March 15, 2021, Monday, Day 1
Getting ready for the trip went pretty good. The checklists are working good, and feel like I am really prepared for whatever comes my way. I know that Jesus is with me....I can feel his presence and it certainly brings a peaceful, enjoyable trip.. It was quite uneventful...even with the rain, which was more of a drizzle than anything, but I am again just taking it slow and easy....there is NO hurry. I can tell because google maps said it would take 2 hours and 8 minutes.....and it actually took me 2 hours and 30 minutes....no big deal. (I did stop at a rest area to go to the bathroom, but only took about 10 minutes at most)
Got set up really easy. The Trail of Tears State Park by the river doesn't have very many places and I did not make a reservation. They didn't have any water because they are flushing the system getting ready to open for the season.
The only bad thing is that I am right next to an active railroad....so I am prepared to be awakened with a train going by. There have been 2 in the 6 hours I have been here so far.
A really neat thing is that the host came by and is an older gentleman who lost his lady in January. He is really very colorful.....We sat and talked for about an hour and he told me the story of the Trail of Tears which turns out to be more fable than truth....according to him. He told me that the Cherokees that came on this journey were actually a splinter group from the Cherokee Nation...Most of them were mixed and many only about an 1/8 Cherokee. Turns out that when they got to the Mississippi it was December and only about half of them about 700 were able to cross before the river froze and the rest were not able to come across. The supplies for the 700 that did were on the other side and so within about 2 weeks over 100 of them died from starvation and freezing. He said that these Cherokees were not the survival Cherokees that you would think an Indian should be so they were not able to survive. There was a town where the campground is and they were not able to help them either. In January the deep freeze ended and the rest were able to come over the Mississippi. The ground was still frozen and they were not able to bury the dead. They contracted with some townspeople to bury them when the ground unfroze...However, there is no trace of any burial ground where they do so. He said there is a lot of legion about the whole trip. ...........He walked an I rode my bike about a mile to where the memorial is located. His story was pretty much cooperated by the memorial. We talked about many more things but I think this is enough. This is a picture of Ken at the memorial.
Took a bike ride to the boat area and watched some barges....two passed by me at the same time....fun to watch the one going up river so slow and the one going down river so much faster.
March 16, Tuesday, Day 2
Slept OK.... a train went right by the camper 3 times last night and of course there is a crossing which goes down to boat area so the train has to blow the whistle. Putting up with that kind of thing is just a matter of attitude. The Serenity Prayer sure makes sense in this kind of situation.
Went out for a bike ride for about 2 miles and it was all uphill.....hard going up but it was great coming back down. Really foggy this morning and couldn't see to the other side of the Mississippi. Got back to the camper and started packing things up when I noticed that one of the tires looked low. Got out my pump and I was really glad I invested $300 in getting a good one......after I went through 2 others that were suppose to be pretty good. Got the tire up to 65 lbs but then was wondering why it was low because I had checked them 2 days before I left. I have some extenders on them to make checking the pressure easier and I have heard they often caused leaks. So, hoping that was the cause, I really tighten down the extenders. Finished packing up and took off for the next spot. About an hour later I stopped at a rest area and checked them.......woopee....it was still good. Got to Fort Pillow Historical State Park and check it again and it still had the full pressure.....God is so good!!
Got to Fort Pillow and that was a journey in itself. I thought it would be a great place even though it was 18 miles off the route, and, after all I am not in any hurry...right??? Well...Tennessee back roads are barely wide enough for a fat goat, but I managed to get here without going off the road or hitting anyone. But, then I got lost in the park trying to find the campground. Found a place to pull over and called the office. They told me I missed the turn off and how to get to it. I finally got to the site I had reserved and the ranger stopped by wanting to know if I was getting settled in all right. Of course, he had to ask me if I was the one who called...... The site is really nice:
Ate lunch finally about 2 pm so not really hungry for supper. Took a bike ride and got a picture of the Mississippi in the distance:
March 17, Wednesday, Day 3
Well, didn't really sleep all that well because kept watching the weather. The ranger came around last evening to tell me where the shelter is, even though they don't really have a warning siren....he just comes around......like there would be time. I did finally fall asleep and didn't wake up until 7 am....felt good,. Kept watching the weather trying to decide what would be the best to do....I thought about staying another night there, but then I noticed something in the way the storms were acting. It looked like I could wait until about 10:00 and couldn't miss it but might hit it at it weakest spot. So, that is what I did. I did run into some heavy rain slowing down to about 40 mph. In the worst of it, Jesus showed his sense of humor again....actual it was encouragement...when they played 'In the Storm' on my Southern Gospel. But did finally get though it, and the weather was good when I got South of Memphis. Got to me next site...South Abutment campground....COE. I had reserved a pretty good site right on the water:
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Managed to take a bike ride before the second round of storms hit. Rain hung around for the rest of the afternoon into the evening. Had brought a pepperoni pizza and had that for lunch and supper....it was really good. In spite of everything, still having a great time.
