Best rest stop on the planet
If you find yourself in Andrews NC, be sure to stop at the rest area. This little, out of the way, small town location has beautiful landscaping, a flowing creek wide enough to swim in, granite pi...
Forum Discussion
There are two nice rest stops between Wichita Falls and Amarillo on US 287, both with WIFI. Many of the rest stops in Texas have WIFI. Sadly, some of the southern states have closed many of their rest stops altogether.
Now, about Andrews, NC: Many years ago, my wife and I flew our small plane from East Texas up to North Carolina where I was to preach for a week in a small mountain church. After a long day, and maybe some head winds, we ran out of daylight and decided it would be better not to fly in the Smokey Mountains in the dark. The place we chose to land was Andrews, NC. We tried to call the pastor who was over the mountains near Cherokee, but he had already gone to the service (where I was supposed to be preaching.) I asked if there was anywhere I could rent a car, but the very nice manager of the airport said there was none. After a bit he invited us to join some of the airport folks for a hamburger cookout they were having in one of the empty hangers. At first we politely declined, but he insisted telling us that it was a family affair, so we joined them. As we were finishing supper he said to me, "Would you do me a favor? My mother needs to get home, would you drive her over there?" "Surely, I said."
Then he added, "and when you let her out, you just drive on over to Whittier and bring the car back tomorrow and get your plane."
And he meant it, and he insisted. As we were driving Mother home, she said, "Please turn in right here." It was a service station and she insisted on filling up the tank so we would have plenty to make the trip both ways.
We got to the parsonage before the pastor returned. The next day he and I drove back over to Andrews and with many thanks retrieved the plane and flew on over to Bryson City.
Talk about a rest stop! And talk about friendly helpful people! I will never forget Andrews, NC.
Thank you for letting me share my grateful memory of a beautiful place, and pardon any interruption of this helpful thread.
Now, about Andrews, NC: Many years ago, my wife and I flew our small plane from East Texas up to North Carolina where I was to preach for a week in a small mountain church. After a long day, and maybe some head winds, we ran out of daylight and decided it would be better not to fly in the Smokey Mountains in the dark. The place we chose to land was Andrews, NC. We tried to call the pastor who was over the mountains near Cherokee, but he had already gone to the service (where I was supposed to be preaching.) I asked if there was anywhere I could rent a car, but the very nice manager of the airport said there was none. After a bit he invited us to join some of the airport folks for a hamburger cookout they were having in one of the empty hangers. At first we politely declined, but he insisted telling us that it was a family affair, so we joined them. As we were finishing supper he said to me, "Would you do me a favor? My mother needs to get home, would you drive her over there?" "Surely, I said."
Then he added, "and when you let her out, you just drive on over to Whittier and bring the car back tomorrow and get your plane."
And he meant it, and he insisted. As we were driving Mother home, she said, "Please turn in right here." It was a service station and she insisted on filling up the tank so we would have plenty to make the trip both ways.
We got to the parsonage before the pastor returned. The next day he and I drove back over to Andrews and with many thanks retrieved the plane and flew on over to Bryson City.
Talk about a rest stop! And talk about friendly helpful people! I will never forget Andrews, NC.
Thank you for letting me share my grateful memory of a beautiful place, and pardon any interruption of this helpful thread.
