Here is Elder Shelburne (on the left) and Elder Whitby, enjoying a tour of part of the Blue Ridge Parkway with Elder Chapman on the P-Day (Preparation Day), Monday, June 7.

We stopped at the Gross Apple Orchard, just off US 43, so we could introduce big Elder Whitby, the apple grower from eastern Washington to Walter Gross, the owner of the Gross apple orchard, farm and produce store here on the slopes of the Blue Ridge northwest of Bedford. Mr. Gross and his family have been harvesting apples, peaches and cherries from their trees for generations. He told us that his forebearers came to this part of Virginia and began planting apple trees in the 1850's.

This picture was taken after we said goodbye to Mr. Gross and stopped at the Peaks of Otter resort as part of our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Big Island and back home.