The Virtual Dream Road Trip: Day 1

Livingston, LA - Beaver, AR
559 miles, 10 hrs, 31 min (give or take)
Approx. fuel cost:  $101.50

If you're just now joining me, then let me enlighten you as to what's going on here.  For three years, I've been dreaming of a road trip approximately 6000 miles Round Trip.  My ultimate destination is Banff National Park in Banff located just outside of Calgary, AB Canada.  From Louisiana, it's quite the drive. 

I made a little post the other day on Facebook and was inspired to start this "Virtual" Road Trip, exploring state parks, quirky roadside attractions, and geocaches along the way via the Informational Highway (a.k.a. the Internet). 

So, jump in and join me as we cross the countryside and see amazing wonders!!!

First off, on the ACTUAL trip, I plan to be hauling a pop up camper behind a Chevy Surburban SUV.  So, I guess I'll be doing things like keeping up with the mileage and current fuel costs.  I'll also need to look at "feeding" a family of 4 (or 5 depending on if the Teen goes with us).  So, I'll be looking at meal plans.

Load up!  We're headin' out!

Our first destination will be Beaver, Arkansas.  Beaver is a 10 hour drive from our starting point.  I initially didn't want to start out driving that far on our daily travels but in this case, I think it'll be okay.  We will plan to stay in Beaver for a couple of days while we visit with the Mayor (Who I know PERSONALLY!!!) of this cute little town.

During our drive, we will stop for breaks at some roadside attractions.  Here'a  list with a pic or two so you'll get the idea.  Also, when available, we'll be looking for geocaches at some of these location.  In case you aren't familier with geocaching, you can read all about it right here at this little linky loo.

Our first break will be in Redfield, AR: Mammoth Orange Drink Stand where we can get a refreshment.
There's a Geocache located within 150 feet of this spot!!

Little Rock: Billy Bass Adoption Center located inside the Flying Fish Restaurant in Little Rock, AR

Little Rock:  Old Mill park with Concrete Wood

Now doesn't THIS LOOK like a Lovely spot to stop for a picnic lunch!  I'm so glad that I found this one, that means we can really pass up the previous two in order to truly enjoy this little piece of heaven!  Oh, and there's also a geocache located only 180 feet from here!

Little Rock:  Roundtop Gas Station

Clinton, AR: Natural Bridge of Arkansas Now this looks like it would be a great place for a geocache, but I couldn't find one listed.  Hmm.  Oh well, this is only Day 1 of our trip.  We'll find MANY others!!

And finally our destination, Beaver, AR where we'll park the camper either at Beaver Lake Campgrounds, or in the yard of the lovely Mayor of Beaver, AR.  Whom I know PERSONALLY as I mentioned before!!! I'm guessing that she'll have been working all day on a scrumptious dinner for us so I have no need to worry about feeding the kids.  It'll be nice to sit and visit for a day or so.  Tomorrow, we'll venture into Eureka Springs and do some touristy stuff before heading on.

2010 New Orleans, Friday

We got up early this morning to take full advantage of all New Orleans has to offer. Since we were on a budget, big ticket entertainment was not on the plan for us. We chose instead to do some educational activities.

As a musician, but not a huge jazz fan, I had decided that it was my musical duty to explore the Jazz History of this fantastic city. So, I started with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical park website where you can go to download an audio walking tour of historic New Orleans Jazz sites. I got the tour downloaded to my mp3 player and printed out the tour map.

After a quick breakfast at Krystal burgers, we were off. We actually started out on Bourbon Street and found Edison Place a.k.a. Musician's Park where there is a little cafe that also serves breakfast. Wish I'd known that before we at at Krystal burgers!!! I quickly got my photo with Fats Domino, Al Hirt, and Pete Fountain before venturing off towards Louis Armstrong Park to begin the audio tour.

Can you imagine my disappointment when we arrived after walking 10 miles to find the park closed!?!?! It was 110 degrees out there at 9 a.m. and I was already dying from the heat and lack of thirst! No, just kidding, it wasn't 10 miles or 110 degrees....But I was very disapointed that I couldn't enter the park to see the Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet statues and learn all about Congo Square.

Instead, I took this lovely photo of the gates of Armstrong Park. Hopefully, it will be open again soon so that I can visit.

Next up on the tour is the Basin Street Station a.k.a. Basin Street Visitor's center.

