Archive for the ‘Mississippi’ Category

Pascugula

Tuesday, May 11th, 2021

Monday was a drive to Biloxi just because it isn’t that far.  It was a rainy morning so we got a late start.  This lighthouse was between Gulfport and Biloxi.  It was in a not very nicely kept park but we ventured in to have a look.  It was still drizzly and you couldn’t climb it so just a photo.  It looked like it had florescent tubes for lighting.  The coast disappeared as we left Biloxi and just for the heck of it we drove to Pascagoula and found the church!

                                                                The day the squirrel went berserk
In the First Self-Righteous Church
In that sleepy little town of Pascagoula
It was a fight for survival…

Have you ever listened to the whole song by Ray Stevens.  The words are very funny and who knows if it was this church he was thinking about.  I’m sure if it was after reading the words the church would be inclined to never claim the fame it could have brought.

We see things like this every time we pass somewhere new.  The names of places bring a smile to my face.  I saw that Pascagoula was right near where we were and of course I had to go there.  They do have a famous fort and museum but it was closed on Monday.  And then there is the Pascagoula River formerly known as the Singing River.   According to local Euro-American legend, the peace-loving tribe walked single file into the Singing River because the local Biloxi tribe were planning to attack.[2] The famous Singing River is known throughout the world for its mysterious music. The singing sounds like a swarm of bees in flight and is best heard in late evenings during late summer and autumn. Barely heard at first, the music seems to grow nearer and louder until it sounds as though it comes directly under foot.

We drove along the USS Vicksburg Way over the Singing River to Singing Island which use to house Coast Guard.  Not much here but we did see this cool ship that is for offloading people and supplies to the Oil rigs.

Another beautiful day with lots of rain forecast for our last day in Mississippi.

Happy Mother’s Day

Monday, May 10th, 2021

Today is my day and Paul is doing his best to let me have what I want.  I decided to skip a meal out as we have been trying to control the weight since Easter and doing ok.  So I chose to go to Starbucks for coffee only!  It’s 9 miles away so after we will sit on the beach and enjoy it.

                    Kite Surfer, Seagull, and Kite flyer

 

Another look at the Kite Surfer and the few people that were on the beach

 

                       Dad, COME BACK!!!

Teddy loves the beach and has no problem getting into a lake, puddle or any other water but the waves are just too scary.

After our morning enjoying the beach we went golfing again.  Pass Christian Isles Golf Club is very close to our RV Park and has had some troubles during pandemic.  There are a couple greens that are out of order but the price is right $25 each, 18 holes with a cart.

And they let Teddy come with us!!!

The course was challenging and a few holes were miss marked for yardages but the weather was perfect again and we had a beautiful day.

Not sure why but this guy was our indication that we were on hole #1

The place was wide open.  The 3 guys in front of us thought we needed to pass them on hole #8; I think they just wanted another beer and the bathrooms were right there!  Other than them we saw no one.  I had a pretty good round.  Paul found more balls than he lost so it was a great day of golf.

Now home for a nap!

A lovely day, finished by a Sunset Cruise

Sunday, May 9th, 2021

We are really enjoying things here on the coast of Mississippi.  We golfed at a very nice course that shared its name with our course at home.  The Oaks Golf Club had a very nice layout and I enjoyed the course especially because I got a Birdie on a Par 5!

There are 3 tiny towns and 3 boat docks; Pass Christian, Long Beach and Gulfport.

Saturday was another very beautiful day to be out enjoying the sunshine but first a couple maintenance issues; My Nails.  I found a shop that had one opening, lucky.  I am never sure when on the road but this one turned out perfectly. VY Nails and Spa in Long Beach, MS was a beautiful shop.  Only 2 women working and 2 clients the whole 1 1/2 hours I was there.  The owner, Thu was very professional and took her time with my nails.  They look great and we had a wonderful chat.  She is from Saigon and came to America (to Long Beach, MS) at 18 years old with her family.  She loves it here and says she never wants to live anywhere else.  I really like when I meet locals that love there town, city, state; It makes you want to stay awhile.

Now that I’m all decked out its a night on the town, not exactly but we are going on a sunset cocktail cruise in the Mississippi Bay.  Ship Island  Excursions will take us on a two hours sunset cruise and sell us $9 cocktails served in clear solo cups!

We met the ship at the dock and boarded about 6:40 and to my surprise they were already pouring the drinks.

Paul enjoying the view from the wrong side of the boat for a sunset.

 

                       Biloxi Sunset.
Malibu Rum, Bacardi Rum, Pineapple juice and a splash of Grenadine, Yum

The sunset came just as we were outside the bay and everyone was on the same side of the boat!  The boat was big enough that it wasn’t a problem.

Once the sunset came and went we cruised in the bay towards Cat Island and Ship Island.  We got close enough to see there was land out there but then we made a turn.  The boom box started getting louder and the party got going.  A perfect time to people watch (between sips!).  There was lots of singing and dancing going on.  The boat wasn’t too crowded, about 1/2 capacity and the cocktails were a very fair pour so a good time was had by all my 50 brand new friends!

 

 

 

 

More of Pass Christian

Saturday, May 8th, 2021

So I said we are staying in this tiny RV park; there are pros and cons.