One thing that I think has really been great is having the cell phone booster. The campground have been off the beaten path and at one I only had 0 - 1 bar on the phone but was still able to communicate and even use the internet. Hadn't been able to do that before.
March 18, Thursday, Day 4
Slept really great last night...9 1/2 hours.
For whatever reason I have not had a campfire yet....really strange but something to still look forward to. Had some eggs and bacon, fixed indoors, and tasted good but still miss doing it on the fire. Winds are 20 with gust to 40 this morning so still not good for a fire. Oh well, that's what life is all about....accepting it as God gives it.
Got away early and got to Chicot Lake State Park. It is kind of a mixed bag. The site I had selected was really bad but surprisingly when I backed in the camper was level and I didn't have to do anything to level it, so I stayed.
Took a bike ride around the campground and it does have some nice spots. Getting to the campground was an experience. For the first time Google maps let me down.....Since Google will always take the shortest route with the shortest time. Chicot lake is in the shape of a horseshoe on its side. I came across the Mississippi at the Southern end of the horseshoe and needed to get the the Northern end of the horseshoe....well, Google took me across the end of the horseshoe....the shortest route, but.....it was not good starting and got worse as it turned into a rock road. I traveled it for awhile but then decided I couldn't take it any longer and turned around....which was a feat in itself. Got back to the beginning and took the long way around.....but it was all paved and ran right along the lake....beautiful views. Finally got there and set up....in spite of the poor condition of the site.
Still had quite of bit of wind with occasionally shower....no fire again. Seems I have been watching a lot of TV .... glad I have connections.
March 19, Friday, Day 5
Slept really good again. Got up and fixed eggs again in the camper.
The trip to Grand Gulf Military Monument campground. Again, it was off the beaten path and the roads were again very narrow. Sometimes it works to just close your eyes and give the wheel to Jesus....He did great and we got there with no problems. They have a lower and upper campground....the lower would not allow a fire, but the upper campground would....so, I took the upper campground. There is at least a view of the Mississippi:
There is a reason they call it upper...the road getting to the top was extremely steep. Made it, set up camp, and the weather was good....it was noon, so I thought I would start a fire but decided to take a tour of the park. Lots of good civil war history:
So, I decided to ride my bike around the park to look at everything. Stopped at the museum first:
Visited an old cemetery and it got me thinking about those who were buried there and the lives they led.....Some were very young as I imagine life for them was very hard. I am so blessed....thank you Lord!!
Continued my ride and came to a watch tower....very high....I got up to the second from top level before my fear of heights, the wind, and the drizzle pushed me into going back down. I continued riding and looking at the different things that were there...all very interesting. By the time I got back I was very tired for all the hills.....that was when I was wishing I had my scooter.
I was going to have a fire and cook some hamburgers but guess that will have to wait because I was too worn out.
March 20, Saturday, Day 6
Didn't really sleep all that long....I think I just watch a movie that went too late. Internet has been in and out so been watching with Satellite.....one time couldn't really find anything so watched a DVD.....Princes Diary 2.....Don't know what it is about that movie that I like so much...
Got a really short day so really going slow this morning. Took off for Perry Quin State Park in Louisiana. I think I am going to have to be more careful with Google Maps...Their only goal is to get you there in the fastest time and it doesn't matter what the road is like. Well, it took me on another goat path and it seemed like every time I passed a car going the other way I could see fear in their eyes. However, they didn't know that Jesus was driving the RV so I got to I55 finally and could relax for the rest of the trip.
I do think that Mom would have been yelling at me and crapping in her pants because we went through several small old, run-down towns that were all black from what I could see. But, got here with no problems and found this is the first campground that is totally packed....vs the last campground where I was the only one on the upper level. Just a good think that I had a reservation.
Got here early enough that I was able to get set up and actually had my first fire.....cooked some hamburgers which were delicious. The campground is a family & fishing campground because there were about 3 million kids and 2 million fishing boats. Still, it is very nice. took a bike ride......actually twice....and came across the beach...which is mostly grass and it had the normal beach sign: Notice that it says to 'swim at your own risk'. Well that is quite normal for beaches that don't have life guards, however, it took on a whole new meaning here because right next to it was this sign: Now I know why it is grassy.......no one is using the beach.
March 21, Sunday, Day 7
It was a pretty uneventful trip coming down to Grand Isle campground but it was beautiful. As I got into the bayou it was even more beautiful. One thing I had never seen before was how the highway was raised above the bayou waters. It was raised like a bridge with concrete pillars and it went on for miles. I tried to get some pictures but they don't really do it justice. 
I did finally get to land again but there was still the bayou on both sides especially as I got closer to Grand Isle. The campground is absolutely fantastic. The pads are level and asphalt and very wide and long....all pull throughs. They even have WIFI, but not very good.
