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| Exiting the Barlow Community, I entered the Copiah County WMA 9miles west. Barlow Road meets MS.547 which joins US 61 just south of Port Gibson. |
| Evidently the Methodist had been hustling during the mid 1800's |
| Notice the outdoor cover to the right. Barbeques and church socials. Southern churches were/are the centers of their areas. |
| Going into Port Gibson on US 61 you pass the Tourist Information Building. Don't pass it by, stop and get every bit of information they have to offer. You are in a gold mine of history and beauty. Something saved Port Gibson from Grant's burning distruction.. Something affected this yankee heathen. I've "heard tell" it was a local woman that actually "moved" him to spare the town in the way the "Yellow Rose of Texas" delayed Santa Ana before Houston could corner him. |
| You can access the road to Grand Gulf from the Town Hall circle. Or, turn off of 61 to the left (west) onto Walnut Street.Take Walnut to Main, turn north on main to Fair Street, left (west) on Fair, right (north) on Flowers and left (west) on Anthony. Anthony takes you to Grand Gulf Road, take a left (west) and go to the state park. Best just ask at the information station. Tell them you don't want to take 61 there. It is not scenic and Anthony Street is, plus, you get to cross, drum roll, Bayou Pierre. |
| Old church, bout done gone. |
| You are now immersed into Southern History. Don't listen too closely. That's the best suggestion I can offer... You may believe it's just the wind and some thunder. You may be wrong. |
| To the right are the grounds of the fort that stopped Grant cold in the water. It's now a peaceful spot. |
| Headed back, notice, you can't miss it, the overgrowth gone wild. This stuff was imported to help with erosion and Mississippi has been at war with it ever since. It has spread as far east as North Carolina. "Cudszo?" No says Ray Daigle, 2wl(tm) reporter at large, and Henry H. (copcop), long time contributor, it's "kudzu": asian vine planted to stop soil erosion, and got out of control which inspird a poem by the author of that southern classic, "Deliverance", and it goes like this: In Georgia, the legend says That you must close your windows At night to keep it out of the house. The glass is tinged with green, even so... From the poem, "Kudzu," by James Dickey Hey, I was a little right. We have no problem with the stuff in Louisiana. We sell all we can grow to Mississippians. |
| The pictures to the right are of my hit and miss trip back south. I get into a country gravel road mood at the oddest times, like when I need to make time and don't because I am litterly going around in circles on some washed out gravel to dirt to ruts nothing. Don't do this unless you really want the lady on the back to get moody. From Port Gibson head back down US 61 to Ms.547. Take it southeast until it runs into Ms.28.Take 28 west a little way until you hit Ms 550. Take 550 east into Brookhaven. Go into town and get gas or whatever. Brookhaven is a beautiful old town, also, good for another trip. Go south on Old US 51 until you meet US 84 going east. Go east on 84 until you see Ms.583 going south (right). 583 takes you directly to Tylertown where you get on Ms.27 south, Tylertown is likewise pretty and has all you need. 27 turns into Louisiana 25 and takes you straight to the Causeway and New Orleans. This route is very scenic and UN-dull. It's all good road twisting and turning going up and down. A perfect road. A great ride, especially 583, 552, 550, Barlow Road, etc, etc. |
| Looking down into the valley of the Homochitto River from 552. |
| I've been talking to a friend about buying this place. With the Stones coming to the US, they need a Mississippi venue. |
| Ms. 550 going into Brookhaven |
| Brookhaven's old downtown and the back of the Train Depot. Front of the Depot on the tracks. Now a Welcome Center |
| Below is the train, "The City of New Orleans", going north to Chicago. It was stopped on a Sunday afternoon in Brookhaven. What timing! What a happening! I'm serious. Besides being a bike and travel nut, I'm a train nut. There's more but I'm not telling. |
| And, home, no not mine, but I wouldn't mind it. Now there's a forest cottage. Hope you enjoyed today's ride. I sure did and you know I was home for 4:30. |
| More Mississippi Rides |
| The State Park here will be the base camp for the upcoming article. |
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