Beautiful drive from Tennessee to Virginia

After breakfast we headed east out of Nashville under sunny skies. Thankfully, most drivers were headed west so heavy traffic was not a problem. The drive from Nashville to Knoxville is beautiful! Some low clouds were rising from the valleys to give a "smoky" look to the mountains. At times the road was carved out of the rocky tree covered hills. We reminisced and recognized familiar towns, roads, landscapes, motels & buildings along our route as we paralleled places we'd bicycled through in 2012.  Today we could drive an hour for what took an entire day on the bike trip! Through Tennessee and part of Virginia the highway Russ biked paralleled and crossed the interstate we were on today. It brought back wonderful memories and how much strength it took for him to bike these hills and mountains!

Sometime this morning we passed into the Eastern Time Zone. We crossed into Virginia and stopped at the welcome center there for some information on the Blue Ridge Parkway and suggestions for sights to see. We drove to Roanoke, Virginia, then traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a time and enjoyed the slower pace and the beauty of the 45 mph two-lane tree lined road.  We stopped for the day at Natural Bridges, VA where there is of course, a natural bridge! We drove over it and didn't even know it! We checked into the beautiful Natural Bridge Hotel, then walked down to see the Natural Bridge and hiked the trail a mile beyond. It was a beautiful way to spend the afternoon!

   

The trail was beside a peaceful stream, it was very beautiful.

 At the end of the trail was the Lace Waterfall, it was worth the half mile trek in to see it.

As we walked along the trail I thought about how sometimes our life is on a well defined path with boundaries so our way is clear. Sometimes, however, the boundaries disappear, or there are distractions along the way (like the snake on the rock ledge at one point that nearly made us both jump out of our skin!) or we can't see what's around the bend in front of us. Just like walking down a literal path, trust is required. We must trust the creator of the path to get us safely and clearly to our destination. In our spiritual journey with God he provides boundaries, markers and guidelines to know how to follow His path. We must trust Him, our Creator, to guide us on the way even when there are distractions, the path is unclear or we fall off the trail, sometimes in the ditch! Another thing I learned on the trail - don't be so focused on getting to the end of the trail that you forget to look around and enjoy the beauty and wonder of life.

After our hike we drove down the road to the Pink Cadillac Diner and enjoyed their daily special 

a fried clam dinner, it was delicious!

 

    

Tonight we walked back down to the Natural Bridge for the Creation light show. Beautiful, peaceful music played as they read the account of creation from Genesis and colored lights illuminated the rocky cliffs and the Natural bridge. In the dark of night the sky was filled with stars, it was all very beautiful. At one point they played a recording of Tennessee Ernie Ford singing The Lord's Prayer.

It was a "Be still and know that I am God" kind of evening.

"This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

It's been a beautiful, blessed day.