On the corner of N. Rampart and Dumaine streets is this building, built around 1835, with the galleries most likely added in the 1850's. In 1944, J&M Amusements acquired the building and Cosmio Matassa soon opened the J&M Recording Studio.

Oscar "Papa" Celestin, Danny Barker, and the Dukes of Dixieland all recorded Jazz here. The "New Orleans Sound" developed from pioneering rhythm and blues and rock and roll recordings made here between 1947 and 1956 by Paul Gaytin, Annie Laurie, Roy Brown, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Smiley Lewis, Joe Turner, Guitar Slim, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and others. Sadly, this building is now a laundromat.

We wandered around some more and found Preservation Hall. I was looking forward to sitting and resting in the shade a bit but, unfortunately, Preservation Hall's operating hours are only in the evenings. Preservation Hall was founded in 1961 to protect and honor New Orleans Jazz. It is also a great spot to take the kiddos and introduce them to the great Jazz music. Admission is only $12!!

We rested in the shade a little before heading out to our next stop at 1026 Conti street. This building was the site of the last operating house of prostitution in the once thriving Tango Belt. Once an area of respectable theatres and cabarets, it quickly supported the milder side of the "sporting life:" prize-fighting, proto-jazz music, alcohol, and dance halls. When Storyville's future became uncertain, sub-rosa drugs and prostitution completed the picture here.

Our next stop was 401 S. Rampart Street, where we learned a little about Black Storyville/Chinatown where this building housed Jake Itzkovich's Eagle Loan Office until about 1907. When he relocated, Frank Douroux opened his 2nd tavern on the block in 1908 and named themselves after the saloon - the Eagle Band, which was Buddy Bolden's band...sans Bolden who at that time was institutionalized in the state insane asylum. The third floor was the ballroom for the combined Odd Fellows/Masonic Lodge which had this lodge in an adjacent building at 1116 Perdido Street. Buddy Bolden's, John Robichaux's, and Buck Johnson's groups played for dances in the ballroom. Looks sad doesn't it?

After all that walking around and education, we stopped for a mid day nap in the air conditioned hotel room and then went down to Felix's for lunch. Dahlin' chose one of his favorite meals, a dozen oysters on the half-shell. They arrived and he doctored them up for his consumption.

Here he is doin' the doctorin'.

After the doctorin'.

I played it safe with this scrumptious looking grilled shrimp sandwich. It was the best tasting thing I've ever eaten!

We wandered around some more and while waiting for the Canal Street trolley, I took this pic of some stray Mardi Gras beads just hanging around for next year's party.

We did a lot more but since it's currently 2 a.m. here at home, I think I'll stop posting and opt to edit this later.

2010 New Orleans - Thurs aftn

About a month ago, I had planned a little getaway jaunt to the Big Easy to celebrate Father's Day with my Dahlin'. I didn't want to bother him with having to drive down and find parking for the weekend, so I got Amtrak tickets and rode the choo choo train. It was my first ride on an official train!!! I got to update the baby book that my mom started for me way back in the '60's!

While we waited for the chariot to arrive, I stood outside of the depot and took a pic of this little mama who was busily trying to distract us from her nesting area.

Inside the depot.

This is REALLY cool!!! It looks just like a painting doesn't it? But noooooo! It's a for real scene that we passed by while riding the train!



We arrived in New Orleans about an hour and a half later and got situated in our room up on the 39th floor of the Marriott at 555 Canal Street. Here's the view from our room with the French Quarter to the right of Canal Street.

Here's our lovely hotel room. The bed was extra comfy!!!

After we got settled in, there were still a few hours left before it got too dark to see anything. So we tried to get a little sight seeing in. We walked around a bit and ended up down at the River Front. We happened to stumble up on a movie being shot!!! "The Chaperone" (starring some WWE wrestler named Triple H?). This fellow in the shot is one of the actors but I don't know which one, shooting a scene on the River Front.

After observing the film arts in action, we ended up at Landry's Seafood for dinner. When I first walked in, wearing my shorts, tennis shoes, and Tshirt, I felt a little intimidated thinking that perhaps I needed to be a little more dressed up. But, I digress, we placed our order and received the wonderful Shrimp Enbrechette for our appetizer.

Dahlin' order his safety fave, the fried seafood platter. I swahnee, he needs to be a little more ambitious in his cuisine adventures.
I ordered the very delicious Blackened Catfish Atachafalaya with Dirty Rice and fresh green beans. Yum Yum YUM! Can I just say it?
After dinner, we strolled around some more and encountered a few of the Jackson Square characters. Here's one all dolled up in his metallic outfit complete with metallic looking teeth (or grill as they call them now?).

