Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Kuwait City, Kuwait on March 31st.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A friendly welcome to Madison, Mississippi

We left Jeff Busby Campground early, hitting the road just after 8:00am. Nice clear blue sky all day, but still a little on the cool side. First stop was French Camp, a sort of recreation of old buildings from the 1800's.

They have a sort of visitors center there as well, but I think I read that it doesn't open until 10:00am.

Kind of a pretty little spot, right beside the Natchez Trace Parkway...

French Camp Visitors Center.

Did Jed Clampett used to live here?

Nice old homestead.

We wandered around for a half an hour and then it was back on the Trace, headed south. There are a lot of information points and picnic areas along the Trace... almost too many. You can't stop at them all or you would never get anywhere! But, we try to do the ones that include short hikes, even if it is only a ten or fifteen minute trail.

We stopped at the one called Cole Creek, which is a water tupelo and bald cypress swamp.

 Interesting swamp.

The "knees" of the cypress trees.

Carrying on south, I had looked up a propane place just outside the small city of Kosciusko, Mississippi (pop 7,400). Arrived there, pulled up to the propane pump, and went inside the building.

I asked the price, and the lady says "$3.00 a gallon". That's definitely on the high side, but we needed some. The guy came out with me, and I asked for 5 gallons. That will be enough to get us to somewhere that sells it cheaper over the next week or two.

I went inside to pay, and she says "that will be $16.05". 

Huh? "I thought you said it was $3.00 a gallon..."

"Tax".

Oh, so it's $3.21 a gallon. Now it's definitely on the high side of normal. I would have bought it anyhow, but in my experience, propane has always been like gasoline... priced with the taxes included. Oh well. Good thing I didn't buy much.

We made a stop at the Walmart, and then visited downtown Kosciusko.

The Kosciusko County Courthouse.

Downtown is dead. Many empty businesses. Typical of small town U.S.A., I suppose. The main highway outside of town is sure busy with businesses though.

Kosciusko's claim to fame?

Oprah Winfrey was born just outside of town. She lived her childhood in poverty, and is now probably the richest woman in the world. 

Downtown.

 Hmm. Maybe we'll put this caboose here.

We stopped at the scenic Pearl River picnic area.

 An egret and a blue heron? Other than the colors, they sure like the same.

 Pretty spot.

Scenery along the way.

Another scenic overlook at the Ross R. Barnett Reservoir north of Jackson.

We've occasionally stayed overnight in empty church parking lots. Usually mid-week, there's nobody around except some of them do bible study and stuff like that once during the week, but it's often noted on the church sign at the entrance so we know when their parking lot might be too busy.

If there's anybody around, we always ask if it's okay of we can park for the night.

Anyhow, today we pull into Madison, Mississippi. A suburb of Jackson. The heart of the Bible Belt. There are churches everywhere.

We were planning on parking at a small airport, but the parking lot didn't look big enough. However, across the street from the airport was this huge Baptist Church. I mean, huge. And, a huge parking lot across from the church. Like, Walmart sized parking lot.

Anyhow, we found a spot way in a corner and parked. I walked back over to the church, but the property itself includes a daycare, a recreation center, and a religious school age kindergarten to grade 5.

There were maybe five or six vehicles at the church. I went in and found a couple of teenage girls watering poinsettia plants. With buckets of ice. They say that way the plants get a timed supply of water. Hmph. Okay. 

They led me to the office where I explained my story to the office secretary. She wanted to hear all about our story, and was happy to call the custodian guy to ask about parking. She said we would have been fine, but she was glad that we asked. 

Well, Adam comes around and offers us a spot inside their back parking area where it's a little more secure. Even offers us an electrical outlet to use if we wanted to!

Thanks Adam, and thanks to Ridgemont Baptist Church for welcoming us!

 Sherman, parked for the night at impressive Ridgemont Baptist Church, Madison, Mississippi.
GPS 32.439844, -90.108129

Yesterday's drive, 95 miles (152 kms).


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24 comments:

  1. "The main highway outside of town is sure busy with businesses though." In the 50s and 60s interstate highways were often built alongside existing US highways but a mile or two away. All new construction immediately moved to the interstates, leaving the old town centers in a time warp. We really like to get off the interstates and onto the old highways, which are much more interesting.

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    1. This is one of the main reasons that we rarely travel on the Interstate highways. Plus most of the time they are very boring. They are good to get around big cities or if you really have to get somewhere quickly, like out of the cold up north but that is about it in our minds anyhow! ;-)

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    2. You seen one Interstate you seen 'em all.

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  2. Love following your posts very interesting sights. Enjoy your day.

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  3. We stayed in a deserted church parking lot once, I hear we are always welcome unless there is something going on. You should have taken the power and made a small donation.

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    1. We have stayed in a number of deserted church parking lots before especially ones out in the country. They are always nice and quiet.

      We certainly would have if we had plugged into their their power.

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  4. Nice scenery along the way, such blue skies. Safe travels...

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    1. It has been a pretty drive and it is an added bonus having the nice blue sky. Not so lucky with the blue sky today though.

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  5. In the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement, a lot of the Protestant church schools were created to educate white children in the southern communities to protect them from the segregation activities going on in the neighborhood public schools. Before that time, most of the church schools were traditionally Catholic. At that time, Governor Ross Barnett (one and the same person named in your lake picture above) supported that church effort and locked horns with Robert Kennedy, US Attorney General, regarding integration of the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss integration effort turned violent, and the US Attorney General had to call out the National Guard to protect the two new black students attempting to register for class.

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    1. Glad to see that, that isn't seem to be the case any more.

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  6. Another nice spot for a night, keep enjoying the journey.

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  7. When Paul did all his carvings, he used knees and made some awesome tree spirits.

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    1. So why did Paul stop doing his carvings? If they are anything like our pine needle baskets, I am sure they were wonderful works of art.

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  8. I don’t t know your route, but look up John C. Campbell folk school. If you’re in that area, you can take a tour. It’s unique!

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    1. Unfortunately our route will be turning west at the end of the Natchez Trace. We will have to try and remember this folk school for the next time we will be in North Carolina.

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  9. Interesting pictures - swamp, courthouse, red caboose, egret & blue heron, scenery - appreciate the time you take doing your blog!

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    1. Thank you so much Connie and Barry, it is because of people like both of you that keep us doing it. :-)

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  10. You should have filled propane in Ogdensburg, NY. $1.89 gal.

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  11. Super friendly people there! Beautiful shot of the egret and heron

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    1. Very friendly people indeed, we saw more of that yesterday! Must be that "southern hospitality" everyone talks about. :-)

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