Can't see the Gulf from the camper because of a small levy but that protects the campground from the wind too.....which is constant. After getting set up, ate a quick lunch and took off on my bike....got some good pictures.You might notice that I haven't shaved
March 22, Monday, Day 8
Slept really great last night and got up early this morning and walked out to the beach to watch the sun come up.
Took another bike ride and saw where they have tent camping right on the beach...kind of neat.
Fixed a hot dog over the fire....loving it. Went out for a bike ride and then walked a trail and back at the camper and rather tired. On my trail hike I had learned a lesson from my last trail hike when I could not find a place to sit down, so I got a little travel chair which I took with me this time and I am glad I did. When you gotta sit, you just gotta sit, and it was great to be able to do just that.
Sitting in the camper listening to the fabulous 50s feeling rather nostalgic when they started to play 'Chances Are' and my eyes teared as I remembered those early years with Mom, dating her and going to our favorite place to 'talk'. It was also the place where I proposed to her.......Talk about memories..... and life goes on.
Fixed my BBQ over a fire this time....Probably didn't really add anything to the BBQ but the nostalgia was still there. It tasted great.
March 23, Tuesday, Day 9
Slept really good...got up and ready but the forecasts were kind of all over the place. There is something definitely moving in but the timing seems to be anywhere from last this morning to the evening.
Took another bike ride and when I got back I decided to go ahead and mount it on the RV getting it ready for the storms coming in....whenever. Well they did not come in until late evening and had time to take another walk out to the beach. Took a chair with me and just sat there watching an listening to the roar of the water....which was really rough. Kind of took me back to my typhoon chasing days.....just can't get away from all that nostalgia.
Saw a flock of birds which seems to be enjoying the fruits of the rough seas.
The storms finally came in about 6pm with a vengeance. Everything was going great watching a movie when the power went out. I thought, no problem, and started the generator. Then I noticed that power was back....turned off the generator. The power went out several more times and never did see the end of the movie. It was Hallmark so I knew how it ended anyhow.
Just to add to my challenges my phone was acting up. Many of the apps kept crashing. So I backup up everything and did a factory reset since a normal reset didn't help. Getting everything back has been a challenge too
Went to bed, but couldn't really go to sleep because of the rain being loud and the winds rocking the camper....fun?...right? I just remembered all the great times I did have and that kept my spirits up even with the thunderstorms.
March 24, Wednesday, Day 10
Well, the Thunderstorms went on all night so I got very little sleep. Woke up to a puddle on the floor....turned out I didn't close one of the vents securely.....and life goes on.... I am heading back home but the storms are suppose to kind of be there at least today and tomorrow. Suppose to be a break about 9 am which is when I normally leave so God is still being so good to me.
I got away a little after 8 am, stopped to dump, and headed North. God is so good...when I left there was a line of thunderstorms I thought I was going to go through, but it broke up as I got to that area and all I got were a few drops. Good the rest of the way to Percy Quin State Park, but now there are some thunderstorms moving in.....No problems....all is good. Got a better spot this time:Since it is not the weekend all the kids and fishing boats are gone
March 25, Thursday, Day 11
Slept pretty good......The rain did move in to stay most of the night...fewer thunderstorms. Took a short walk down to the lake but with the rain moving in I did not bother to get my bike out. I do feel I have not been drinking enough water so need to make that a priority again...I ought to know better by now. Going up to South Abutment just South of Memphis and have a nice spot on the lake, The weather is kind of 'ify'......
Turns out the weather was great. Had a great trip with very few showers and good roads. One thing that I have noticed with all the clouds and rain is that the sun has not bothered me when driving. There is always a blessing in everything, even if you don't see it at the time. Still kind of tired so didn't bother with the bike because had such a great spot that I just sat outside and enjoyed the view.
Watched some movies again and the weather stayed great.
March 26, Friday, Day 12
Slept really great because there weren't any thunderstorms or wind and got up this morning with all kinds of energy. Surprising what a lack of water or lack of sleep can do to my energy level. Fixed some pancakes and bacon and watched another movie this morning and then went our to watch a beautiful sunrise
Had a rather uneventful drive but did end up on some narrow roads...a little wider than some of the goat paths I had been on before, but this one must have been a drunken goat because it was not only narrow but winding and some of the bridges were even narrower. Met a truck on one of them and I sure thanked Jesus after that one.
Got to the park and it is pretty nice....it again is civil war...Got set up and everything is working great. Good view of the Mississippi. The museum is not open until April but took a bike ride through the park and there are again a lot of outdoor displays.  |
| From my window |
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| This is a Confederate bunker/trench that was used in the defense of Columbus |
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| That is my camper |
Then in the evening I took another bike ride to a cemetery across the road and it was very interesting. Didn't see any civil are markers but there was a memorial at the entrance for the Concentrate soldiers who died defending Columbus. It was put up by the Sons of Conderate Soldiers. I guess the 'woke' community hasn't found this yet.
Head home tomorrow with mixed emotions. So anxious to see the family yet this was a wonderful trip despite some challenges along the way.
