Gatlinburg Vacation

Here's a few pics of our mini-vacation to Gatlinburg & surrounding area this summer.  Most of the time was spent in Gatlinburg, but we also visited the Stars & Cars Museum, Miracle Theater, Hillbilly Golf, and Ridgecrest this trip.  We also made a stop near Canton, NC to visit with college friend Julianne Kuykendall.

Me & Bumblebee

Corny Fun on the Fourth

For the Fourth of July this year, we gathered with some friends at Tiffiny Gilliland's house nearby for some food, fellowship & fireworks.  Next to her house was a large cornfield which was fun for the adults and kids alike.  We even picked some and had it that night for dinner.  We also played a little bocce ball.  A great night of fellowship and fun!

The B's at WBTV

Yesterday we went with the Senior Adult Group on a tour of the WBTV studios in Charlotte.  WBT and 107.9 also are based there.  It was a very fun day.  We did spot a few "personalities" like Keith Larson, Bob Lacey and Todd from the Bob & Sheri show, Kristen Hampton, and Steve Crump.  They allowed us to walk around the news set, news room, control room, and offices.  Since that's been the station I've watched since I was a little kid, that was really neat.  Here's some pics of our day.

Groundhog in grate

A groundhog stuck in the grate beside my office.

Grandfather Mountain Trip

After Ridgecrest Music Week was over, we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Grandfather Mountain on the way back home.  I fully expected a tourist trap, but was quite surprised at how neat this park was.  Lots of things for families to do.  There was a museum with a restaurant and gift shop, as well as a mini-zoo of sorts with black bear, otters, panthers, eagles, and deer.  The highlight were the bears, who were quite the characters.  They "posed" for pictures and looked curiously at the strange creatures peering down at them.  At the top of the mountain was the famous "mile high swinging bridge."  SPOILER ALERT.  The mile-high swinging bridge is neither a mile high (actually only about sixty feet high), but a mile ABOVE SEA LEVEL.  The mile-high swinging bridge really doesn't swing that much anymore either, as they rebuilt it in 1997 from steel, and what little "give" in it is barely felt anymore.  It was mine and the little guy's first trip there, and Sharon's first trip since her childhood.  The views were spectacular, and I was surprised at how accessible they made everything there.  They also had a homemade fudge shop we stopped at on the way back down, and a very interesting rock formation called "split rock" that was really fun to explore.  I'd recommend this place to anyone.  It was reasonably priced and worth every penny.

Ridgecrest Posts 2010

Sharon, the little guy, and myself just returned from Ridgecrest Music Week 2010.  My ministry blog (http://chrisatchurch.blogspot.com/) is where you can find those entries if you're interested, beginning on June 28th.