Louisiana and the Mississippi Trace

We left Doug, Gina and Family on Monday morning ( April 19th) and headed further into the "South". It was sad to say good-bye but we really enjoyed our visit and the time we got to spend with the family. Thanks to all of the Doug Reinerts! When driving thru the last of Texas we saw a field with some longhorns, camels, horses, wild turkeys and zebra. What a combination.

We had lunch at a truckstop in Louisiana that was decorated with large plastic palm trees in different colors. Inside the truckstop was a small area for truckers to relax and take showers. There was a washer and dryer and a small sitting area with a TV and a magazine rack that had a sign and literature entitled "Trucking for Jesus". Different from what we have been seeing. Some of the billboards along the way were different, too. Lots of billboards advertising fire ant elimination products. We saw some of those billboards in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Cubby needs to watch where he is sniffing!

Further down the road in LA, we pulled off to take a side trip to our first (but not last) swamp. My sister, Jo, said to watch out for the "Swamp Thing" and swamp gas. Jack says that Grandpa has had swamp gas for many years now.....don't tell Dad! Actually, we did tell Dad and he said "I resemble that remark!".

There was a wooden walkway that went out over the swamp and that allowed us to have a very good view of the whole area. Fortunately, we were there at a time when there were no mosquitoes. Praise the Lord about that!! We saw quite a few dragonflies while walking over the swamp. And, we were quite lucky... while using Cubby as alligator bait we got to see a couple of the alligators as they were gliding in the swamp. (I'm just kidding about Mr. Cubby,of course.) The swamp has its own distinct beauty. I probably would not have noticed any of that beauty if it was really hot and humid....but, it was a lovely time to be there...cool enough to be comfortable.

We stayed the night in Vicksburg, MS so that we could go to the Vicksburg National Military Park. Vicksburg was the site of a major battle between the North and South during the Civil War. 20000 casualties and the town itself was torn apart. Vicksburg was the key to the Mississippi River and taking Vicksburg was a major objective of the North because it would allow the North to cut the South into 2 halves and make it easier for the North to supply itself while in battle. There's a 16 mile drive thru the Park and we purchased a CD that guided us as we looked at the battle areas and all of the memorial statutes (including the cemetery) that cover the Park. There is even an ironclad ship that had 13 cannons on it. It was raised after being sunk and is being refurbised for all of us tourists and the history buffs. After leaving Vicksburg on Tuesday afternoon, we headed out on the Natchez Trace Parkway and arrived in Tupelo, MS on Tuesday night. The Natchez Trace is a 2-lane road with gorgeous trees and a speed limit of 50 mph. It's a relaxing drive along the country, where no trucks are allowed. The Trace was originally an Indian trail. It goes from Natchez, MS to the Nashville, TN area. We may take part of the Trace when we leave Tupelo and head to Carol's house in Murfreesboro, TN.

We are all A-OK. We seem to be following the pollen across the country and both Mom W and Dad R have been having some allergy problems, but they have been taking some benadryl and that is helping with all of their symptoms. I guess the pollen is part of Spring, but so are the wonderful wild flowers and the gorgeous greenery that we are seeing.

Mike and Linda have made us feel very comfortable. Linda calls Mom "Mama Dot" and she loves that. I think Linda has adopted Mom.....which is wonderful. Who doesn't love Mom???

Dad, Cubby, Jack and I are all feeling well-loved and definitely well-fed here. Linda has been baking her little heart out in anticipation of our trip. She greeted Jack with a homemade apple pie...his favorite. (And a homemade item that he does not get at home unless Susanne or Megan are home and baking for him....poor Jack!)