Thursday, May 12, 2011

Trains, Planes, Automobiles, Motorcycles, RVS, and Boats!

And we're off!  David has a job in West Monroe, LA, so Chrissy and I have decided to take along.  Longest trip we've taken in this RV.


Chrissy was SOOOOO ready to go!

Maybe you don't know, but we sold our Airstream and bought a 2011 Keystone Outback.  It has 2 slides and lots of room.  So much room that we can't find things we put up.  David is pleased so far by the way it pulls.

We left about 8:00 a.m. headed west on I-20.  No problems at all except for a lot of WIDE LOAD vehicles all around us.  In fact, one of them was so unusual that I grabbed this shot.


Take a closer look at the big round thing in the center lane.  It's a PLANE FUSELAGE! The oxygen masks were dangling from it.  For a minute there I flashed back to LOST!

Just before I459 runs into I20/59, I looked right and there was a TRAIN running about the same speed we were.  Granted it was on the tracks and we were on the road, but he was moving fast!


Westward HO!

Most of you know that a very large, deadly tornado struck Tuscaloosa on April 27.  Most of the damage is not visible from the interstate.  Many of the trees before you get there are damaged - on both sides of the interstate.  Unbelievable how wide that storm was.

We came to an area where they were working on the interstate and it came down to one lane.  We had plenty of warning and everyone got into the left lane...everyone except those entitled few who think it doesn't mean them to get over.  They just run all the way up and squeeze in.  Such as did the motorcycle guy.  Traffic came to a dead stop and he did to.  Lit a cigarette and decided to take a smoke.  About that time the traffic in our lane moved.  Not sure what he did with his smoke!

 






We pull the RV with a 2001 GMC 3/4 ton truck.  Due to living in the digital age, we were denied the pleasure of seeing the numbers roll over to 100,000 miles.  One second it read 99,999 miles and the next it was a digital display of 100,000.   Kids don't know what they're missing these days!



We finally get to Mississippi!  



It was almost lunch time, so we stopped at Popeyes.  This restaurant is a great favorite of friends of ours, Mike and Judy Everett.  In fact, Mike likes it so well, he plans to be cremated and buried in a Popeye's box!  This one is for you Mike!


Lunch was good, too!  LOL

Once you leave Meridian, there's just not a lot to look at except trees and other vehicles.  This exist sign got my attention.  How would you like to live here?


Still on the road and headed to Jackson and then on to Vicksburg.  The Mississippi River runs through Vicksburg and separates Mississippi from Louisiana.  We'd been hearing stories about how high the water was.  We saw signs turned around that we figured were to close the road in case of flooding.  We crossed the first I-20 bridge with no problem.





On to Louisiana!





The second I-20 bridge was cross safely, but look at the water level.  It's visible just beyond the truck on the left hand side of the photo.




The water is still rising in Vicksburg and it's not expected to crest until next week.  Cannot imagine a flood like this.  The local media says this flood will surprise the greatest one on record here.

Okay, just when you think you can't see anything stranger, along comes something strange.  We notice a number of crop dusters in the area.  David pointed this one out to me.  Not sure how I missed this one!

Yes, right over the treetops along the interstate!

We finally get to Monroe!  YEA!  Left the GPS at home (couldn't find it), but had printed directions.  After a missed turn, we get to the right road.  We get to the end of the road....literally.  DEAD END.  No campground to be seen.  David backed us up and turned around in a NASCAR regional track.  No races...sigh.....We start retracing our steps.  There is a campground on the left!  NO SIGNS ANYWHERE.  All I saw was an old KOA building.  That was our campground. 

We got checked in, changed sites a couple of time and got set up.  We are on higher ground just in case.  There's a pond/lake/river next to us.  It's supposed to rain and storm tomorrow!

Dinner out at Long Horn Steakhouse.  Figured it was good because the police were having dinner here.  Dinner was excellent.  Back to the campground for some sleep!

Catch us on the road!

Jenny :)

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for putting a picture of my newest favorite town name---CHUNKY. I attended a conference in Jackson not long ago and used up most of the boring miles laughing at what a cute name that is. Named for the Chunky River.

    Interesting blog, Jenny!
    I like it -- a lot!

    Joyce

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