We finally ended up back in the hotel room, ready to pass out from exhaustion, when I happened to look out the window to view the Canal Street and French Quarter at night. What a beautiful end to the beginning of a great weekend!!!

Be sure to read the rest of the 2010 New Orleans posts for more!!!

2010 Natchez - Day 4

We started out this morning with another grits and eggs breakfast before packing up a lunch and heading out to tour the Natchez Trace Parkway. As I had been here before, I was anxious to show some of it to the older kiddos. The Teen actually asked what the Trace was and what it was used for. I was thrilled to hear this question come from him and excitedly began explaining. I didn't get too far before I realized that he'd tuned me out. I asked "Are you listening?" He said, "Oh, yes ma'am, I get it." And that was that. :(

We started our little education adventure with a stop at the Elizabeth Female Academy which opened its doors to higher education for women in 1818. It was named in honor of Elizabeth Roach whose generosity made the College possible. John James Audubon was also on the faculty here. After the capital of the state and population shifted to Jackson, the Academy struggled and finally closed in 1845.

We followed the little pathway to see what is left of the Academy. As we approached it, the Teen said, "Mom. Please don't tell me that we got out of the truck to walk up here and look at a wall.....really?"

I guess some people just don't get it. Right?

We then moved on to visit Mount Locust, one of the oldest structures in the state of Mississippi. It functioned as both a working plantation and as an inn, where travelers on the Natchez Trace could rest for the night. Mount Locust is the only surviving inn of the more than 50 that existed during the period of greatest use of the Old Natchez Trace.

This historic home is now maintained by the National Park Service. The land where the house stands was originally part of a 1779 land grant, to Thomas Harmon, by the British Government of West Florida. Harmon then transferred the propery to Swiss born John Blommart, an early settler who probably began the first construction in 1780 in order to meet the conditions of the grant, whch included, "....one good Dwelling House to contain at least twenty feet in length, sixteen feet in Breadth." In 1781, Blommart moved to the Old Natchez District where he evenutally became one of the wealthiest men in Natchez due to his varied dealings as a merchant, fur trader, land speculator, and planter. Eventually, he became a prisoner of the Spanish, his property was confiscated and he was sentenced to death. Later, however, he was released and went into exile in the British West Indies.

After Blommart's banishment, his former business partner, William Ferguson, and his wife purchased Mt. Locust in 1784 and operated the farm until William's death in 1801. A short time later, Paulina married James Chamberlain, an overseer at the farm, and they continued to build the farm.

When James abandoned the family and farm sometime after 1810, Paulina carried on alone. In an era when women were typically shunned from business or making important decisions, Paulina proved to be an extraordinary woman. Despite losing two husbands, and raising 11 children, seven with William and four with James; she kept Mt. Locust going.

Mount Locust is about a day's walk from Natchez and developed as a popular "stand" on the Trace. Travelers would stop here for a meal and place to stay for the night for the affordable price of 25 cents!

The development of steamboats soon ended most Trace traffic. Foot travel on the Trace had nearly ended by 1825, but Mount Locust stayed open, operating as an inn and then as a prosperous cotton plantation. Five generations of the Chamberlain family lived in the house with the last of the family leaving in 1944. Park Ranger Eric Chamberlain is a direct descendant of the family and was born in the master bedroom of the house before the park service acquired it and restored it to its 1820 appearance. Walking paths lead through the grounds leading to the brick kiln, family cemetery and slave cemetery.

Can you imagine what was going through the travelers' minds as

they approached Mount Locust, hungry and tired?

My Kangaroo stands on a section of the Old Natchez Trace.

After our visit back in time at Mt. Locust, we stopped at Owen's Falls for a picnic lunch and short hike. I looked for a geocache here but was going in the wrong direction. My hubby isn't the enthusiastic sort when it comes to geocaching, and he prompted me to give up my search when I was only 100 feet away. Man....so close!

