Ashland, KY, to Champaign, IL, via Creation Museum

A long ride from Ashland, KY, with our stop at the Creation Museum near Cincinnati, OH.

A pastor trained years ago from books uses modern technology to conduct morning devotions.

A depiction of the discovery of human remains in Africa.

The theme of this museum is summed in this poster.

More to come on our visit to the Creation Museum.

Charlotte, NC, to Ashland, KY

We left our motel for a short trip to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC.

 We got there before opening and Paul led in a devotion.

This is the main exhibit center for the story of Billy Graham and and a commitment to faith.  Both of the homes that Billy lived in as a child are on the property but rain inhibited too much walking. 

The family ran a dairy operation.

The view from inside the "barn".

Photographs and objects from Billy's childhood are on display.

A tour depicting Billy's life starts with a "talking" cow relating his boyhood.

His first work was at the Florida Bible Institute where he received his first biblical training.  Later he attended and graduated from Wheaton College near Chicago.

His first successful preaching event was in Los Angeles, CA.

Ruth Bell Graham was born in China to medical missionary parents.  She met Billy at Wheaton College.

Billy adopted modern communication methods early on.

Depicting television ministry.

Has met and counseled every US President from Harry Truman to Barak Obama.

Billy at 92 giving an interview.  He now is 95 years old and lives near Montreat, NC.

Many mementos are on display.

Leaving a theater where an request for a decision for Christ is made.

A truck from the dairy operation.

An interesting sculpture of the Sower with the hard road, birds who eat and thistles that entangle (on the other side) as well as a symbol of a bountiful harvest.

Lunch at the dairy bar.

After a good day.

The group at the Billy Graham Library.

Pigeon Forge, TN, to Charlotte, NC, via Asheville, NC.

After three days in our motel in Pigeon Forge, it was time to load up the bus again.

 Breakfast was served each morning.

The luggage is waiting to be loaded.

Visiting before traveling the short distance (relatively) to Asheville, NC, and the Biltmore Estate there.  

We bid farewell to the group as they entered the Biltmore Estate.  The brother of Sue and Ruth lives in Hendersonville, NC, near here.

Here we have Jean, sister-in-law, and Mark, brother, in the first row.  Then the travelers, Sue, Al and Ruth in the second row.

Across from the entrance to the Biltmore Estate is a historic area called Biltmore Village.

 This church was built at the same time as the Biltmore Estate in 1896.  The same architect designed this building.

George Vanderbilt paid for this church construction and was active in its affairs until his death in 1914.

Another view.


 The altar.

Beautiful stained glass panels beside the entry doors.

The siblings on the church grounds.

The Fergus Falls contingent.

What happens when a fast-food franchise want to build in a zoned and historic area.

Have you ever seen a fireplace in a McD?

Mark's birthday.

Jean and Mark meet Gloria and Larry Lundstrom.

Final Day of the National Quartet Convention

Our day was on the same schedule as yesterday.

At the Music Road Convention Center we heard the Kingdom Heirs.  They are permanently on location in Dollywood.  As another musician said enviously, "You all are able to sleep in your own beds every night."

The Cathedrals had a "reunion" at noon and all those present who had been a Cathedral musician at one time performed.  The group continues but the Legacy Five, Mark Tramell and Ernie Haase all have formed quartets separately.

A member of the staff at the conference told us about this pizza place.  We ate there and it was good stuff.  No, that is not smoke coming from the chimney, it is steam.

Wood fired ovens produce "heavenly" pizzas.

We followed this river walk along the Little Pigeon River from which the town of Pigeon Forge gets its name.

At the end of the river walk, we came to this display.  How better to get the name of Margaritaville in many photos!

One of more than a hundred motels and hotels to choose from in this area.  At this late season, many had "Vacancy" signs.

The author of this blog among friendly crows.

They wanted their picture taken by the "photographer".

Final look at one of the buildings along the busy road.