Grand Gulf or Bust

   Again the morning was cool with clouds but no fog. It evolved into the perfect day. Ray and I'd covered the area around Hattisburg, literally, so my attention would fall on Mississippi west of the Pearl River, a seldom bridged river in its lower reaches. I didn't want to do east of MS 25 as the bike knew those roads by heart. That left the void between US 51 (I-55) and the US 61 corridor, the Great Mississippi River Road.
   Those of you who check in here from time to time know about the Natchez outing that took me up into Civil War country around Port Gibson. I had wanted to see the Grand Gulf Battlefield but time had run out.
   I somehow felt on this fine day, Grand Gulf was within reach. When the ride is going well, ambition grows untamed. Or, simply I decide to play now, pay later.
   I headed for Port Gibson.
   I have two or more "camps" of reader from what I can tell in the Guest Book. One likes to look at the pictures and if my writing isn't too terrible, maybe they'll read a little of the rap.
   The other main camp are people who want to find places to ride no mater what their ride or number of wheels. On this one I'm going to cater to that group. The fact is that this route shown as bright or brighter than the neat stuff along its way. The road was never dull. "Dull" to many bikers is a straight and featureless road. This route traversed the high Homochitto National Forest, definitely not straight or featureless. I'm understanding a little of Mississippi's geologic structure. The high places run north and south separated by river valleys. From the US 51 corridor eastward the terrain rises. And rises.. And then falls to US 61.
   To the New Orleans and Northshore folks, this one is for you if you have a 425 mile round trip in ya starting from Covington. If you go the way I came back you can cut 200 miles off that and a lot of time. The miles fly so don't let that number scare you. There are great places to stay the night, also.

   I headed up La.25 (Causeway Blvd. coming out of N.O.), went through Folsom and turned northwest on La.450. 450 is a newly blacktopped road heading exactly where you want it to go, to Mississippi. Between La.25 and La.10 it is a straight, tree formed tunnel increasing in altitude and rolling hills passing through beautiful horse raising country. At La.10, the fun begins. The road continues to rise, rock and roll. It does this until its climax at State Line Road. At the stop sign take a right (east) and then in a mile or so take a left (north) on Shady Grove Road. At the next stop sign take a left on Smith Alford Road. Then north on Progress School Rd. Don't think this whole thing is going to be left-right-straight, soon it'll smooth out.Then straight onto Magnolia-Progress Road hiting MS.48 into Magnolia, see that was easy. You were in Osyka-Chatawa-Progress country. Remember that from the Ridin' the Line article? If you need to refresh your memory do now or you won't understand the countryside because all I shot of it this time was a steak house on Sunday morning. It was at the corner of Magnolia-Progress and Dudley Rimes Road. That may come in handy one day, so jot it down. I followed MS.48 into Magnolia and rode south in front of the Courthouse and then west and saw the Victorian. What regal architecture they are. They remind me of the old Queen. (the 1800's English one, so no wise cracks)
     The pictures to the right are "down the road". Don't know which one. But one of them you'll be on. This guy had more interesting stuff on his property. My guess is he had a bar at one time, what do you think? Then I spied the Chevrolet truck. It was in great condition. The close up was taken with my far away lens so I can't tell you anymore about it. Besides, I want it. What a great yard car.

    I left Magnolia (my dog's name) on MS. 48, going by Percy Quin State Park. Percy Quin is really pretty. It has cabins for rent so it could be a base camp for this ride. I went in and tried to get a Mississippi map as I had left mine on the table, duh. They had no map, can you imagine? The gps was also tuned for east of 51 so soon I would be flying blind. The gps would at least be as good as compass until I found a map.

   Where 48 meets 24, I continued straight on Magnolia Pisgah Rd., riding it until I got to Ms.570 where I went west on that road for about a mile and a half until I reached Country Line Road turning north on it. I was following my nose This was a hoot.
    It dead ends at US 98 which is a two laned shaded road here, not the big four laned monster it becomes.. It was climbing. I stayed on it until reaching Jackson Libery Drive and headed north and rode a long way on it until it deadended at Ms.550. I took 550 east down the hill into Brookhaven and stopped at a gas station to top off and get a map. I talked with the nice lady there who reminded me of how lucky I was to be able to do this sort of thing. She was stuck behind a counter and I was flying free. It was a reflective moment. Moments over, let's ride.
    Leaving the gas station I headed north on old US 51 (the souce of a new article at some time). It went northeast, I went northwest on New Sight Dr. It dead ended at Mount Zion where I went west until I met Lott Smith going north. This was an important moment of the trip. I crossed the beginnings of Bayou Pierre. Bayou Pierre travels as I will, to Port Gibson. It is a very important stream in Mississippi and US history. I didn't know it when I crossed it because the gps was not programmed to tell me. It was a lost moment but meaningful non the less. Moment's over, let's ride.

