On Friday, Oct 27, we drove to the Shadrack Campground in Bristol, TN.  It was about the only RV Park I could find in the area.  It is very close to the Bristol Motor Speedway, a very large auto racetrack, which thankfully is closed at this time.  The campground is another terrible RV park.  Its entrance is a hard right turn followed by a steep downhill driveway into the parking lot of the registration office.  After that, you must enter a hard left turn down an even worse downhill drive that is rutted with potholes.  Then there is a long drive to back-in parking slots with little space between slots.  The 50 amp pedestal has no breaker switch, so it is always hot.  This is the worst example of a power connection that we have seen anywhere.  Electrical arching can occur when plugging in and unplugging the power cord if done with the power on.  Then there is only one water source for four slots, so they put a 4-to-1 adapter on the faucet and split the water pressure four ways for the four slots.  The weather was beautiful when we arrived but by Friday night the rains began, creating deep puddles of water around the motorhome, especially where the entry stairs lower to the ground.  A truly horrible campground.

We took advantage of the good weather Friday afternoon.  Felix and Kathy came by to pick us up and take us on a walking tour of downtown Bristol, both Tennessee and Virginia, since State Street divides the cities of the two states.  Small brass plaques in the center line of that street have TENNESSEE on one edge and VIRGINIA on the other edge.  See photo below.  The shops along this street were a joy to visit, and Felix and Kathy made it all very easy.  We topped off the night with supper at the local Outback Restaurant.

Felix and Kathy Enjoying Ice Cream

1950s Malt Shop on State Street

Small Plaque in Center of State Street

Sign Over State Street Beside Railway Station

Attractive Railway Station

Saturday morning Felix and Kathy picked us up again, this time in the rain.  We went to Bristol Caverns, a sort of small version of Carlsbad Caverns.  As with the Carlsbad Caverns, we found that unless you take a tripod into the dark caverns to use with it, a DSLR will have little success getting clear images due to a very slow shutter speed no matter how you set your ISO rating.  Amazingly, a modern smart phone has technology to overcome dark settings that allow some images to be captured.  Some of these are below.

The Christian influence in Bristol is very pronounced, with signs everywhere displaying Bible verses. Churches are everywhere, many large and beautiful.  This influence is also evident at the caverns.  This is not a national park or monument, but rather a private company.  The gift shop at the caverns had shirts for sale with Bible verses on them and other similar statements.  See the photos below.

After a morning in the caverns, we went to the movies to see the Christian film, Let There Be Light.  This is a film worth seeing.  That night Betty and I did some much-needed grocery shopping.

Light Shines Through Original Entry to Caverns

Working Our Way Through the Caverns

Cavern Rock Formations

More Rock Formations

Writing on a Shirt for Sale in Caverns Gift Shop

Writing on Another Shirt for Sale at Caverns Gift Shop

From Another Shirt for Sale at Caverns Gift Shop

Sunday morning we drove to Felix and Kathy's to join them in Sunday School and Worship at their church of choice, which they soon will join.  See photo below.  After church they took us back to their house for lunch and an afternoon of conversation.  We actually saw light snow begin while there.  Then we had to return to our motorhome to disconnect the water hose and sewer hose, since it will be freezing tonight.  Tomorrow we leave for Charlotte to see the Billy Graham Library.

We spent 1 1/2 days in Charlotte, then headed to Savannah for an overnight stay, then left for home on Nov 2.  It was hard to believe that we should actually be returning home after so long away.  I feel like Lewis and Clark returning to St Louis after being away so long.

Church We Attended with Felix and Kathy