Graduation Journey... Day 4-5

My Mother loved automobile rides. Every Sunday of my life or so it seemed as a child, I spent several hours sleeping in the back seat riding through the Georgia countryside with whatever sport was in season on the radio. My father would much rather have watched on TV but... at any rate we only rambled, so I haven't seen much of Georgia.

As we travel from one town to another, I search Wikipedia.org and read all the information to Irv as he drives so this is a home schooling coach and we learn as we go so we knew a good bit about Albany before we arrived. My father's brother,Uncle Vic always researched when he traveled and knew more about Atlanta than we did upon his arrival.

When Irv and I were camped in Georgia 2008-2009, he saw a nice article on Albany, Georgia which is the hometown of Ray Charles and suggested we pay the city a visit. Note: The city was named after Albany, NY and pronounced as such but natives in the area and around Southwest Georgia pronounce the city's name with the second syllable clearly voiced - "ALL banny". I remembered neighbors across the street when I was in 10-12th grades told me they were from "All banny".

Two days on our journey north were set aside to tour Albany.

First stop in Albany... the "Visitor Center" to see a video (always see the video to learn more), get brochures and information from the lovely knowledgeable staff.

I should mention years ago,Irv took me to Miami Beach. We rented a red convertible and headed for Key West, zooming through Marathon and Big Pine I'm sure like all the tourists. On the way out of Key West we noticed a wooden church with all the windows and doors open. It was beautiful so we stopped to take a look inside... we were hooked and have stopped to look at as many churches as possible since. We now know it was St. Mary Star of the Sea.

Soooooo next... a visit to Sherwood Baptist Church who makes inspirational movies: "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof". I highly recommend both pictures. "Facing the Giants" is especially good for children of all ages and "Fireproof" can not only save a marriage but improve good ones. Hoping for a tour but... the tour guide was working with a movie crew on their new production due out next year, "Courageous", One Calling: To serve and protect... Fatherhood is the focus. Take a look at the set as Sherwood Pictures films its next life-affirming movie at www.sherwoodpictures.com!


Language lesson for you: we stopped to ask where the nearest Publix grocery store was located. A nice young lady told us to take Rt 19, make a big loop around and it's on your left. What would you expect? After traveling many interstate roads, we thought the exit was a big loop around. Wrong... she meant a U-Turn. Duh!!!

Owners, staff and travelers at rv parks love to be helpful. The owner mentioned we should for sure see the huge cross at Sherwood Christian Academy and the five story new church (somewhere in Albany... don't know the name, he says)so armed with brochures and route mapped, we begin our quest to soak up Albany.


First stop, The Cross which is on the Academy sports complex which is phenomenal in itself.


Now try to find the no-name church. We were given a general idea where to look but by God's grace (not by accident), we found it... and was given a great tour along with two other folk. Seats 3,100 but so far have had to put extra chairs out as they currently only have one service on Sunday; has it's own media wing for TV complete with a studio for interviews/other programing. Beautiful restaurant quality kitchen next to the multi-purpose room with "green" motion sensor lighting. Only photo I could find was almost competed construction in February 2010. First service was Easter. Irv thought this was very worthwhile to do!!!

Next the Thronateeska Heritage Center housing the Museum of History in a 1912 Georgia Southern Railroad station which is only open Thursday-Saturday. I planned to walk around to see what we could see. As we prowled around young man asked if he could help us and I explained we were full time Rv'ers and would only be in Albany touring for this one day. (I have done research on the meaning of God's favor and/or special blessings as I give thanks to Him for bestowing it on Irv and me). He walked away and we continued as "peeping toms". He came back with a key and permission to give us a fabulous private tour and... in fact the museum director (his mother) called ahead to the historic Carnegie Library building now is now the Art Society Museum to let us in for a tour.

Last Stop at Albany River Park (side note, the Flint river flooded Albany in 1841, 1925, 1994, 1998 and in 1940 Albany was hit by a major tornado)... Ray Charles Plaza... hear his songs being played and see a life size sculpture of Ray Charles and his piano then the Flint River... walk along the river and look up the hill to the historic visitor center building through which tons of cotton was processed and loaded on to steamships when "cotton was king".

Tired but happy campers who thoroughly enjoy Al-banny, GA head home to Jack. Next stop... Athens, GA for Kelly's graduation from University of GA.