First, a quick update on our tree damaged house. With the explicit help of neighbor Paul, our insurance agent, and a very efficient contractor, the offending tree has been fully removed and the roof temporarily secured. The contractor assures us that it's now totally stable and water-protected until we get home to oversee the repair. We are SO VERY thankful. We wondered if this tree incident might call a halt to our once in a lifetime RV trip, but it looks like we'll be able to continue. :-) If, perchance you didn't know about our unfortunate tree experience, please check the previous post. The photos say it all.
This post will be a long one with lots of photos. I'm combining two sightseeing stops in one post this time. Number One: The Myrtles Plantation. We were in Baton Rouge, Louisiana a few days ago, and made a 30 mile trip north to a "haunted" plantation called The Myrtles. They say they are one of the "most haunted" homes in America. Well, this was something that needed checking out! Haunted or not, I just love these plantation homes!
First view of the plantation home as we drove into the driveway.
Here's Suz going over the little bridge towards the gazebo. The pond (which looks green and brownish here) was full of water - with some sort of living substance floating on the top. Not at all sure what it is.
We then took the tour inside. Unfortunately, they didn't allow any photos at all --- EXCEPT --- photos of the "haunted mirror". Well, yes, of course we had to see what we could capture on "film". The only thing of any interest is a small orb-like flash of light (not associated with the camera flash) in the upper left quadrant of the mirror.
If you read The Help, then this will make sense to you. I love it. This was inside the restaurant at The Myrtles.
This statue was out in the front garden. What a setting!
Another view of our garden statue as we bid The Myrtles farewell. It was an interesting place to visit. I just wish the tour included the upstairs. It was the downstairs only. The guide who took us around was great, though.
After returning to our campground, Jinx was ready for a bit of fresh air, so his daddy took him on a walk :) People always stare when we take Jinx out for a walk in his pink, bone-embroidered, dog jacket. Why I don't know, but they just do! One guy hollered at me in a strong southern accent, "you are an amazing person, to get that cat to go for a walk!" I don't know about amazing, but we were persistent, and he now runs for the door, as soon as his jacket is on. :-)
A few days later, we made the drive from Baton Rouge due north to Vicksburg, Mississippi. There was some discussion about skipping this leg of the trip and continuing in a westerly manner, however since the weather has taken a considerable turn for the better, we went ahead with it. Vicksburg is about 140 miles from B.R. I knew little to nothing about it, except that there was a national military park there, and that there had been a major battle there during the US Civil War. We found a place to camp near the Mississippi River, called the Ameristar Casino RV Park. This time we didn't enter the casino, not once. On a cloudy but warm day, we went to the battlefield. Sightseeing stop Number Two: Vicksburg National Military Park.
We arrived here knowing really very little about this particular battle.... but it didn't take long for us to learn all about it. First we watched an informative movie in the visitors center and then we took off on the "Road Tour", which is approximately 16 miles. Such a shame, the whole Civil War thing.
One of the battlefields. One may ask, "who won this battle?" Technically, the Union won.... but so many lives were lost. The Confederates held off the Union from May until July 1863, but the Union Army & Navy surrounded Vicksburg and finally the Confederates surrendered due to the inability of supplies to get through.
A close up of the Ohio monument which is shown from a distance above. Most, if not all of the states on both sides of the war have monuments and statues placed in the park to honor their war dead.
A row of cannon, overlooking a battlefield.
A large statue of Ulysses S. Grant - one of the generals involved in the battle of Vicksburg. The other general was John C. Pemberton.
Part of the Vicksburg National Cemetery. The small square grave markers below denote unknown soldiers.
The larger markers actually have names engraved.
Scattered here and there were plaques with rather solemn poems on them. I'll only post one here. Rather sad, but apropos. (pardon the bird poo)
This photo shows the number of soldiers interred here. The vast majority were unknown.
A pleasing view of the "mighty Mississip" from the high bluffs of the park.
The cat-mommy beside another one of the state's monuments.
One more plaque, reminding us that during that horrible war, brothers fought against brothers.... cousins against cousins. We can only hope that our differences never cause us to take up arms against one another again. We are all Americans and should remember President Lincoln's words, "A house divided against itself cannot stand".
History lesson done for today. Next up..... well, think of Paul Simon's song....
