On to Natchez

Our next stop was Shreveport, Louisiana. We had a free day here so, on the advice at the Visitors Centre, we had a look at the Louisiana State Museum. 75 years ago a curator started creating dioramas representing the various industries of the state.  It took him 25 years to complete 21 dioramas and they are still on display. Every item in the display was custom made, from the people and animals to each plant stalk and flower. This display depicts hand picking cotton. The figures are about 6 inches tall. You'd swear you were looking at an actual scene caught on camera. 

This scene depicts harvesting sugar cane. Each sugar cane stalk was created by rolling tiny bits of paper and hand painting the color on them. The scenes were usually about 6 feet deep and 12 feet wide, but I couldn't capture the detail with a full photo. Other dioramas showed oil drilling and refining, salt mines, logging and farming. Each animal and plant was custom hand made. No wonder it took over a year for each diorama.

After building up an appetite at the museum, we stopped for crawdads. If you recall my Louisiana blog from awhile back, I developed a taste for them. Kind of like eating giant bugs.

Our next stop is Vidalia LA, just across the river from Natchez Mississippi. Our campsite was right on the shore of the mighty Miss. First night there, we got a huge thunder storm with over 5" of rain falling. Next morning I went to check that the river wasn't going to overflow. Apparently not.

Natchez is filled with huge mansions, mostly built just before the civil war when slaves and cotton were making many plantation owners very wealthy. A lot are still privately owned but this one is in a state park; it's being refurbished so the white columns aren't.

The main reason we came this way was to travel along the Natchez Trace, a 444 mile trail from Natchez to Nashville. Before 1820, trappers and farmers boated their goods down the Mississippi to New Orleans where they sold everything and tramped back home along the Natchez Trace. This is the only surviving stand left where weary travelers could rest and get food. They were located every few miles along the Trace.

This is a part of the trail called the Sunken Trace. Due to the soft soil and thousands of walkers every year, the trail had sunk in some areas almost 30 feet deep. 

Towns flourished and disappeared as the Trace became obsolete due to the steam boats. This safe is the only reminder of the town of Rocky Springs. I didn't feel that safe either.

Some mansions were destroyed during the civil war. This one survived the war but burned down in 1890, leaving only the 23 columns standing. It is the most photographed historic site in Mississippi.

Last night, we had a repeat of the huge thunderstorm but this time with less rain and a lot more wind. We both went to check to make sure the river was OK.

We noticed on our return to the Trace that a number of trees had fallen due to the wind. Someone must have been out early because the road wasn't blocked although lots of cutting and dragging was in evidence.

Today we diverted off the Trace for a bit to spend a little time at the Vicksburg Civil War memorial. One of the big goals of the Union army was to take control of the Mississippi River and cut the Confederate army in half. Vicksburg was the only major city still holding out. After many failed attacks, the Union army surrounded the city and starved them out. Cannons, like this one fired back and forth every day for 2 months before the Rebels surrendered. The park has plaques showing all the battle lines and where each battalion fought.

Each state that supplied troops has built a monument to their gallant fighting men in the years since.

Because the battle was beside the Mississippi river, the Union army used iron clad gun boats to ferry troops and supplies and to attack from the river side. This is the salvaged USS Cairo, which sank when it hit an underwater mine, the first boat ever sunk that way.

Just a bit of time left in the day to visit a Cypress swamp before dark.

Signs said to watch for alligators which we poo poo'd until we saw this little guy. I guess maybe there are gators in swamps, who knew. Well, we've done about 90 miles of the 444 mile Natchez Trace. Lets see whats next.

Aliens and Rock and Roll

We're on the road bright and early because it's going to be a long day of driving.

After driving through the desert and White Sands (see previous blogs), we climb through the mountains to get to Roswell NM.

After setting up in our new sandy, windy RV Resort, and after a good nights sleep (we were up early, remember?), we head over to the Roswell County museum to see everything about it's history. This was the first display we saw. It so represented everything we strive for that I had to take this picture. Now that's RVing! The model is about 12" long; if you can zoom in, the detail is amazing!

A large part of the museum features Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry. He was bigger than life. He developed rocket engines and flight systems that the Nazis copied in their V2 rockets and was ultimately used for the Apollo moon program. His original work shop and early rockets are on display. Excellent displays of western life, including guns, uniforms and Indian garb are also featured but I just knew they would bore you so I didn't take any pictures.

