The Church in the Wildwood

My Dad and I have traveled quite a bit in the United States and Canada. We've been waterfalling in North Carolina, climbed the state highpoints in Arkansas and Missouri, took a Jeep tour in Colorado, river rafted in Wyoming, got fogged and fired out in the Canadian Rockies, and visited this church in Yosemite National Park.

This picture was on the cover of our church bulletin last Sunday. It brought back some memories of our second trip...probably 15 years ago. Colorado, California, Lake Tahoe, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks, then Colorado again. A lot of road miles...over 5000.

We set up our video recorder in front of this church, and decided to sing The Church in the Wildwood. To hear Dolly Parton sing it...click here. It's ironic that the You-tube video starts with this exact church, and...if you're looking to see Dollys best parts...you'll be disappointed.

I'd like to take the blame for messing up the video, but twice my Dad started in with the wrong words. But...after a little off-camera coaching, and a couple of deep breaths...on the 3rd take...we nailed it. Somewhere we have it preserved for the ages.

That's one of the things I like about Blip. You can see a picture, and even if you've never been there...your mind...your imagination...can take you there. And...with a picture like this...if you've already been there...that's just a bonus.

I saw the picture of the church...and...I heard the song...I see Dad and me climbing Half-dome (which is another story...6 hours up...4 hours down), I see us sleeping in the back of the van next to the Merced River, waterfalls, mountains, views of the valley, and a coyote peeing in the river...just as I was about to refill my water container.

The song was written by William S. Pitts...5 years before the church was built in Bradford , Iowa. I've been there also, but with a different group...so we didn't sing.

Good times...good times.