We're Home!

Wow, we made it. Our first real vacation since moving to Alabama and our first camping trip through the southeastern United States. It was a great joy to visit some historic sites and then to end our trip with visiting our daughter Sheri and family in Kentucky. We had almost perfect weather the whole time we were on the road. Didn't get hot until Friday when we arrived at Sheri's and no rain to speak of until the last night when we stopped at a KOA south of Knoxville, TN, before coming home. Had a lot of pitter-patter on our aluminum roof in the trailer as we slept. You get used to it though and next day was a short trip to Gadsden with clear skies.

We're glad to be home and have some things to do. Glad to be back at the church and getting ready for Sunday. Glad we've so many good friends, both here and those left behind. Glad that the Lord Jesus Christ loves us all and that he forgives us all our sins and strengthens our faith. Glad to be able to worship with the Herndon's at Our Savior Lutheran (LCMS). And glad we can now refreshed serve the Lord and his Church and his people at Trinity.

Across the Cumberland Gap

We made it to Sheri's, traveling from Bristol through the Cumberland Gap then up to Danville in Kentucky. US25E is an interesting drive, including a mile long tunnel into Kentucky from Tennessee. Got here about 1:30 p.m. and set up camp in the driveway. We like their new house. I'll get some pictures tomorrow and post them on my family album at www.pastorpj.com. Had dinner at Cracker Barrel and saw my son-in-law hard at work while we enjoyed his employee discount in the dining room. Also got some things at Lowe's to help with the old house/new house transition. They had pretty much got everything moved in so won't have too much to do. Need to get their dryer hose hooked up so Nelda can do our laundry. We've both run out of unmentionables. Plan to go to church at Our Savior Lutheran in Danville, our daughter and familie's church on Sunday. Then may come home Tuesday or Wednesday. Will see how it goes. It's been a great vacation, but I'm ready to come home and get back to work (believe it or not). Nelda would likely keep on going if I were a mind to. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Trinity. I know Laura has done a fantastic job taking care of everything while we've been gone and all the help she has gotten from the good people there. God bless and Hasta laVista!

Looking forward to El Tapitio with the gang as well! See you Friday,

Traveling through Virginia

Left the Lynchburg TT campground about 8:30 this morning, Thursday, taking US24 to Roanoke, a more scenic route through the hills and towns, woods and farmlands of central Virginia. Then took I581 north to the I81 taking us to Bristol near the Tennessee border. Tomorrow we will take US25E from I81 and go to Sheri’s, picking up I75 in Kentucky to US150 and Danville, their new home.

Again we avoided a commercial campground at Bristol. We were looking for Exit 7 that went to a campground I had identified from the Internet before leaving home, but found signs taking us to Sugar Hollow Park, with a city owned campground near the freeway but in the woods and isolated from the mainstream. We almost have it to ourselves, a perfect spot for our last camping night of our vacation. It is a dry campsite but with power and well graded, also near a clean comfort station with hot showers. Guess that’s it ‘till we get home. Hopefully I can post this and our Lynchburg report when we get to the Herndon’s.

What's to do in Lynchburg VA

Arrived at the Lynchburg Thousand Trails campground yesterday (6/21) about 1 p.m. having traveled from Chesapeake Bay through Richmond to get here. Getting through Richmond from I64 to US360 was a challenge but we made it without much trouble. Rand McNally sent us on several parkways with tolls. They not only toll you to get on but also at the off-ramps. Will say nice roads though. Cost me $3.20 to make the transition. The rest of the drive was through very nice green rolling countryside. Set up in the campground went well. First time I had to back into a campsite. We had hand held walkie-talkies so Nelda could guide me in. She did fairly well; I only had to get out twice to see what she was talking about. After checking out the campground we decided to try the pool and the spa, but the water in the pool was cold and the spa was out of commission so we just hung out at the campsite, had tilapia and rice with a salad for dinner and retired early. This is probably the smallest of the TT campgrounds we have ever visited (out of 12 or more in 22 years). Very quiet in middle of week with no activity except kids in the pool (cold water doesn’t stop them.)
Today, after fixing us a pancake and bacon breakfast, we headed into Lynchburg about 20 miles NW of the campground. Went to the visitor center to find out what the major attractions might be. Not much. We took a look at historic downtown Lynchburg, which was similar to downtown Gadsden only bigger and hilly. Had coffee at the Commerce Center where booths are set up like an indoor flea market, drove through the cemetery and then headed out of town for Walmart to get some supplies. Here we are back at the campsite, Nelda working on her pictures which she got 1 hour development at Walmart and me writing this blog for uploading whenever I can get to an Internet access point. I am also preparing some more digital photos for my website. Did check email this morning. Had to go to Ranger Office to use their dial up, but they are only available from 9 to 10 a.m. and we will be gone by then tomorrow. Our cell phone has no signal in the campgrounds, so we can only call when on the road or in town. Understand that the Herndon’s are in their new house so we go there on Friday after stopping tomorrow night in Bristol, VA, near the Tennessee border. So much for now, more later, I’m sure.

