WALLAND, TN.  Parked at Whispering River Resort, which is no resort, but it is the best campground in the area.  Nothing outstanding to report.

CROSSVILLE, TN.  On Wednesday and Thursday, the 14th and 15th, we were at THE GARDENS RV VILLAGES.  This is a development and giant, friendly neighborhood of RVers with large RV garages built into their homes.  The quality of materials and workmanship on the houses, the friendliness and helpfulness of the HOA staff, the low HOA fee, and the beautiful landscaping of the entire area, wows everyone who visits.  We had thought of getting a summer home here, but the standards (and prices) are so high that we should have to sell our current home to afford to build there.  And we do not want to move away fulltime from St Augustine.  A lot of northerners move down there and find the prices so low by northern standards, that they build huge homes on gorgeously landscaped lots overlooking streams of water, etc.

We parked at their FREE full-hookups campground, where any truly interested RVer (and all future residents while their homes are being built) may stay free virtually without limit.  A very friendly agreeable group of current neighbors and future ones that we met while parked.  The best experience while RVing that we have ever had. We hope to add some photos later.  WIFI continues to be lame.

  

 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN (Day 3).  Today we visited Covenant College, then joined the Tolsons for a tour of The National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, followed by supper together.  A great time of conversation and fellowship.  

Driving through this area is very pleasant, with the well landscaped and maintained homes and public areas.  Huge crape myrtles, hydrangeas, and other plants in bloom.  Rolling grassy hills and huge lots.  With so much rain here, the plant life is very happy.  

An outside-directed youth camp was using the Covenant College facilities, which complicated things a bit, but the visit there was nevertheless enjoyable.  I have heard so much about it over the years that I was glad finally to see it.

Administrative Building of Covenant College

Steven and Betty at the Medal of Honor Heritage Center

John Tolson at the Medal of Honor Heritage Center

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN (Day 2).  Rained heavily on and off today.  Betty reserved tickets for the incline railway trip up the mountain, but we were rained out.  Fortunately she was refunded the money when she cancelled the trip.  

We then shopped at one of the several Publix stores around here. I had no idea Publix was in this area.  We did a little more shopping, returned home to unload groceries, then decided to visit Ruby Falls, which is in underground caverns.  This was our third cavern visit, the others being Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Bristol Caverns in Virginia.  

Betty shot a video of the falls, which was dramatized by a light show and music.  Much of the natural wonders in the caverns we thought was spoiled with garish colored lights.  When we get the photos processed, they will be included here and then you can judge for yourselves.

Tomorrow we shall sightsee with the Tolsons and join them for supper.  Stay tuned.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN.  Drove up many long winding roads to reach the higher altitudes of Lookout Mountain.  Much cooler up there.  Seems there was a famous Civil War battle fought there.  How on earth did they get up there through the thicket of trees and steep rocky climbs?

We were to meet our friends, the Tolsons, at their church, the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.  We arrived early at the magnificent sprawling edifice.  Any time that we have seen such a complex while traveling across the country, usually it is an old church gone liberal in the early 20th century.  This church, however, is a well-run and well-led congregation of mature solid Christians in the Biblical sense.  The sermon was very good, and the fellowship warm and cordial.  

View of the Main Sanctuary from the Street

There was one complication.  They conduct five services every week, one in the evening and four simultaneously at 11:00 am.  They have one in the huge sanctuary, one in the adjacent chapel, one in the fellowship hall, and one in another large room in the same complex. There is a preacher on staff to conduct each service, one of which is the Tolsons' son, a graduate of nearby Covenant College.  We attended the service in the main sanctuary, but our friends were in the habit of attending the one in the large fellowship hall.  Thus, we did not locate them until after the services were over.

View as We Entered the Main Sanctuary

The service we attended was somewhat nostalgic in that the architecture reminded me of the building of the church I attended as a child in the 1950s.  The beautiful organ and choral music, the formal worship, the beautiful surroundings were very similar.  What was dramatically different was the doctrine preached and taught.  My childhood church was liberal; this church is strictly orthodox.  There also are many beautiful stained glass windows.  No one here harbors any qualms about any possible violation of the second commandment.

Tolsons and Us in Courtyard of Giant Complex

We joined our friends for lunch at one of Covenant College students' favorite watering holes, Mr T's Pizza and Ice Cream.  John Tolson also joined us for the 6:00 pm special report in the fellowship hall.  The report was on proceedings of the recent General Assembly of the PCA.  It was a very sensitive analysis of troubling issues facing the denomination, but the general direction of things, and the very sizeable conservative block of representatives, bode well for the future of the PCA.  If there ever is any split in the denomination, it would seem likely to be one of the small liberal-leaning minority leaving rather than the other way around.

Lunch at Mr T's Pizza and Ice Cream

It was a very nice day, though quite rainy on and off.  We hope to work in some sight-seeing tomorrow.  

 CHATTANOOGA, TN,  We are at a truly nice park with WIFI, but it is very slow.  Betty called our good friends in Lookout Mountain, with whom we shall attend church tomorrow.  The address of this park is as listed above, but it is actually located just below the TN/GA line (Rossville, GA). 

Our Site at Holiday Travel Park

 FORSYTH, GA.   Arrived safely in mid-afternoon.  No internet here, so I am typing this on the 10th.  Nothing much to report except more heat and humidity.