Besides, I know what you're really interested in when you think of Roswell; Aliens! This is the centre of Alien lore and where it all began. In 1947, on a ranch near Roswell, an alien space craft crashed and started a chain of events still resonating to this day. I can't cover the myriad of tiny details in this limited space so suffice it to say: alien relics, alien bodies, government cover ups, death threats, and a community still benefiting from the repercussions today. 350,000 worldwide visitors each year trying to resolve the conflicting versions of events so long ago.

Based on witness descriptions, the Aliens were about 3' high with big eyes and no clothes. It's no wonder the government covered this up. 

 The UFO museum and Heritage Center have vignettes based on witness testimony and documented evidence. These sources indicate that there were 3 Alien bodies and at least one survivor. It is assumed that the bodies were preserved in some way to allow future study; this is one suggestion.

Numerous witnesses described autopsies being performed on the Alien bodies. One nurse who described the procedures in great detail died of an apparent suicide shortly after her public revelation; hmmm.

A mockup of the crash site was made based on the description by Mac Brazel, the ranch foreman who originally found the site. After being held by the military for 4 days, he revised his story to the official version of a weather balloon and refused to speak of the event again. Doesn't really look like a weather balloon does it?

The museum is filled with documentation and sworn eyewitness accounts supporting an actual Alien event. After hours of intense study, it's hard to believe the official story. All in All, I found the Aliens to be friendly and not very threatening. I'm a believer.

Our next stop takes us from New Mexico into Texas. No snow yet! Bonus.

Lubbock Texas is the epicenter of Rock and Roll. Buddy Holly was the biggest influence of future rock and rollers, from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones. From his first #1 hit to his death was only 18 months yet his influence is still being felt.

The Buddy Holly museum in Lubbock covers his meteoric career. I must admit I've always been a great fan and have felt a great sadness about what might have been. Believe it or not, he created the "band", a leader with a backup group. Before him, singers usually had a studio backup or played solo.  After Buddy Holly and the Crickets went on a British tour, the Beatles formed their group based on his format. Buddy Hollys backup group was called the "Crickets", so the Beatles based their name on an insect as well. A video at the museum shows Paul McCarney discussing how the Crickets helped them form their band. Amazing influences.

As the Crickets gelled, they practiced their future songs and performances in the bedroom of their drummer, Jerry Allison in Lubbock. His childhood home has been moved to the museum and is historically accurate. These are his drums that were used during their jam sessions in his bedroom. They wouldn't give me any drum sticks, I guess there was some worry about me out performing him. Buddy died in a plane crash in Feb 1959 during a snow storm in Clear Lake, Iowa. Who knows what he might have done?

On to our next stop. This rest area in mid Texas was a great stop, unfortunately the picture doesn't show much, although if you can zoom in, the sign in the centre says " beware of rattlesnakes". Just a typical example of the dangers we face as we travel.

Now we're in Sherman TX. As I've stated many times, every spot has its claim to fame. Well, I'm not too sure about Sherman. It has a great history but nothing to show for it. No local history to speak of, so we went north to Denison TX to find the birth home of Dwight D Eisenhower. You may remember him as the supreme allied commander of the European theatre during WW2 and later, president of the US. Great trees from little acorns grow. OK. We are now up to date, lets see what's coming next.

Time to head home

We've had a great winter at our winter home here in Hemet but now it's time to start heading homeward. We spent the winter golfing and enjoying the warm weather.

Went local at my birthday get together with friends.

With regrets, we headed out. Our first stop will be Yuma to see friends but we needed regular rest stop breaks. Our old bodies, I guess.

We like the area around Yuma so we took time to do some sightseeing. There are some great lakes in the desert; mostly created to water the farm land.

We climbed an old trail to look down on some fields and the canal that supplies water.

 A display at a local military base allows our Jeep to connect with comrades of his ancestors. It's almost military green.

After a week in Yuma, we're off again; next stop is Lordsburg, New Mexico. Lunch break along the way.

RV parks in this part of the world are usually dirt. But it's OK for a days rest.

 Close to Lordsburg is a ghost town, Shakespeare, NM. It was closed and gated. Apparently ghosts only haunt on the weekends. 

We didn't have much time to explore anyway. I spent most of the morning cleaning bugs off the windshield and front. After the hot weather in Hemet, the cold morning and brisk wind made me bundle up a bit. I know, nothing like back home. Still, we're planning on staying mostly south as long as possible.