Rode Lott up to Sylvarena Road where I went west. Up. Hit 28 and went northeast a little bit until I hit Barlow Rd. going west and Up.
    I came to the Barlow community. It was about 12:30. The church goers were having a "social" by the side of the historic Church. I wanted to photograph the folks but decided to not since two big old linebacker looking fellas were not smiling at me. So I just took the church, built 1839. Rehobeth Methodist Church. Dr. Fagan, MSMT, says that if it was a Baptist church, the "social" would be referred to as a "dinner-on-the-grounds" since "social" is not used due to its liberal con- notation.
     Now the above is just an "in fun" assumption, so no hate mail please. The scene was one out of "Long Hot Summer", the movie, for those who remember that far back. Geez and I'm one who does. In fact, part of the movie was filmed in Clinton, La. and my aunt and counsins had a part in it, minor as those were. Very minor, Letisha.

    I had seen the old gas station coming into town, so I doubled back to take a closer look, oh yea, the building was old. The pump was old and that 76 sign was old.
    I had also seen a school bus down the embankment of the road. As you can see it had been given a psycodelic paint over of sorts. Now I felt old. Had I found the Strawberry Alarm Clock's Incense and Peppermint tour bus, having come to its final rest? Picture on lower right of this page.

The Steak House

The Queenly Victorian in Magnolia, Ms.

Incense and Peppermint?

Watch them logs on US 98.

Covington to Grand Gulf

Since writing the "skipping and jumping" version of this article I've started going back and trying to find out more about where I was. The place that interested me the most was the the Barlow community on Barlow Road, where the 1839 Rehobeth Church stands and the chruch social was going on. Below are some links which shed light on that community's history.

A geneology website that speaks of this area, very interesting.

The Rehobeth Methodist Cemetery

Copiah County map with cemeteries

Further information: The Indian word "bogue" meant "creek", and "chitto" meant "not-so-big" and survive in the name of the town Bogue Chitto. "Homo" meant "red" and is seen in the name of the Homochitto River and Homochitto National Forest. Info/R.Daigle.

Want to know more about this model truck, Look at the bottom of the page. Chuck, a reader, has jotted down his rocollections.
I know a classic beauty when I see one.

     These are Chuck's words about HIS Chevy Truck. Get the kleenex out, it's a love story.

   " If I remember correctly, I believe it was either a 1949 or 1950. As far as the model, I totally forget. I do remember it had a flat top 4 cylinder. All I can say it was more dependable than anything I've ever owned before and since. ..........

    My first wife and I were living in the southern tier of NY. It was about 5 miles to the Penn. line. I was only the second owner of that truck. the original owner was an elderly man. He had bought the truck new. He just used it in the winter with chains on the rear tires, which were a huge 16". He lived in the valley and his dairy farm was up midway or so on a large mountain. Along with being a dirt road, it was also a red dirt road. sloppy as "you know what" in the winter months. He'd also take it into Cuba, NY to get grain and supply's for the farm. Hense the 3,000 miles that were on it when I acquired it. that man....... had tears in his eyes the day I picked it up. It was family to him.
     I put another 2500 or so miles on it. The only thing I had to do was.........to replace the starter, 6 volt. As long as you didn't go faster than 50 mph. your mileage was great. It was geared so low that at 51 it stared screaming. Heavy duty suspension [and] with the gear ratio it would climb a wall if it could stop from falling backwards. I had 2 face cords of green oak and walnut on it and you'd think it was empty. Up this mountain and down, then up. What a bear.
When I moved back here to western NY I sold it, needed the cash or I would have never gotten rid of it. The man that bought it re-did everything. the last I knew it was being shown at local car shows with a small block 350 and customized....... "

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