We moved on to Rocky Springs where I just KNEW I'd find more geocaches....if only the GPS batteries hadn't died. :(

Rocky Springs is a ghost town and a fascinating place to explore. Founded in 1837, the town was a thriving community by 1860, but then a series of disasters began: Union troops looted the town during the Civil War; a yellow fever epidemic decimated the town's population; the boll weevil wreaked havoc with the cotton crop; and then the town's springs, for which it was named, went dry. By 1920, Rocky Springs was dead. What's left of it -- a few artifacts, some building foundations, and a church with absolutely the most gorgeous cemetery you'll ever see -- has been preserved as a historic exhibit and is a must see for anyone traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway.

My kiddos, tired from all the education.

We left Rocky Springs and headed over to Grand Gulf Military Park. Grand Gulf was the site of a Union Army Naval attack.

From NPS website: Rear Admiral David D. Porter led 7 ironclads in an attack on the fortifications and batteries at Grand Gulf, with the intention of silencing the Confederate guns and then securing the area with troops of McClernand's XIII Army Corps who were on the accompanying transports and barges. The attack by the 7 ironclads began at 8 a.m. and continued until about 1:30 p.m. During the fight, the ironclads moved within 100 yards of the Rebel guns and silenced the batteries of Fort Wade; the Confederate upper batteries at Fort Cobun remained out of reach and continued to fire. The Union ironclads (one of which, the Tuscumbia, had been put out of action) and the transports drew off. After dark, however, the ironclads engaged the Rebel guns again while the steamboats and barges ran the gauntlet. Grant marched his men overland across Coffee Point to below the Gulf. After the transports had passed Grand Gulf, they embarked the troops at Disharoon's plantation and disembarked them on the Mississippi shore at Bruinsburg, below Grand Gulf. The men immediately began marching overland towards Port Gibson. The Confederates had won a hollow victory; the loss at Grand Gulf caused just a slight change in Grant's offensive.

One of the buildings at Grand Gulf is Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church from Rodney, MS where we visited a few days earlier. The building was donated to the State of Mississippi by the Rodney Foundation. It was moved to Grand Gulf in 1983 and has been restored to its original condition. It is now being used as a non-denominational chapel.

Kangaroo loved the old pipe organ inside.

Well, that's it for our Spring Break vacation. We went to bed, woke up the next morning, and headed home. It was a nice break away.

2010 Natchez - Day 3

We woke up and had a quick breakfast of cereal and milk before getting the girls ready for a little pier fishing. This would be their first ever fishing trip and they were soooooo excited!!! Little Bird even skipped her way to the pier!

Daddy showed them how to put a worm on a hook but he wouldn't allow them to do it themselves. They were a little grossed out by that. They started out fishing and very quickly we began a lesson on patience while they waited for the fish to bite. I told them that if they made fishy faces, the fish would see them and attach themselves to the hook so the girls could reel them in.

If you make fishy faces, they will come!

It worked!!!

After working up our appetites with all this fishing, we ventured back to the campsite for a quick lunch and nap before we headed out to the Natchez Visitor's center for some Natchez info. Then we took a little driving tour around downtown Natchez and I just HAD to stop at St. Mary's Basilica located at 105 South Union Street. I had been inside this Catholic church before and was absolutely enthralled with the stained glass windows, carvings, paintings, and statuary. You can read all about the history of this church at www.stmarysbasilicaarchives.org. What a fascinating story!

We then visited the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians where we toured the little museum and the girls learned how the indians made grits. That also climbed up the Great Sun's home mound and rolled down the sides. Hubby, Little Bird, and I attempted to locate a geocache placed a short distance off the 1.6 kilometer Nature Trail. We hunted and hunted through acres of Field Horsetail but never could find it. However, we did find the creek that the indians used to get their water from. It has changed course over the years and it a little further away from the village than it used to be.

A replica of the Natchez home.

Ceremonial grounds.

Before returning to the campsite for the day, we made a quick detour to Emerald Mound which is believed to have been constructed around the year 1300. This is an 8 acre mound, constructed from a natural hill, that was used from about 1300 to 1600 by the Mississippians, ancestors to the Natchez indians.

Emerald Mound

Unlike dome mounds constructed only for burials, Emerald Mound supported temples, ceremonial structures, and burials of a complex society's civic and religious leaders. Emerald Mound is the second largest temple mound in the U.S. Only Monks Mound in Cahokia, Illinois is larger.

Of course, with all this education, we again worked up an appetite and headed back to the campsite for a yummy dinner of Frito chili pie thanks to the chili I had started in the crockpot earlier in the day. We followed that up with some S'mores at the campfire before turning in for the night. Whew what a day!

On to day 4.