Golden Leaves, Big Curves, Rivers, and Ribs

Ahh, the recap of my vacation week. It was split into two parts. I spent the first weekend going to the UTM student center retreat. It was great. I wasn't responsible for a thing. Then I spent Monday spent the next two days in Martin, mostly because I had a funeral to go to Tuesday. But that also let me be in town for a weekly Bible study I have been leading for a family. We are studying through John. I love studying with hungry people who are just learning Scripture. It brings out the excitement and power of words that I have grown too used to and comfortable with. The book of John is amazing.

Wednesday morning (okay, more like afternoon) I left for my personal getaway retreat. It was tremendously relaxing. All the things that I was thinking about before starting seemed to melt away, in a good way. It was a trip of praise and thanksgiving as I simply enjoyed God and His creation. I started by following KY-80 from beginning to end. It starts in Columbia, KY at the Mississippi River and goes all the way to Virginia. I took a little excursion up into West Virginia since I was close. I drove to almost daylight just enjoying the shadows of the mountains and being off main roads. That also meant it was very curvy, and I loved it. But I would not have wanted to ride with me, I would have scared myself. (At no time did I come close to losing any kind of control of the vehicle. It's great at cornering.) I found a little road in that went over a mountain, pulled off the road, put my seat down, and slept. Apparently I am crazy for doing this so I've been told, but it is much safer doing this on a back forest road where no one travels than staying at a campground. The next day I took a very pretty back way (virginia hwy 42), then the interstate to the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway. That drive was incredible. I stopped a few times and followed some trails, looked out over the Shenendoah Valley through the fog, and just enjoyed the cool weather. Some of the leaves had started to change, and one of the most amazing things was driving under a tree branch as golden leaves would float down towards the road, reflecting the sun. It was like slow motion as I would drive through them and they would scatter, or as in one case fall through the sun roof.

I followed the parkway into North Carolina, than had to hightail it to Georgia to meet up with my friends Brian and Joy. They were staying with her parents in Ellijay, Georgia. So the rest of the trip was interstate (blech).

Ellijay was tremendously relaxing. Joy's parents are very encouraging, wonderful, hospitable people, and they are wonderful cooks. The first morning I woke up with a very sore right shoulder. Apparently, I gave overused my arm shifting gears. I figured my knee would hurt, but it was my arm. It felt like I spent the previous day throwing medicine balls. I guess I haven't adjusted to that 6th gear yet. Anyways while I was there, they took great care of me.

In the afternoons Brian and I would drive around the area just admiring the beauty. One day we went up Cashes Valley (4x4 highly advisable, considering the creeks you have to ford) in their 4x4. The unfortunate part is much of the area has been built on, and where there was a beautiful little river we wanted to wade in, all around were no trespassing signs. Grr. But in that valley was a beautiful old graveyard by where the smallest church of Christ building used to be (burned down a few years ago, arson suspected). I find old hillside graveyards peaceful. That night we feasted on some very tasty ribs, brushetta, slaw, and some other things. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but these were great!

The next day Brian and I drove around the countryside, and found a river we could tresspass, and enjoyed wading through it, sitting of rocks feeling the cold water on our feet. We stopped a couple of nice places, and I got a local favorite, boiled peanuts, and some type of cider made from a local fruit, which I can't remember what it was called.

Saturday I was avoiding leaving, because I just do that. So we played a game of hand and foot, and I got entirely too competitive, but that will be in the next post. Needless to say, after a great relaxing week trip, I left the house feeling rather stupid for my competitiveness, especially after they had been so gracious to me. What a way to leave a great experience with a bad taste in my mouth. All I could think of on the drive home was my attitude.

I have a couple of other trips to tell you about since then, but I will wait for pictures.

Thanks for sending me your prayer requests. I carried then with me, as well as those in my youth group. I don't pray for others enough. Thanks for encouraging me to do so by sharing what is going on with you.

-posted to "Home" by Switchfoot. I have all my music on random, so I'm not keeping track of what's been played, because you wouldn't care anyway. Now "Anymore" by Smalltown Poets is playing.