Sunday, December 6, 2009

Mississippi Memories


As you recall we started this week in Grain Valley MO with repairs to the RVs "sagging rear end". The techs were quite quick and we got the RV back by midday and resumed our journey south however we will have to swing by the factory in Indiana on our way to Ontario for some additional repairs.

We arrived in Vicksburg, late on Tuesday evening and set up at the Battlefield Campground for one night. Wasn't quite what we liked in an RV park (too many trees - no satellite reception!) As such we relocated to a park about 20 miles further east of Vicksburg called Askew's Landing, a quaint campground near the site of a Civil War battle.




Civil War memorials can be found all around and in Vicksburg. We're told Lincoln declared Vicksburg to be the key to success! Now I'm not much of an infantry tactician but even I could see how difficult it would be to capture Vicksburg! I mean the bluffs and valleys and gorges that surround the town are not ones I'd want to have to charge up with artillery shells and rifles balls showering down on me!





That's a close as anyone ever let Jim get to the "big guns"!





The temperatures were a little cool while we were in this part of Mississippi so we opted not to take in a round of golf. Instead, on Day 2 we headed for the Petrified Forest. Here we found a collection of old logs, and I mean old -millions of years old. Benji and Zoe were able to walk the trail with us. They didn't quite get the concept of walking as Jim had to grab them for a photo op but they had a wonderful time running around the area.




Of course regardless of where we are, we still have our chores that have to be done and that includes making wine for the new year. While the quarters are a bit cramped, my wanna be wine meister started a new batch that hopefully will survive the travelling around and be ready for bottling in Jan.







After surviving a Mississippi snow storm (yes it really did snow - well at least a trace of the white stuff fell on Friday night), we headed down the Natchez Trace Parkway on our way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The parkway follows an old trail used by animals, the Indians, the early settlers, Kentucky Boatman known as "KainTucks" and others who travelled north from New Orleans by foot to avoid battling the mighty Mississippi river current. Again, we were able to stop and walk a part of the Trace known as the Sunken Trace. Here the soft soil was compressed by the millions of footsteps that trod over it!


Of course, anywhere were you have multitudes of travellers, you'll have a need for food and lodging. Mt Locust, located one day's walk north of Natchez, provided just that to weary travellers. The original inn has been replicated using wood and glass found around the area from other buildings from that era. Some of the original parts remain such as the brick walkway and fireplaces and some of the timber beams.




















It's amazing the difference a day, or two, can make. On Friday evening we were tucked away in the RV while white flakes flew around us. In an effort to strengthen my wireless signal, tonight I'm sitting outside in front of the park office working on this week's blog with XMas lights twinkling all around me and a huge blow-up snowglobe in front of me. Not sure what this week will bring. Hopefully at least one round of golf at the LSU campus and perhaps an introduction to Cajun food

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