To this point, not only have I relocated to Houston, Texas--a climate in many ways similar to New York City, but nonetheless very different-- but I have driven to various states like Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arizona. Each of these states, historically speaking, have not held New York in the golden light. My latest journey has taken my curiosity to the hotbed of one of the conservative states in the Union, Mississippi (an ironic statement considering the Magnolia State features the Confederate Flag in its state flag).
Before I had a chance to hit the road, I fell victim to a mild form of bronchitis. After missing a day of work last Wednesday, doubts about hitting the asphalt began to linger. As Friday morning approached, I pensively thought to myself,"do I let my body rest for several days (last few 2011 vacation days I had remaining) or keep on trucking?"
The moment of truth occurred at 6:12 AM. While my body was still on the fense, my spirit told me to hit the road. A half hour later, I got into my truck and began the journey along Texas Highway 288.
For the next hour, it was overcast, drizzling and dark. However, after I passed the Sabine River and entered Louisiana, it began to rain like cats and dogs. As I drove, I thought to myself, why do we compare heavy increments of water to loveable pets?
As the rain began to slowly ease up, traffic hit a stand still as I approached a bridge in Lake Charles. One lane was open with five miles-an-hour considered to be speeding. The most frustrating part of all this was not the traffic itself as much as the drivers. Most have a proclivity to wait until the very last minute to change lanes, often doing so without the courtesy of a turn signal, sigh!
Despite the short delay, I kept my sanity. It was time to look for US 165 towards Alexandria and hit that road not taken. The exit was smooth, but having to sit at a stop sign while vehicles kept crusing in the perpendicular direction was not a pleasant experience.
For the next two hours or so I passed through many towns including Kinder, the home of Coushatta, a rather exquisite resort visited by many Texans, as gambling is illegal in the Lone Star State. After passing the Sears (or Willis) Tower of south Louisiana, I kept on trucking while listening to Promised Land by Elvis Presley.
The drive was smooth until I got to Alexandria. At which point, I had a multitude of options, which is great because I get to see the ecclectic towns and cities the new roads lead to. However, as traffic merged and I steered to the right thinking I made a wrong choice. I began to lose faith in the directions I researched.
*Highway Tip #1: Do not lose faith in your driving preparations.
The self-doubt continued for several blocks until I saw a sigh that read, "In God We Trust." After this point, I made a left onto Louisiana State Highway 28, which is a rather pleasant road.
After 30 miles, it was time to hit US 84, a road I am familar with in west Texas. As I veered right onto the road, I figured to stop for gas. So, I pulled into a Shell station. However, it was full and rather than sit and wait, I hightailed it back onto 84; not without a grey-bearded gentleman giving me the look of a confused and frustrated person.
For 55 miles or so I drove through the dry farms of north-central Louisiana. At which point, I made a left onto US 425 for six miles and then began the second to last leg of the day's drive on US 65. This is a road I have always been fascinated about as my mother and godparents drove along it when they were in Springfield and Branson, Missouri a few years back.
Although I love to drive to random places, today I was on a mission. For the first 10-20 miles along the road, it was quite serene.
As I kept heading north, the skies were misty and with the plethora of fields and plantations to my peripherals, I felt as if I was traveling back in time to the Old South. I imagined slaves picking cotton, while their masters either drank lemonade on a porch or were telling the men to pick it up. The moment gave me some goosebumps, but it was time to refocus on the trip.
The drive up 65 lasted about an hour until I hit Interstate 20, an east-west route that runs from South Carolina to Kent, Texas. From the misty 65 to the misty 20, I could not catch a break. However, after 20 minutes, I saw this.
By the way, here is a better shot of the bridge.
The Mississippi River Bridge led me to Vicksburg and the visitor's center. I get out of the truck, stretch my legs in the 43 degree overcast day and head inside. At this point, I attempted to ask the young woman for the brochures until I remembered my voice was as lost as I was in Alexandria. Nonetheless, she pointed me to the right counter.
It was time to take a couple of pictures of a few items, including the historic old US 80 Bridge.
After checking in at the Days Inn, I ventured off Washington Street, aka US 61 (the Blues Highway) and visited downtown Vicksburg. I began by parking in front of a Catholic Church and walking around Washington. I was looking for the Biedenharn Coca Cola Museum. As a student of nostalgia and old advertisements from the 19th Century to the 1950's, my soda pop blood veins were quite thirsty.
The first thing that happens whenever I visit a new town is I get lost, so I ask a polite lady in a guitar shop where the museum was. At which point, I head right and travel two blocks until I find it.
It was time to go inside and explore the fascinating history of the world's famous soda pop. One quick fact: the Biedenharn's were the first people to bottle Coca-Cola in the summer of 1894.
Enjoy a short montage of the museum.
After clenching my thirst, I visited the Corner Drug Store.
Inside was what you expect from a general or drug store: medicine, snacks and beverages. It also featured photographs of various Confederate generals ranging from Nathaniel Bedford Forrest to John Pemberton, who defended Vicksburg in 1863. Along with the plethora of Stars and Bars (one of the many Confederate flags used in the Civil War), the experience was quite unique.
For the next hour, I walked around and noticed some cool and unreal things.
The uphill climb from the murals and railroad tracks to the truck got this highway soldier, who is under-the-weather, tired. It was dreary, overcast and I was hungry, so I went to the Waffle House across the motel and ate a burger and hash browns. Afterwards, I relaxed until five when I headed to the Riverwalk Casino for a few hours of slots and blackjack. I only lost $40, not too bad.
A long day for this riverboat roadie. It was time to watch sports and relax.
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