Pro – close to what we want to see and do, no road noise, spaces are somewhat spread out and the price is right

Cons – I think that many of the folks that stay here have to live here as a last option!  Many of the rv’s have tarps on the roofs and appear abandoned (they aren’t!)

Our first day the neighbor came over and chatted with Paul.  I’m not that friendly in these kinds of parks.  He thought maybe she was a druggy as her teeth we in need of repairs.  The next day she comes around to the side where her sewer is and our patio ( yep, RV parks aren’t for everyone) and she tells Paul she is moving today right after she gets help getting her slide in.  Paul is smart enough to try and seem unable to help people, which is usually easy because most people with RV’s are not very handy.

Her daughter and her friend show up and start unhooking things and the neighbor and daughter get a bit heated because she only wants help with the slide.  We leave but when we come back 2 hours later the neighbor is still here, slide is in.

She starts packing up more crap; her SUV was packed to the top and she has a very loud, big dog now that continues to bark and now she is going to hook up the vehicle to the trailer. Yeah, she really is leaving.  Paul offers to guide her, trying to act like he has no clue. Eventually he couldn’t help himself and gets it hooked up for her.

Then she starts on the jacks; same thing she sits there for 20 minutes pushing on the auto button and lubs the jacks.  Paul the friendly neighbor goes over and tries to help and just can’t help himself. He has to point out to her that maybe she should use the manual lift.

Finally she has everything hooked up!  She tells me I have a wonderful husband, hers left her for a 21 year old and she got the trailer and truck as her parting gift!

I thought she was never going to leave.  No one in the park was offering to help her (I guess they knew her).  She did finally leave

Paul tells her she has no brakes or taillights and she says as she pulls out “I’m just going to my boyfriends, its not far!”  Where the hell was he when she spent a whole day getting this thing to move?

Life of the RVer,  You need to be ready for anything cause you never know who your neighbors are.

But we get this a lot

First time in Mississippi

Friday, May 7th, 2021

We are going to actually vacation (or take a break from Paul working) and enjoy the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a few days.  We got very lucky as the weather is perfect; 80 degree high, slight breeze and lows into the 60’s at night.  We found a little RV park outside of Pass Christian so we can enjoy the area without being in the crowds.  We are less than a mile from beautiful white sand beaches that go on for miles

Not many shells on these beaches or people.  The water is very shallow so you can walk out forever and only be up to your knees.

This is at Gulfport which is about 10 miles away, the perfect sand beach goes from before Pass Christian and beyond Gulfport!

Teddy loves the sand and apparently he shouldn’t drink the water because our first night he had me up stripping the blankets off when he puked everywhere

The coastal towns here are very small and have mostly places to eat and party!  The town of Bay Shores which is west of Pass Christian has about 10 restaurant/bars and 1 ice cream shop.  The place was teaming with people on a Friday night.  Every bar has live music and if you don’t like what you hear just bring your own.  Its a golf cart community and most carts hold 4 persons and really good speakers.

Beautiful mansions, many look abandoned are all along the road between Pass Christian and Gulfport.

This is their view if the house isn’t amazing enough

We are having a great time here.  If the weather would hold out I could stay here a month

Natchez Trace

Wednesday, October 24th, 2018

This was a let down and we didn’t have much time because we needed to get me to an airport in Dallas by the 25th.  Natchez Trace Parkway is all about the history and without much time we decided we should save this for another time.  We did spend the night in one of their great campgrounds and traveled about 75 miles but then we chose to exit.  Before we did we saw a mom and 2 fawns that were so small!  I think they were only a few days old.  Good thing they are way south.  When we found a way off the parkway we came across a very cool eatery!  Big Joes BBQ.  The lot was a mess and inside were several locals having lunch at a small round table.  The only other table in the place was covered with stuff; bills, newspapers, napkins!  Definitely not inviting but the guys eating said “just move that aside and have your lunch!”  Ok, that’s what we did.  There was an young guy behind the counter that took Pauls order and disappeared.  We realized he went out to get the ribs of the BBQ!

The old guy says “what are you eating?”  “Can I get the stuffed baked potatoe?”

Yep, everything?”

“OK, can I get the pulled pork on the side?”

“I guess!” “Butter”

“Sure”

I got the biggest baked potato with at least 3/4 c of butter lathered right up on top!

So we sit down and then the old guy comes out and takes a seat.  I’m tasting Pauls beans and they were good, very smokey.  So the old guy says “you want your own beans?”  I’m thinking sure, but I have this huge baked potato and a bunch of pulled pork but he gets up, takes my plate and loads me up some beans!

Then he wants to know what is wrong with the butter that I’ve moved to the side!  Nothing, just too much.  He says “thats not much butter!”  And then he sells Paul one of his T-shirts and invites us to his church for BBQ and to watch the big game!  Tennessee and Alabama!

That was an experience that you just can’t plan and his BBQ was delicious!

Then we come across this place

Sweet Potato Store

I didn’t even know the best sweet potatoes come from Mississippi.  This little shop had all kinds of goodies; cookies, breads, pies, whole sweet potatoes!  The bread was delicious.

Another trip wrapped up!