Today we packed up and started moving west. We had checked the 10 day weather forecast for the roads ahead and its getting colder. We had every intention of going to Nebraska to see friends there but the weather is just turning too cold for us. We were both disappointed that we won't get to see Patti & Rod and JoDee and Steve but we have to beware of snow.

We made it to Knoxville, Tennessee today without incident. Gas prices are coming down and that's a good thing. We are staying in a KOA Kampground which neither one of us thrilled with. They are just so expensive after relying on Passport America for half price camping, It was a decent park and every space had a deck type structure you pulled up against.

We took Boss for a walk but that was a challenge with all the squirrels around. After getting back to the camper we stayed put for the rest of the evening. We had cable TV so at least we were occupied with a large amount of channels to choose from.

Didn't even think to take any pictures.

TUESDAY 10.22.19 KENTUCKY THE ARK ENCOUNTER

THE ARK ENCOUNTER (Part 1)

Today we woke up excited because this is the day we go to see The Ark. This has been on my bucket list ever since I heard about it.

Lucky for us were about 10 miles away so it took no time at all to get there.  The rain had moved out and it was a pretty day with big patches of blue sky and big white clouds.

We were able to get on the shuttle bus as soon as we got there. We each had our royal blue "Delaware" sweatshirts on so that in case we were separated we would be able to spot each other easily. Remember this, it comes into play later.

Before we went to the ark itself, we stopped in the visitor center. We watched a movie all about how the Ark Encounter came to be. It was quite interesting. We do wish it had more of the actual building of the ark.

There's other things on the property besides the visitor's center and the ship. One can ride a camel or a zip line, pets some animals in the petting zoo and buy some ice cream all within a short distance of each other.

On the property there is also a full sized restaurant that serves an all you can eat buffet.

A million people a year come to Williamstown to see the Ark Encounter. I would imagine its very busy in the summer. Today it wasn't crowded at all. At times there was no around us, on the grounds and in the ark. We liked it this way very much. We never felt rushed or that we were in someones way.

Having gone through the rest of the visitor's center we headed out towards the one thing I couldn't wait to see. 

When we first set eyes on the ark we were amazed and in awe of the size. At 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high it is quite impressive.

Along the walkway leading up to the ark are replicas of 2 elephants, 2 giraffes, 2 lions and a fourth but I don't remember what it was.

The closer we got it became more apparent just how enormous this structure is. Massive. Everything about it is BIG! The size of the center beam, the the size of the ribs, just simply everything.

Walking in with most of the people who came on the same shuttle and after seeing the movie together we walked as a group kinda, sorta.. I couldn't help but notice that as we approached the entry way to the ark that couples clasped hands and we gathered in a file.....and entered the ark two by two.

I can't describe the feeling I had when we entered the ark other than magical or perhaps spiritual would be a better word.

We passed the "12 stones" and stopped to read the plaques.

WOOD!  EVERYWHERE!

Cages for the small animals.

This is where grains were kept to feed Noah and his family.

Walt, ever the carpenter, checking out how it was built. 

This is where the small reptiles were kept.

Water was kept in these.

Two of each.

The sheer size of the timbers used was just unbelievable.

MONDAY 10.21.19 KENTUCKY THE CREATION MUSEUM

Today we got a little later start than what we planned. When constantly on the go it catches up with you and you just have to sleep in at some point. Today was one of those days for both of us. It was a little after 10 before we finally got in the truck and we planned on being at the Creation Museum when it opened at nine. Oh well, you know what they say about plans, made to change.

We got the truck secured and started to the towards the museum.  We passed a pretty water area on the way.

We weren't expecting to have to cross a swinging bridge so we took the time for photo ops.

Neither one of us knew what to expect when we went to the Creation Museum.   We didn't have any pre-conceived ideas and hadn't read anything about it.  Our main focus was The Ark.

Its main focus seemed to be dinosaurs.

We get that the museum was about the creation of the world, but for myself, I never gave dinosaurs much thought. I was taught in school that they walked the earth millions of years ago and that was that. It boggles my mind that just a mere 6 to 10,000 years ago the dinosaurs were here. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my mind around that.

These fellas were in the main lobby.

We walked through the museum part first.  This is still a work in progress so there were areas that were blocked off by curtains but the majority of it is done.

Adam in the Garden of Eden with the animals.

I was really hoping a bit of animatronics had made its way inside the museum and that this dinosaur started moving at just the right time to scare the heck out of him.  Just as well, I'd be laughing so hard I wouldn't have been able to get this picture.

This is a very intricate quilted piece that hung in the stairwell.  I didn't understand everything on it but it was a joy to look at.

We saw the "movie" IN SIX DAYS in the 4D theater, The theater is just wonderful, you not only saw the 3D movie with the best 3D glasses ever (!) but the seats were wonderful and we "felt" so much through the seats, hence 4D.

There were gardens to walk through and though we would have loved to do that when we headed that way it was pouring. There is also a children's playground area, a petting zoo, camel rides, and a zipline

We also attended a program in the lecture hall that was actually a podcast.

This experience certainly left us with lots to ponder.