fundraising and building his donor list and on running a field program.

In both Florida special elections, the Democratic candidates, Josh Weil and Gay Valimont, outspent Republican groups and their respective GOP opponents, Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis, on the airwaves. In Tennessee, Democrat Aftyn Behn spent $3.5 million on the airwaves. Republican Matt Van Epps and his GOP allies ultimately spent $7.5 million, thanks to a late spending push from Republican groups.

Source link