Time to Kick Back

The trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg wore us out on Saturday, so today and tomorrow we'll just kick back and do as little as possible. Did attend the service in the campground. It was pretty good singing with the folks. Got a message on the Prodigal Son about fatherhood. Mostly law but a little gospel too. Enjoyed it. Had to go to town for a few supplies this afternoon, but that's it except for some swimming, eating, reading and relaxing. Tuesday we'll head west to the next Thousand Trails campground near Lynchburg, then Friday we'll get to Kentucky to see Sheri & Sean's new house. Hope they've got it all unpacked by then! Bye now till probably Wednesday.

Where America Began, Jamestown

After the National Park Service memorial to Yorktown, we were anxious to visit two more Colonial sites today: Jamestown and Williamsburg. We got an early start, arriving at the Jamestown Historical National Park at 9 a.m. using the Colonial Parkway from Yorktown about 20 miles away. It was a nice drive, lots of trees and views of the York and James Rivers. Reminded us of the drive in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington, but much more developed and longer. The first point of interest is the excavated site called the Glass House, unearthed remains of the glass making kilns used by the early Jamestown pioneers trying to develop products and resources for the Virginia Company. There was also a replica where glass making is demonstrated using 17the Century techniques. Bought a couple examples, including a vase for Nelda and a shot glass for Liz (She has a collection).

Then visited the Jamestown site, including the remains of the original fort still under excavation by archeologists. A period costumed interpreter representing one of the wives gave a very interesting description of life in the colony. Then we walked through the remains of the original town site and the memorials and statues including Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. The rebuilt town church was also very interesting. The Anglican Episcopals were about to hold a church service and we went inside to listen to the choir and observe the preparations before continuing our walking tour.

Leaving the park we noticed the masts of the ship replicas at the nearby Jamestown Settlement, a large commercial memorial having a full size replica of the fort and an Indian village from the period. Though the National Park exhibit was more interesting we did enjoy the Settlement too (but not the $21 entrance fee). The NPS tours were without admission because of the Golden Age Pass. Oh well, they had a nice café too and it was 1 pm and time to eat.

Next we took the Colonial Parkway back to the Williamsburg exit to see what we could see there. Being cheap skates we bypassed the admission tickets required to visit the museums and enter the buildings situated in historic Colonial Williamsburg, but we did walk the streets and caught the flavor of a town in the pre-revolutionary war era. Anyway we were getting pretty tired and ready to get back to the campground.
After a swim and some time to relax it was time to BBQ some steaks that we had bought in Lexington, so with that we are ending our day. Tomorrow we plan to attend the church service here at the campground. We will sing with the Baptists and thank the Lord for giving us a great vacation. There is an ELCA church in Gloucester, and we would try it but it will be fine to just enjoy the people around us. God bless you ‘all out there and hope you found time to praise the Lord wherever you are!

Our visit to Yorktown, Virginia

Another very interesting day on vacation near the Chesapeake Bay. Started out with Nelda doing laundry at the campground and me posting pictures on my website and checking email. Then left for Gloucester, a short trip from here and to check out some of their historical sites including the Colonial Courthouse, Debtor’s Prison, Jail and other buildings dating back to the Revolutionary War. Then we headed further south on US17 for Gloucester Point to look at Rev. and Civil War trails and campsites in Tyndall Point Park. Stopped for lunch at Oceans 17, a seafood café, and then couldn’t find the park. Signs were missing and it seemed closed so headed on across the York River to the Colonial National Historical Park at Yorktown. Wow! Now that’s an interesting place to come, seeing the battlefield where Cornwallis surrendered to the Americans (with help from the French) and was the last major battle in the War for Independence. We did the whole thing, watched the 15-minute movie in the Visitor Center, and walked to the battlements and down to the town. Saw the Victory Monument and the Nelson House, then drove the auto tours of the battlefield, encampments and the Moore House where terms of surrender were made between Washington and Cornwallis’s 2nd in command (Cornwallis got sick and couldn’t make it himself). We really enjoyed our day and look forward to going to Jamestown and Williamsburg tomorrow. Oh yeah, my Golden Age Passport that I got when Liz worked at Crater Lake got us in free again. That was 10 dollars well spent. Check out our new pictures added to our vacation album at www.pastorpj.com.

