Tuesday February 8, 2011

 

 

Nashville, Tennessee, to Wytheville, Virginia

Tuesday, February 8

 

 

I was glad to get a good picture of the Nashville Chapel this morning when the sun was shining on it.

 

 

 

 

The new cross. Volunteer Chaplain Dick Evans called us later in the day to tell Cerwin how nice it looked.

 

 

We used the truck to get to the motel because it was across a busy highway, so Cerwin backed under the chapel and prepared it for our drive to Wytheville.

 

 

We saw some beautiful scenery shortly after getting back on the road. The higher elevations had more snow than we did in the Antioch area of Nashville.

 

 

 

 

A house going by us.

 

 

I noticed these cattle and thought it would make a pretty picture, but was too late to get the camera up to my eye, so just aimed the camera toward them and shot. I was surprised to actually capture them.

 

 

We arrived at the Knoxville Travel Center just after noon.

 

 

Chaplain Prentiss was on duty again, but we missed him because he was home for lunch. He lives nearby.

 

 

Cerwin stopped here because he wanted to talk to Sam, the truck stop owner. We missed him on the way down. Sam is a member of the TFC board.

 

 

He introduced us to his general manager, Randy (left) and told Randy to make sure we filled up with fuel. 

 

 

 

 

While Cerwin fueled the truck Randy showed me the smokehouse on the right side of the fuel desk building.

 

 

They offer smoked ribs, brisket, turkey legs, sausage, and anything that can be smoked.

 

 

They were smoking turkey legs when we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew what I wanted for my birthday lunch! This was a sampler. Clockwise starting at the upper left – brisket, turkey leg, ribs, sausage, and in the center, barbecue sauce. Cerwin chose a brisket sandwich. When I went to pay for them, Randy told the lady at the desk to put it on his tab!

While we were sitting in the cab of the chapel enjoying this meal, I just had to call TFC President Scott Weidner and tell him that we were out here “suffering for the Lord.”

It was the best birthday meal I ever had!

If you get by the Knoxville, Tennessee, TA Travel Center – stop and go to the fuel island for a meal from the smokehouse. Then go to the chapel and say hi to the chaplain on duty.

 

 

Shortly after taking this picture of smashed cars, I noticed something unusual on the back of the truck. Two things to be exact. Can you see what I noticed?

 

 

Two diesel covered stuffed animals – probably from a child or grandchild of the driver.

 

 

I wonder what the original color was of this bunny? My friend godsducks thinks it is a Snoopy doll – and I think she may be right.

 

 

I think this lion look like he wants help to get out of its situation.

 

 

This driver blew his horn and waved to us, so I looked for any signs on the truck that he was a Christian driver. I found it written in the dust of the back door.

 

 

 

 

We saw some beautiful scenery today.

 

 

Even saw a snow-covered mountain to our east.

 

 

 

 

By evening I needed to be doing something with my camera, and noticed the setting sun was making a nice view in my side mirror.

 

 

Cerwin’s side mirror.

 

 

I think this was the best birthday I’ve ever had – from our wake-up call when our son Jeff called to wish me a happy birthday at 5:00 a.m. forgetting that we were in a different time zone until right now when I am sitting in my comfortable bunk entering these pictures.

Cerwin is in the chapel with Chaplain David. They are coming for me when the chapel movie is over and it is time for dessert in the truck stop restaurant.