new orleans to vicksburg, mississippi to hot springs, arkansas
After a delicious breakfast of beignets and cafe au lait with Kim and Korby, I left New Orleans this morning…
I spent most of the day driving the Mississippi river trail through western Mississippi. The route cuts through rolling hills and several small towns with gorgeous antebellum homes.. I stopped into a house in Natchez, chatted with some very friendly Mississippi folk (southern hospitality and all) and bought a jar of Mayhaw (plum-like) jam. Port Gibson was proclaimed by General Grant as a town “too pretty to burn” — something that the town now prominently displays on their welcome sign.. And yes, Port Gibson was quite nice..
At Vicksburg, I toured the Vicksburg National Military Park — I really didn’t do any background research on the area, so I was happy to have stumbled on what (upon looking into it now) appears to be an important site for the area.. I remember visiting Gettysburg when I was a kid, and Vicksburg was similar — a plot of land marked with monuments, signs, and cannons.
After Vicksburg, I hightailed it up to Greenville, MS — the birthplace of Jim Henson, but I arrived too late to see the tourist trap thing. I then crossed the border to Arkansas from Mississippi and drove across the state to Hot Springs, AK — the childhood home of Bill Clinton…
Tomorrow.. tour Hot Springs, check out Clinton Memorabilia, and drive to Hooker, OK.
March 9th, 2005 at 12:22 am
when you’re back, remind me to tell you a story about buying $30 of binette (approx 3 paper grocery bags) and fighting the cab driver over the final 2 pieces, at 7 AM. A brutal duel ensued…