Left North Carolina for Virginia

We left Forest Lake Campground on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled, a drove to the Chesapeak Bay TT Campground near Gloucester, VA on the Planatank River. Its a beautiful campground with a couple lakes and a boat ramp and fishing docks on the river. Lots of trees and our campsite is overlooking one of the lakes. The drive yesterday was about 300 miles, that's long enough through Greensboro, NC, and Petersburg and Richmond, VA. Took I85 to I95 then East on I64. Exitedon VA33 to Glenns and took VA198 to campground. We're getting the trailer setup and takedown pretty well. More trouble than the motorhome, but still like advantages of travel trailer and Jeep. Enjoy being able to sightsee with the vehicle and towing the collapsed trailer is no problem. Expanding it gives us plenty of room and good facilities.

Got here about 3 p.m. yesterday and was in the pool after setting up camp by 3:45. We did stop at Petersburg yesterday for lunch. Tried to find a Cracker Barrel from signs on the interstate, but couldn't locate it when we got off. Didn't want to keep driving around with the trailer in tow so gave up and tried the All American Buffet. It was ok, but nothing special.

Its about 8:30 a.m. EDT and Nelda's doing laundry while I'm in Adult Lounge using the dialup service that is provided to members. Plan to go into Gloucester and look around and have lunch. Tomorrow we will go to Williamsburg and Jamestown. There is a Lutheran church in Gloucester that we'll check out and see if we want to go there on Sunday or worship here at the non-denominational service at the campground. Thousand Trails is very Christian friendly. At Forest Lake they were planning a VBS for both campers and the community.

Check out the pictures we took on the way here.

Our Day in Lexington, NC

Today is our first full day on vacation without traveling. We are at the Forest Lake Thousand Trails campground near Lexington. After fixing pancakes and eggs for Nelda and I we left to see the sights of Lexington. Its a nice little city not unlike Gadsden in many ways. Found a CVS to get Nelda's Fosomex refilled then went downtown to the Candy Factory, a store filled with candy of all kinds and sorts, and antique collectibles. Bought a box of sugar free chocalate assortments, then went to the Black Chicken Coffee Shop for a Mocha Coffee Frappe. About 10 a.m. and temp was up to 88 so a cold drink tasted real good. Then we went out to the Bob Timberlake Gallery, a local artist with national reputation. His paintings are beautiful colorful realist pictures of the simple life in North Carolina in scenes of all kinds. Reminds me of Thomas Kincaid but a different style and less impressionistic. Anyway, too expensive for us to buy, but enjoyed a fantastic array of his art and many other things. Definitely recommended as a place to see. Well, about noon local time and getting hungery, it was time to find a good North Carolina BBQ place for lunch. There are 21 BBQ resturants identified on the visitors map, but with local recommendations went with Lexington BBQ. The place was overflowing and the parking lot was packed, but the line moved quickly and we were soon eating the best BBQ, cole slaw and hush pupppies I've tasted since coming to the South. Butch was right! Lexington is known for its Annual Barbecue Festivalin October. They say the streets are filled and I believe it. Everywhere you go downtown are statues of pigs (fiberglass replicas) on the sidewalks in front of the businesses. They auction them off every year at the festival. Well, full of pork we next stopped at Childress Vineyards for a tour and some wine tasing. The vineyard is fairly new and features an impressive list of wines. Its owned by Richard Childress of NASCAR fame who also has Racing Museum nearby. We didn't make it to the museum, but headed back to our campsite to get ready for an afternoon swim. More later, maybe.

2005 Vacation

Nelda and I are finallyon our first real vacation since moving to Alabama a year ago last February. With our new rig (Jeep Liberty + TrailManor trailer) we left home at 8:10 a.m. on Monday the 13th of June and traveled to Greenville, S.C. in beautiful dry weather. Arlene was well past and it was a great day for driving in an air conditioned car. Went through Atlanta and made transition from I20 to I85 with no problems. Stopped at first S.C. rest stop and got maps and stuff then asked about campgrounds near Greenville. Very helpful staff gave us directions to Paris Mountain State Park where we spent the evening and night, leaving this a.m. for Forset Lake Thousand Trails campgroung about 8 miles north of Lexington N. C. on the Yangst (sp?) River. Will stay here 3 nites before heading to Chesapeak Bay, VA. This is a beautiful campground with adult pool, jacuzzi and lodge and all the facilities TT has to offer. Went swimming and now will go back and have a happy hour before bbqing some chicken and corn on the cob. Well so much for now. God bless y'all now, y'hear!