"I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'”  Psalm 122:1

I went to church today with Mark and his family--Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo. Ah, there's nothing quite like a good Texan Baptist church service--and I mean that with all sincerity!   I enjoyed the vibrant Christ-centered worship.   Their church has two worship services--one at 8:30 which is traditional and one at 11:00 which uses contemporary worship music.  We went to the contemporary service.   One thing that impressed me was that their church is very mission minded.  This church has many ministries in the Amarillo area as well as a pretty strong foreign mission support.

Me, Mark, Pam, Lee, and Lauren

After having a delicious lunch at another local restaurant -- Joe Tacos -- with the Ellis family, I said my goodbyes and headed east for Oklahoma City.  I am generally taking the old US Route 66, though not much of it exists. 

The land sure is flat!!  So it wasn't hard to see from a great distance, this 200 ft. steel cross along side the road at Groom, Texas.  They say you can see it for 20 miles.  Anyway, I pulled up to it and snapped some photos.  This cross is surrounded by smaller sculptures of the stations of the cross. 

As I was traveling through the little town of Shamrock, Texas on historic Route 66, I saw this restored old Concoco gas station.

 

 

A little later, I was in Oklahoma.  The panhandle of Texas does not take nearly as long to drive through as central Texas.

There is more of Route 66 preserved in Oklahoma than any other state.  But still, a lot of the former stops and attractions that used to line this road are abandoned and/or in ruins.  Kind of sad to see.  But this one was pretty cool--the Route 66 Museum in Elk City, OK.

 

 

 

It has been a beautiful day for drving.  Even though the landscape is still pretty flat, I can see some small changes in elevation in places!  I'm staying just west of Oklahoma City tonight.

 

In western Oklahoma, I drove through these huge wind farms with this gigantic electricity generating wind turbines as far as you could see.  This is a smart use of that "wind comes sweepin' o'er the plain"....  Someone should write a song about that!...

 

 

Today, Saturday, Sept. 29, I had a great time exploring Amarillo with Mark.  After an amazingly delicious breakfast at the famously local Ye Ol' Pancake Station, we went downtown to the where US Route 66 went through town.  It is now home to numerous antique shops and cafes.  It was fun to peruse one particular shop called "the Nat" or Amarillo Natatorium.  It was originally built as an indoor pool in 1922.  The pool was covered with a dance floor in 1926 and this place became a social center along Route 66 in its day.
 

 

 

 "The Nat"








After eating a simply delicious burger lunch at Blue Sky, Mark, his son-in-law Lee, and I went out to Palo Duro canyon.  It's funny how you expect to see something in the terrain that indicates a canyon is coming up, but in this very flat land, you just come upon a big hole in the ground.  And what an amazing and awesome hole in the ground it was.  These pictures do not begin to portray the grandeur of this place!  I was in awe of the vistas from the rim and down in the canyon.  Such a magnificent work of art!

 

 

 

 

 

"What a wildly wonderful world, God!  You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."  Psalm 104:24 (The Message)

I drove up to Amarillo today and passed through several oil fields with active pumping. Boy the landscape here is flat!!  This sign I saw at a rest stop along the way is sobering reminder of what you may encounter when traveling in Texas:

I am staying with one of my college roommates Mark and his wife Pam.  I haven't seen them in almost 30 years. I am having a great time catching up with them.

...Recalculating...

This is a BIG country!!  You can really appreciate that when you're driving it.  Today is a turning point for me and my trip.  I am midway across the U.S. and rather than continue on west to California, I have changed my course and will be taking historic Route 66 (now I-40) from Amarillo to St. Louis and heading east on my originally planned US 50 route from there.  The initial round trip plan was just a little too big.  The west coast will have to wait.

Today, Thursday, Sept. 27, while in Jackson, I visited the state capitol. To me, it looks sort of like a miniature U.S. Capitol.

 

As I passed through Louisiana, I saw lots of cotton fields. That was a new visual for me.  It was funny how the cotton is baled like hay back home (and here, for that matter)--in these huge round bales.  They looked the same as bales of hay, but were white!  US 80 parallels I-20 where I traveled today. So since I've seen enough small villages and towns for now, I decided to jump on the interstate and boy did I make good time.. In Texas, the speed limit was 75 mph on the interstate most of the time. I arrived in Ft. Worth late this afternoon and am staying here tonight. Before coming here, though, I did get off the interstate and stop in the Rose Capital of Tyler, Texas. My brother Kevin and his wife Mary Jean were married in the rose garden there 25 years ago. It was 10 degrees cooler today than at their wedding--and it was 91 degrees today!  The gardens were meticulously groomed, but the roses were not at their showiest, I think due to heat exhaustion.  I bet they will be beautiful next month.

I also went through the charming Texas town of Canton--another retro looking place.

