MISSIPPI

WELL WE RODE FROM FLORIDA TO MISSISSIPPI,WE SAW LOTS OF LARGE OAKS AND SOME PECAN TREES ALONG THE WAY. THE OAKS WERE SPRED OUT LIKE ARMS,DECORATED WITH SPANISH MOSS, WELCOMING US ON THE JOURNEY. WE DROVE OVER BRIDGES THAT SPANNED LARGE RIVERS,TRIBUTARIES AND BAYOUS.
WE PASSED BY BILLBOARDS AS POPULATED AS ALABAMA OR MISSISSIPPI ITSELF. THEY TOLD US OF CASINOS AND PLACES TO EAT OR REST OUR HEADS.
   WE ARRIVED AT THE WOODLAND FARMS CAMP IN THE AFTERNOON. CHARLIE WAS THE OWNER ,HE TOLD US ABOUT THE AREA, AND THE CAMPGROUND. IT WAS SET ON 5 ACRES OF LAND THAT SHOWED THE PRODUCTS OF CHARLIE"S LIFE.  THERE WERE LOTS OF CHRISTMAS TREES, BLUEBERRY BUSHES AND HOLLY SHRUBS. A LARGE HAY FIELD AND A SMALL MUDDY POND.  HE TOLD US TO WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES,WILD HOGS AND MAYBE A BEAR. WE DID NOT SEE ANY OF THOSE WHILE WE WERE THERE. EVERYDAY WE WOULD WALK AROUND THE FARM, OREANA WAS VERY ALERT TO DANGER, OR WE WOULD LET OREANA RUN LOOSE. WE WOULD FIND EVIDENCE OF DEER AND THE SCAT OF A LARGE ANIMAL, BUT NEVER SAW ANYTHING.
   I WENT TO SEE BEAUVOIR, THE HOME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. THIS AND MANY OTHER HOMES WERE DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BY HURRICANE KATRINA. THE DAVIS HOME WAS RESTORED NICELY. IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE IS A SMALL CEMETERY WHERE ARE THE REMAINS OF THE CONFEDERATE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, JEFFERSON DAVIS AND SEVERAL CONFERATE SOLDIERS,WHO SPEND THEIR LAST DAYS AT BEAUVOIR HOUSE. WHEN MR. DIED THE HOUSE BECAME A RESTHOME FOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. THEY ARE ALSO BUILDING A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOR MR DAVIS, IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2013.
   WE OFTEN WALKED BEACHES OR NATURE TRAILS. THE BEACHES OF LONG BEACH WERE DOG FRIENDLY. OREANA HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE GULF WATERS AND CHASING THE BIRDS. WE WENT ON THE TUXACHANIE TRAIL, IT RUNS THROUGH FOREST AND BAYOUS FOR 21 MILES. WE ONLY DID ABOUT 4 MILES,BUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

   THE TREES ON THE BEACHES THAT WERE KILLED BY THE SALT WATER OF KATRINA LIVE ON AS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES DONE BY DAYTON MILLER.