Back from South Africa and Swaziland

I arrived back home last Sat. after 2 weeks in Africa on a South Carolina Work & Witness trip to Swaziland.  It was quite and ordeal this time just getting there but we got a lot of work done and had fun as well.  We stayed in Manzini and worked on the administrative offices of the new South African Nazarene University there.  I also was able to see some old friends from a previous trip who gave us an real African Brai (outdoor grilling ) party.  It was a thrill to see the finished  project of "The Shepard's Door" and church we began about 5 years ago.  We were also able to distribute food and clothing and blankets to many of the aids-orphans up in the bush mountains who depend on this ministry for survival.   It's heart and gut wrenching to see these kids all alone, infants and children, with absolutely nothing and no one.  One "meal" of corn meal mush out of a big black pot slow cooked over an open fire in a hut is what they maybe get per day.  Say a prayer for their protection every day.

The rest of the road trip.

Day by day accounts are too much for me, so I just posted the 43 day trip on FaceBook.  We did have a great time and saw many new places and wonders but I just got fat eating too much.  I was proud to have only gotten one speeding ticket!

Day Three

In the morning we drove over to Jon and Becky's house.  We were going to Erin, TN to the old family homestead and Griffin Cemetary but the weather was so bad we changed plans.  We went over to Uncle Roy's house for a visit and to review family history and geneology.  I copied a lot of old photos and heard many stories of our past.  After a good lunch with Sonya and Becky at a French bisto on Gallatin Rd., went on back to Jon  Becky's house.

Went to Puckett's in Franklin, TN for dinner and a show with the family. 

Day Two

After checking out of the B&B, we drove over to Ruby Falls.  We had never been there either and the tour was actually pretty good.  Heavy rain started as we were leaving but we still went to the Craven House, site of a Civil War battle for Chattanooga.  It's part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. We saw the inclined railroad but skipped riding. 

Rather than drive back through Chattanooga, we headed west out to Cloudland Canyon State Park, the original "Grand Canyon" but got rained out.

As we headed down the mountain we began to see more strom damage.  The ranger at the state park told us that the tornados had come through thst missed the area and had just missed the State Park.  At the base of the mountains, in a little town we sow the damage up close.  Several people had been killed here and the destruction was sickening.

After a pit stop at The Krystle, we headed on to Nashville.  We stayed at Judy's parent's condo and had a great dinner of Mimi's barbaqued ribs.  Janet and Melinda came over for dinner and we had a fun evening together.

Day One...off to Chattanooga, TN.

We drove throught Atlanta and on to Lookout Mountain our first day.  The Chanticleer Inn B&B where we stayed was right across from Rock City so after we checked in we walked over.  I had never been there but have always enjoyed the "See Rock City" signs.  Walking through the rock formations was interesting and we actually think we saw the 7 states you are supposed to see from Lookout Mountain.  We were going to try to see Ruby Falls also but it was getting late so we so we just went back to the Inn to inquire of dinner possibilities.

The Canyon Grill was suggested.  It was about 25 miles down Lookout Mtn. in the boondocks for sure.  Turns out it is a 4 star restaurant rated in the top 10 in Georgia.  Fantastic first dinner meal on our road trip.  On the way back we watch hangliders down in the valley as the sun went down. Good day.

Here we go! Off on our cross country road trip to Eugene, OR and back, hopefully.

We followed John Daley for a while. He's lost a lot of weight
but gone crazy with his new clothing line. Not sure if I could handle those pants.

Yesterday there was a weather delay at The Heritage Golf Tournament in Hilton Head. This is a view from the deck of our condo in Harbortown.

Gatlinburg Family Reunion

We spent a week in Gatlinburg a couple of weeks ago celebrating Judy's Mom's 80th birthday.  We rented a large house outside of town and had a great time with the extended family.  Michael and Kelly suprized her stopping by on their way to Eugene, Oregon.  Went a fantastic concert in Knoxville to see Meryl Haggard and Kris Kristoferson.   They were unbievable.  I'll post some pics later.

Florida trip 2010

I tried to make a photo book using Snapfish of our trip to Florida.  Hope this works. We had a great time visiting a lot of places I knew growing up in Miami and Florida.

Florida 2010

Belize 2011 (267 photos), by Wendel Nixon

Check out our trip on Snapfish.
Click here to view photos

A laughing Iguana

Zipline in the jungle

Howler Monkey

Drop Box

Belize Adventure

You've got to put it on your list.  Great food, beautiful people, and perfect weather!  We flew down to Placencia Village and stayed at the Chabil Mar Villas.  Visited Mayan ruins, zip-lined through the canopy, tubed down rivers and through underground caves, fished for snook and tarpon,  and hiked in the rainforrest.  There was so much to do and see.  We're absolutely going back!

Eugene Jan 2011

Eugene Visit

We just returned from two weeks in Eugene, OR visiting Michael and Taylor and the grandsons. We rented a little cottage this trip so were able to entertain, cook and even have a couple of sleep-overs with the boys. Their wild, free and fun!

New Year's resolution to blog again.

Well, I've at least started my blog.  I feel better already.  Self imposed guilt over self imposed expectations based on self imposed aspirations... maybe is a sign of self imposed desperation?  The possibilities fill me with dubious anticipation.  More to come.