Road Trip – Day 3
TFC Chapel, Wytheville, VA
&
Rex Theater, Galax, Virginia
Friday, August 20
As we approached the Wytheville TA Travel Center, we were pleased to see this great ad for the chapel.
The Beacon Light Chapel is behind the restaurant and next to the garage – an easy place for truckers to find.
Chaplain David Nispel is a retired driver, who rededicated his life to the Lord on one of our chapels many years ago – I think 1987 – after he had walked far from God and was going through a tough time.
He showed Cerwin a welding repair that had recently been done under the chapel. Cerwin said they did a good job.
David is a good friend and prayer warrior to many drivers. On this day we were pleased to meet Kevin, a driver from Michigan.
Kevin signed a TFC release form so we can use these pictures in ministry literature.
Like that hat!
I doubt that any driver leaves the chapel without a prayer of blessing from Chaplain David.
While we were there, he received several phone calls from drivers who had previously shared concerns with him. One was a praise for answered prayer.
David prayed with each one before they said goodbye.
We were pleased that Buddy and Pat Dillow were available to go out with us for an early supper. Buddy used to be on staff with TFC, and is now a volunteer at this chapel.
It was delightful to catch up on their lives. This was a birthday party for Chaplain David whose birthday was the next day.
My delicious meal
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After leaving the chapel, Cerwin asked me to get the Road Atlas, and as he drove, we discussed where to get a motel for the night. Our next appointment was Monday morning in Greensboro, North Carolina, so we had an open weekend – without any plans.
As I looked for towns that were in the general direction of our route, I noticed Galax, Virginia, and remembered picking up a brochure about Galax when we were at the visitors center just after entering Virginia.
When I told Cerwin the brocure said it was the World’s Capital of Old-Time Mountain Music and dubbed one of the Ten Best Driving Vacations by USA Today, we decided this is where we would spend our weekend.
We had hoped to find a bluegrass or mountain folk concert during this trip – and there was one that night at historic Rex Theater.
After checking into our motel, and relaxing a bit, we drove to the theater. The two-hour concert is free, because it is usually a live radio program with sponsors. (It wasn’t live on this night because of the Bristol NASCAR race. It was going to be aired the following Monday.)
There was a beautiful painting of a Tennessee mountain behind the stage, and the old chairs were stuffed and spring-loaded – which means we could “rock” to the music while enjoying Pepsi and popcorn. Oh, what fun!
The announcer for WBRF 98.1 FM reading names of sponsors for the Blue Ridge Back Roads Show – which we were about to enjoy.
Maggie and Bill Anderson’s old-time music (mostly old gospel tunes) and singing was fabulous.
They sang with great harmony and timing and loved to tease each other.
They seemed to instinctively know what the other person was going to do or say next. They did the 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. portion of the show.
The Blue Ridge Travelers performed from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.
They were talented musicians – doing mostly instrumentals – a delight to our ears.
Twelve-year-old Jeffrey stole the show with amazing mandolin picking and funny facial expressions.
We were so pleased to have discovered this fabulous concert.
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When we got back to the motel, and told the clerk how much we enjoyed the evening. She said, “Then you may enjoy Fries Volunteer Fire Department’s Fiddlers & Bluegrass Convention tomorrow.”
It was just a few miles away and lasted from 3:00 p.m. until midnight, so we made plans to stay at the motel another night.
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I’ll show you those pictures tomorrow!
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