In May, 1984 I directed at tour to Israel, Egypt, and Rome. With the group ready to return from Rome to the USA, I went to Athens to meet two of my Florida College colleagues, Melvin Curry and Phil Roberts. The next day we took a flight to Samos, Greece and a ferry to Kusadasi, Turkey. There we picked up a car and visited the sites of the seven churches of Revelation, and other biblical-related places, in western (or Aegean) Turkey.
The photo below was made at Colossae. It was difficult to get to Colossae in those days, but we had come a long way and did not want to be denied. I had read an article by Dr. Harold Mare about a visit to the site and the wish that an excavation could be undertaken. We followed the dirt road to the bank of the Lycus River where this photo was made. Beyond the tell (huyuk, in Turkish) of Colossae is the snow covered Mount Cadmus. The city of Honaz is hidden from view by the mound.
Melvin Curry and Ferrell Jenkins at Colossae in 1984. Photo by Phil Roberts.
After our visit in Turkey we took a variety of boats to Samos, Patmos, Rhodes, and Crete. From there we took a flight back to Athens to complete our tour together.
Melvin served as chair of Biblical Studies at Florida College prior to my stint. We see each other occasionally and enjoy a short visit now and then. Phil succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the young age of 57 in 2005.
After Phil’s passing, Marty Pickup, a younger teacher at Florida College, and I prepared brief tributes to him. I am posting, for the first time, a link to these tributes at BibleWorld.com here. Former students and friends might enjoy reading these after a 10 year lapse. Marty died suddenly at the age of 53 in 2013.
Three cities of the Lycus River valley are significant to New Testament studies. The saints at Colossae were the recipients of one of Paul’s epistles (Colossians 1:1-2). Hierapolis is mentioned in Colossians 4:13. Laodicea is mentioned in Colossians (2:1; 4:13-16), and was the recipient of one of the letters of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:11; 3:14).
Cities of the Lycus River Valley. Made with Bible Mapper.
That was a wonderful trip, and one of many such personal study trips I have been blessed to make in the Bible World.
Ferrell's Travel Blog 
Thanks for this and the tribute page. Brother Roberts was my Freshman NT Bible teacher and his words and example made a great impact on me. I enjoyed his dry humor and ability to distill his scholarly knowledge into accessible wisdom and guidance. His lectures on the 70 weeks of Daniel and problems/challenges with Greek studies were important in my spiritual education. He was a blessing to all who knew him.
Thanks. I did not forget; I just did not mention. https://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/sardis-philadelphia-and-laodicea/
Lets not forget Paul’s letter to Philemon that most probably went to Colossae.
Thanks for sharing this Bro. Jenkins. Visiting Jezreel and Lachish was a special experience knowing that Bro Roberts and others who influenced me had spent time working there.