A tale of our day... October 18, 2009...

We got off the MARTA around 12 or so... and had to walk probably close to a half-mile or maybe more to get to the walker check-in... so we were walking before the walk!
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Check-n"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_002/web.jpg?ver=12559085330001" alt="Check-n" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">We took a little time to look at some of the AIDS quilts that they had on display.  It's pretty sobering.</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="One of the quilts"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_004/web.jpg?ver=12559086070001" alt="One of the quilts" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">The walk didn't actually start until 2PM but there were a set of opening ceremonies.  They included speakers such as Mayor Shirley Franklin and some cabaret singers...</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Before the Opening Ceremonies"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_008/web.jpg?ver=12559087390001" alt="Before the Opening Ceremonies" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The Openning Ceremonies"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_011/web.jpg?ver=12559088530001" alt="The Openning Ceremonies" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The Starting Line"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_015/web.jpg?ver=12559089910001" alt="The Starting Line" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">Finally past the starting line.  Getting ready to walk.  There were 8000 registered walkers.  That is a lot of people.  We had no idea that it would be that many people.  Very impressive.</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The Mass of Walkers"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_023/web.jpg?ver=12559092310001" alt="The Mass of Walkers" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">The walk took us from Piedmont Park (10th Street Side) though midtown on Peachtree to The Prado and back to the park (Piedmont side).  It was a very easy walk because it was more of a stroll than a walk.  They had plenty of checkpoints with water, vitamin water, and porable toilets for the participants.  I am sure the runners didn't need those ;)</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Walking through Midtown"]<img src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_025/web.jpg?ver=12559092930001" alt="Walking through Midtown" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Nice house!"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_028/web.jpg?ver=12559093920001" alt="Nice house!" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="House for sale!"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_030/web.jpg?ver=12559094600001" alt="House for sale!" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">Finally getting close to the end now... we can see the park again...</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Not sure what to think of this guy!"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_033/web.jpg?ver=12559095660001" alt="Not sure what to think of this guy!" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">There is the finish line!  Yay!</p>

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The Finish Line!"]<img class=" " src="http://gallery.me.com/webpoet73/100289/AIDSWalkAtlanta_037/web.jpg?ver=12559097430001" alt="The Finish Line!" width="614" height="461" />[/caption]

And we finished.  5k is not that long of a walk especially at the slow pace that we were going.  It was not a walk-race, but just nice walk.  During the walk, we stopped twice for refreshments and once for Dana's "charlie horse."  She was fine to finish, just a bit of a pain ;).  From start to finish, it was just over 90 minutes.  Was a great and rewarding time.  I would definitely do it again and hope to raise more money next time.

We rested for a bit and then walked back to MARTA to go home, stopping off at Johnny's Pizza to eat...