We took a drive along the highest part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, making stops at some of the posted overlooks in order to take a picture or two. These are the Alleghany Mountains, of which the Blue Ridge are a part and which stretch from northeast to south and west across western Virginia, West Virginia, parts of eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and western North Carolina and beyond, forming part of Appalachian Mountain chain of eastern America. This road is one of the great scenic by-ways of the country. This picture was taken at 3700 ft elevation, looking off toward the north from the Blue Ridge. This would be almost directly north, some 10 miles from the town of Bedford, Virginia where we reside while serving in the West Virginia Charleston Mission.

While at the Peaks of Otter restaurant we encountered branch member Gloria Craig and her brother, Wayne Poynter. Gloria was so happy to have her brother come down from Illinois for a visit. They had not known each others whereabouts for some 43 years, until recently. Both had been placed in an orphanage as children. Wayne had been adopted by a family named Poynter when he was 7 years of age. Gloria remained in the orphanage and they never saw each other again for all that time. She had invited us to her home Monday so could introduce us to her brother. We had a nice visit. He is a very pleasant person to meet and talk with. So, it was doubly pleasant when we bumped into them unexpectedly at the Peaks of Otter!

This picture was taken on October 20, on th shore of the small lake below one of the famous Peaks of Otter where we had gone to view the autumn leaves after our visit with one of our older branch members, Rosemary Overstreet at her home in Thaxton. We were waiting for a table in the restaurant. During this time of year they do a rousing business with tourists and "leaf-seekers" who come from all over to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the scenes of Autumn.

Linda took this picture of the man of the house with his apron on, asking what the woman of the house would like for Sunday dinner.

I carry our little camera with me just about everywhere we go, even when I am out mowing the yard. These are such beautiful, clear days as we enter into the first stages of this Fall season, I just had to stop the riding mower and take a picture.

This is looking north, back toward the Hodge home (our rental) from down the slope of the back yard, here on Hopes Way on the east side of Bedford, Virginia. Such a peaceful, pleasant place!

This is another view off to the south from the outside deck of our home on Hopes Way, at about 7:30 a.m. before the ground fog burns off with the rising sun.

It is not uncommon for us to wake up to the sight of considerable ground fog, misted about our home and the surrounding area while straight up we can see blue sky and a clear day.

In a short time the sun has burned away the mist and we have a bright and shiny day, with only a few scattered clouds; the air so fresh and clean.

Last Thursday morning Elder's Fullmer and Hart completed an exchange with Vinton Elders, Elder Shill (on the far right) and Elder Boling (on the far left).

On these exchanges between areas of the District where they are many miles apart, we try to help with transportation so the missionaries can save miles on their mission vehicles.

We met up with them at a pre-arranged point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 22 miles out of Bedford. Before transporting Elder Fullmer and Elder Hart back to their apartment in Bedford, I took this picture, as this is the last time we may see or be with Elder Shill as he has learned that he will be transfered to another assignment this coming Wednesday. He doesn't know what that assignment is, as yet. And we don't know who will be coming to be Elder Boling's companion. That is the way it is in the mission field.

We will miss Elder Shill. He has been a most exemplary young elder, full of love and devotion to the work. We love these missionaries!

Our weather remains very moderate, here below the Blue Ridge in this part of Virginia. Even though we are in the first days of October there is little or no color change yet in the hardwoods. As you can see all is green, just like summer. The lowest temperature we have seen on our out-door thermometer has been 38 degrees.

This is the view looking north as we approach our neighbor's home on Hopes Way.