Toured historic downtown Columbus, GA.  Did you know that the man who developed the formula for Coca-Cola was a pharmacist in Columbus?  I did not, but I saw his two houses there.  John Pemberton was his name.

Crossing the Chattahoochee River made me feel like I was ending daylight savings time as I had to turn my clock back an hour--moving to Central Time Zone.  Dropped by Alabama State Capitol building while in Montgomery.  Right down the street from the capitol was Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor in the late '50s. 

 

Obviously in the cradle of civil rights history,  I went on to Selma, coming into the town on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.  This bridge is famous because it is where people gathered for what was to be a peaceful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.   On a lighter note, when was the last time you saw a Rexall Drug store sign?  Selma downtown was a little bit like stepping back in time.

 

 

 

 

Continuing west to Demopolis (city of the people), there was one more plantation to visit--Gaineswood.  It said to be the finest antebellum mansion in Alabama.  Can you believe that this house started as a log cabin?   

 

Most of the furnishings are original to the house, which is amazing when you think about it.  Well, they didn't stay there in the house for 150 years--the descendents have donated them back to the house museum over the years.  Here is the dining room.

 

And then I continued west into Mississippi and made it as far as Jackson, where I will stay for the night!

 

 

Went to Tybee Island this morning.  Located the lighthouse and then went over to the beach.  It was early and uncrowded--very enjoyable.  It is a very wide beach and is very clean.  You have to pay for parking everywhere on the island....there are no free spaces!  A local advised me to make sure I "fed the meter" because if they caught me it would be a $40 fine.  I was compliant.

 

Went back to Savannah for lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House.  Delicious and fun.  The meal is served family style with all the bowls and platters of food on the table.  You sit at a table of ten and unless your group is 10, you sit with folks you don't know. One lady at the table with me was from San Diego.  I told her that's where I was headed and she gave me some touring tips for when I got there.

 

Prior to leaving Savannah, I have logged 1196 miles on this trip.  After lunch, I got on the road--US 80 West. I have now started my western trip in earnest!  Leaving coastal Georgia, I went through numerous hamlets with names ending in -boro, and -ville.  Real Americana--some places being renovated, some abandoned has-beens.   The landscape looked a lot like rural Virginia to me. 

 

When I got to Macon, I had arranged to meet the parents of one of our friends from Waynesboro.  We have spent time with them numerous times over the years in Waynesboro when they came to visit their family.  But it was a special treat to see them on their own turf.  Mary and Sam are sweet people and I was blessed by the fellowship with them today.  Even though I did not want Mary to bother with a meal for me, she insisted that I have supper, so I relented.  We had the highly acclaimed local Fincher's barbecue for supper and it was mighty tasty.  ...And sweet tea!  Hey...I'm in the South where tea is made correctly.

 

Sam, Me, and Mary at their kitchen table

 

 

After saying my goodbyes to Mary and Sam, I was on my way again, following US 80 to Columbus, GA.  And that's where I stay tonight--on the edge of the Eastern Time Zone.  Tomorrow I enter Central Time Zone when I cross the Chattahoochee River into Alabama.

Current whereabouts:  Columbus, GA



 

Before leaving Charleston today, I took a little trip over to Angel Oak Park on Johns Island and saw the massive Angel Oak.  It is a live oak and estimated to be between 300 to 400 years old.  The canopy of this tree is over 17,000 feet.  That's me in the picture with it, just to give you some perspective of the size of this tree!

This is the drive into the Angel Oak Park.  It looks like a painting, but is really a photograph!

 

Nearby was the Charleston Tea Plantation--where they grow the only domestic tea--American Classic Tea, which is my favorite brand.  It used to be available at the Cheese Shop in Stuarts Draft, but no longer.  I can only get it from my "supplier" in Charleston (thanks Donna Jean!) or when we travel to South Carolina.  I took a tour of the plantation.  It was quite interesting.  For all you tea-ophiles out there--all tea--green, oolong, and black teas--come from the same leaves.  The difference is in how long they allow oxidation of the leaves.

Then I hit the road again -- US 17 South!

I have arrived in Savannah!!

So now I'm deep in the ol' South!  The weather was absolutely beautiful.  I'm sorry that Karen is not here to enjoy this city in the sunshine--unlike our trip here last year when it rained every day!

I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to exercise much while on this trip.  Because of that, I've been trying to be diligent about not overeating while on the road.  I was deliberately planning NOT to eat at Paula Deen's restaurant, even though I totally enjoy her cooking (and accent!).  While strolling down Congress Street, I spotted her restaurant and noticed that there was no waiting line.  The next thing I knew I was over there asking if there was a wait.  The hostess told me that there was not.  Before my brain could engage, out of my mouth comes "Table for one, please" and they put the ticket in my hand!  It was too late.  I was in the restaurant, seated, and enjoying the dinner buffet before I knew was happening.  Oh well--I just had to roll with it--literally!  And they had just put out a fresh pan of hot macaroni and cheese!!  This was almost as good as playing the organ at the church in Charleston (just kidding!!)

Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina


I am in the old South and lovin' it.  Live oak trees with Spanish moss dripping off its branches.  This has been a real treat for me--wandering through the shaded streets of Charleston enjoying the colonial and antebellum architecture and gardens.  There was a special price this weekend to see the houses and museums on "Museum Mile".  So I took the offer and saw several houses and their antebellum decor--you know I love this stuff.  The Aiken-Rhett house (built 1820),  Hayward-Robinson house (built 1772),  Nathaniel Russell house (built 1809), and Edmundson-Alston house (built 1825) were the ones I toured. 




 I was able to worship today in a great old church downtown - Redeemer Presbyterian Church.  The building was built in 1840.  This church is in danger of losing the building as they lease the space from the Lutherans who are ready to sell the building.  The church needs to raise $1.6 million by Oct. 31 or it will be sold to a developer who plans to gut the building and convert to residences and office space.  I think it would be a shame to lose such a piece of history.





One of the best times for me today was to be able to play the pipe organ in one of the historic churches downtown.  Trinity United Methodist Church (built 1848) was on the tour of homes and museums today.  While touring the church sanctuary, I casually mentioned that I was the organist at my church.  The pastor who was acting as tour guide then invited me to play their pipe organ.  So I sprinted up to the organ loft and played a hymn.  Incredible experience!  It was truly a high point of my day!

Had breakfast at Sam and Omie's in Nags Head this morning.  It was funny, but I met a couple of people there -- one customer and the waitress -- who had ties to Stuarts Draft and Staunton!  I overheard them talking about Stuarts Draft and Afton Mountain, so I had to jump in.  Small world!  I had a great time at the Outer Banks.

After leaving OBX, I traveled down to Charleston today.  Not much to report -- it was a rather long drive on US 64 and US 17, but enjoyable.  The bypass around Myrtle Beach is very effective in avoiding the beach traffic.  I'm staying at the house of Karen's aunt, Donna Jean on Johns Island for a couple of days.  We had dinner tonight at a local barbecue diner called JB's.  Zac, Rachael, and I ate there several weeks ago when coming through on our way back from Florida.  It is a very casual place and a lot of fun!  I love the papertowel roll on the tables for napkins!  But especially -- the food is great there, too!

I am now the farthest west I have been on this trip! 

Took a long ride down to Hatteras today to see what all the hoopla was about regarding that lighthouse!  I've seen pictures and (even have some) of the lighthouse, but there it was--standing there right before me.  Very cool.  And again the exercise thing comes up--I climbed to the top, which is the equivalent of 12 stories tall.  I didn't suffer, but walking down was considerably easier.

 

I enjoyed the trip through the National Seashore and Pea Island to get to the lighthouse.  Route 12 was different than any road I've been on, but it was beautiful.  The sand dunes came right to the edge of the road and even onto the road in some spots! It reminded me of driving along the road with snow drifts.

It was a beautiful day on the beach, too!  Nice place.  Heading out tomorrow, though.

 

 

You may have thought that if I was going to California, I must not have a very good sense of direction since I landed on the Atlantic Ocean after leaving Waynesboro.  This destination was quite intentional.  For those who don't know, I am taking the southern route, so my trek is to first follow this coast down to Savannah, then go west from there on US 80.  My first destination on the west coast will be San Diego, then northward through Los Angeles up to San Francisco, heading back east from there on US 50.  I have allowed 4 - 6 weeks for this trip.  I have no timeline except to be back to Waynesboro by election day! 

It sure is windy here at OBX!  I guess that why all that airplane stuff started here! 

Ahhh - a day at the beach!  Those toes touched the water...but that's it.  The water was a little too chilly for me to go beyond that.

Besides hitting the beach today, I took in the Wright Brothers Memorial and Jockey's Ridge State Park with the largest sand dune on the east coast -- 90 - 100 feet tall, depending on the weather. And by the way---don't worry-- I am getting plenty of exercise so far on this trip. Not going to the gym while traveling has not been a problem. I trekked to the top of that dune and it was like being on one of those stairmaster machines!

The Wright Brothers well earned monument.  I was struck with their persistence in the face of repeated failures.  Kind of brings to my mind the scripture--"let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)  That's your encouragement for the day!

My great adventure begins!!  Left Waynesboro this morning, Wednesday, September 19th for my great adventure! California or bust!!  After stops in Richmond to see my daughter and son-in-law (and learned that our grandchild on the way will be our grandson!) and Virginia Beach to see my son, arrived tonight at Patty's beach house in Kill Devil Hills.  Beautiful!!  I've never been to the Outer Banks so I can't wait to see this place in the daytime!

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