An entertaining and erudite repository of author Bob Hostetler’s travels and treks, encounters and experiences hither and yon. Mostly yon. With a little hither thrown in from time to time. And, as opportunity presents and events warrant, even some thither.

The lovely Robin and I journeyed yesterday to Lancaster, Ohio, where both our children were born, and where we spent our first three years of ministry in the early 1980s. While there (for the funeral of Marguerite King, a dear friend and saint of God), we took a short drive through the memorable and beautiful Rising Park, on the city's north side. . I fondly remember many "corps suppers" and "praise meetings" in the park shelter. I also sometimes went here alone, to pray. On the west side of Rising Park is Mount Pleasant, a 250-foot-high sandstone bluff called "Standing Stone" by earlier Native American peoples (that's the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in the foreground). Chief Tarhe of the Wyandots camped here in 1797, and on clear days people standing atop this stone can see the Columbus skyline to the north. It had been far too long since we'd been to Lancaster, a fondly-remembered town. There's a lot to do there, too, from the home of Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman to the Lancaster Festival, an 11-day arts and music festival, to the Pilgrimage Tour of homes, held the first weekend of May each year (Robin and I LOVED the tour the time or two we did it...circa 1982!). Oh, and perhaps the most historic site of all: the hospital where our children were born.

Yesterday, the lovely Robin and I paid a visit to one of the most distinctive grocery stores you could ever shop, Jungle Jim's in Fairfield. It started as a fruit stand at the corner of High and Erie in Hamilton back in 1971 or so, and today is a sprawling assortment of shops and restaurants and the centerpiece, the very diverse grocery selection of Foodies. You'll find there more cheeses, sorted by country of origin, than you could ever hope for. It's dizzying. There is even an "Adult Oriented Hot Sauce" section:Robin and I found the Agave Nectar we were looking for, a natural sweetener we're gonna try out. Most stores don't have it. Jungle Jim's had it in light, dark, and other varieties. And, if you've never used the restroom at Jungle Jim's--seriously--you should go just for that experience: I'd say more but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. You can check out the Jungle Jim's website here....and even become a fan on Facebook.

Another wicked thunderstorm passed through the area today. The rain slanted almost sideways at times. The photo above, out our front door, doesn't do the storm justice. But the view off the deck, shown in the two pics below, show it a little better. Still, there's nothing like being IN it. Always reminds me of Psalm 29: "The God of heaven thunders!" (see also here, on my prayer blog, for "My Psalm 29").

A week ago, the lovely Robin and I returned from one of the most awesome and enjoyable vacations we've ever enjoyed. It was at the Westgate Smoky Mountains Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We have long avoided investing in a timeshare, because it never seemed really worth the money. BUT NOW, with our kids grown and three amazing grandkids, we wanted a place within a short drive that we could go each year for a family vacation...call it a bribe to get our kids and grandkids to spend time with us. See, a year or two ago, we told our kids that we would rent a spacious cabin or condo within driving distance of home where they could come, bring the kids, and have a great vacation....and live-in babysitters, to boot! Well, once we started pricing those kinds of vacation spots, we realized it could get very expensive very quickly. But last year we discovered the Westgate in Gatlinburg, and fell in love...and once we weighed the pros and cons, we realized we could never beat the advantages of ownership in a place like this: We LOVE our two bedroom condo in the Smokies. It's roomy enough to sleep eight, with two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a dining area, and a deck also. On the grounds of our home-away-from-home is an indoor water park that will only get better as our grandkids get older: There is also a full spa and exercise facility onsite, multiple pools and playgrounds, a great restaurant, general store, and coming soon horseback riding, a movie theater, and more. There's also an ice cream shop next door to the resort. And shuttles into Gatlinburg. And, of course, nearby is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. And Pigeon Forge. And Dollywood. We all ended our 2010 Gatlinburg vacation counting the days until our NEXT Gatlinburg vacation! I can't wait. Oh, and besides all that, being a Westgate owner opens to us an array of other vacation possibilities at Westgate Resorts in Las Vegas, Branson, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Williamsburg, and more. And beyond that, there are literally thousands of resorts we can enjoy in their network, along with "Great Getaways" they offer all year round at amazing prices. But no discount a Krispy Kreme. Maybe some day. And, because I'm such an important guy, I could get you a four-day, three-night stay at that resort (or others like it) for just $99. Believe me, you won't be sorry. It involves a tour resort and of course a sales pitch, which would take about 2-3 hours one day during your stay. The rest of the time, honest to goodness, you won't believe the beauty and luxury and comfort of your stay. So try it (here's the information below). Let me know if you have any questions:

I've visited some amazing places and seen some amazing sights, like Jerusalem and London and Machu Pichu and the Great Pyramids and Petra and Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon....but of all the beautiful pix in Corbett's post on the FreePursuit blog entitled "Fifty Photos to Inspire Life as a Digital Nomad," I've seen or visited only one: Seattle. And it didn't quite look like that when I was there. It's a beautiful photo essay and I highly recommend it.