Fayetaville and the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC and Va

Friday, 31^st July

While staying with Yana in Fayettaville in North Carolina .

Yana is from Ukraine and is our translater for her Mothers Annas emails from Sumi region in North West Ukraine where she users our goods to help in her Christian ethics programme accepted in the Government Schools . As I said Previously Yana Married Spencer who lectures here at the Military facility here.at Fort Bragg. Yana took us to the museum of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum,

This facility majors on the parachute regiments trained in this area along with the special operations in places like Afhganistan and Sudan

Last night we got a surprise as we drove into Asheville ,North Carolina. We were driving down `Billy Graham Freeway’!!!!! Further exploration we found `The Cove’, this is a retreat facility set in 1500 acres of beautiful prime forest. A tour was available for visitors starting at 9.00AM the next m0rning (today). We were so delighted when we pulled up with the warm welcome we received. The tour was for the Chapel. The complex has a Chapel, an extensive seminar building and two `Inns’ at top star motel standard. These buildings are set deep into the forest that you can only see one at a time.

The Chapel was primarily designed by Ruth Graham. The concept behind the chapel – it was to be a place where residents or visitors could contemplate quietly in their own time. The windows are plain and let a view of the forest inside- it was to be a Chapel in the Wildwood’ – this effect has been achieved. Ruth G found the pews in England. A blind school was selling them – they fit perfectly with the carved pulpit which came from Bristol. Ruth G drew the design for the communion chairs and table to match the pulpit. Ruth’s touch is throughout the chapel. Upstairs is a display of photos and information telling of Billy Graham’s crusades. We were so pleased to see it all as we were part of 1969 Melbourne Crusade and attended the 1959 Crusade.

From there we moved on to the Biltmore House and Gardens. This mansion was built over 6 years and opened in 1895. George Vanderbilt built this 255 room mansion for his wife and daughter’s pleasure. They were generous with their hospitality. It is the largest private residence in US. It’s design is influenced by the large European mansions. Antiques were collected over the years. The family have opened it to the public since the Depression. They are constantly completing rooms with carefully selected period design and furniture. I loved the winter garden – high glass dome/roof allows the plants to flourish set round a fountain and a bronze statue. Another feature that George Vanderbilt displayed was his interest in the latest technical advances so we were surprised to see ensuites with flush toilets, swimming pool and electrical wiring right through the mansion.

Where did the money come from to built such a luxurious home? George’s grandfather made the fortune from building railways. It is credit to the family that they are preserving millions of dollars worth of antiques and have planned so many interesting features and activities that one is able to spend a whole day of interesting things to do.

We travelled onto Linville which is along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a beautiful road along the high ridge of the Appalachian Ranges. The road is lined by dense forest which is at this time of the year dense green to various shades of green. Autumn the forest displays many colours. The road is designed to travel for awhile and then stop and enjoy scenery. We saw beautiful overlooks of the ranges, lakes and Mabry Mill. Ed Mabry built this Mill at the turn of the 20^th C and it has been preserved. Before we arrived at the spot we bought a book on his and his wife, Lizzie’s life. I read bit to Ian as we travelled along so we were well primed to appreciate how clever Ed was. Our extra interest was stimulated by Ian’s cousin, Jan marrying Larry Mabry – a descendant. The Mill is her favourite spot in all US. We are now in Roanoke, West Virginia. Tomorrow we move north to Ohio.

We are praising God for His beautiful creation.

`Great are the works of the Lord, they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds and His righteous endures forever –Psalm111:3