On the road, more bumps than just construction....

Our Location: Exit 108, Burke Outlet Shopping Center, Bessemer, Alabama

A cooler night last night but still nice enough to leave all the windows open overnight. This morning dawned with only a slight chill in the air but warmed up significantly throughout the day. The high temps today 84F/28.8C. It was a warm one. ~laugh~

Up at the fire it was Mac and I for a bit, then Bobby showed up followed by Swilley, then we added Robert to the mix as well as Mike, Pete and Paige. A bit later on Pat and Billy also showed up but I had left at that point. 

US 49 North out of Gulfport, MS heading toward Wiggins, MS

Mr. Swilley came with the news that the river was rising and moving might be in order. Then there was the 'it's not rising very fast so we don't have to worry' followed by ' Butch says everyone has to go" and then 'well it seems to have crested'. We went to the Wolfe and looked for ourselves, it was 6 ft and surging a bit. We left there went to Walmart to get some fuel and dry cat food, came back to the Wolf River once again and it was over the 6 ft mark with no visible signs of any part of the 6, which meant it was still rising. We came home and packed up deciding that it was easier to just hit the road and not hem and haw about it for a matter of a couple of days. Mac left about 10:30 am, and we pulled out about a half hour later. Trish and Mike were also heading out today. 

We said our goodbyes, gave and received hugs from those wonderful folks there that we have come to know pretty well. It's always sad to leave but it's nice to be on the road again. Hopefully we'll see them all again at some point down the road but if we don't our lives have been enriched greatly by knowing them even for the short time we have. We have been fortunate to meet such wonderful people in our life time. Thanks to Mac, Billy, Charlene, Swilley, Mike, Trish, Paige, Pete, Pat, Robert and Amanda for seeing us off today.

Noticed this old timer along the way.

We pointed the nose of the Dogsled north to reach I-10 EAST, then chased our tail to get on to US49N in Gulfport, from there it was a straight shot to I-20/59 NORTH. We passed thru or near the Mississippi towns/cities of Saucier, Lyman, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Meridian. We crossed over in to Alabama and continued our trek North East until we came to rest here in Bessemer, a bedroom community of Birmingham. We arrived here about 6:30 pm. 

I filled up the Dogsled's food bowl this morning at Murphy's USA on US 90 at Walmart, the price for a gallon of diesel food was $2.19, I was thrilled with that price. I filled up again at Knoxville, Alabama after 5 straight hours (55 mph for a total of 240 miles) of driving. I thought the gauge was faulty, we left before noon and were still driving at 5:30 pm on the top half of the tank. I pulled in to a fuel stop, filled the dog bowl once again and you know what? It was right on the money, used 17.6 gallons of fuel to travel that distance. I am very impressed. That's just under 14 miles to the gallon fully loaded/towing and driving in tow mode as well. I used cruise so I know I stayed consistent at 55 mph with few variations. The big dog did good. ~laugh~ 

His older brother, or maybe just more USED brother.

We pulled into the Walmart here in Bessemer, Alabama went to customer service asked about spending the night. Negative, nada, nope, no. The Walmart does not allow anyone to stay over night. It's not a city ordinance, it's a Walmart decision. The nice young man told us to try the Burkes Outlet just down the hill and so we did. The nice sales clerk told us it was fine and so we tucked in here at the bottom of the hill under the streetlight for the night.

We walked back to Walmart to get a rotisserie chicken even though they wouldn't allow us to park. I walked Riley back to the Igloo and then I walked over to Sonic to get some fries (it's been a long time either of us have had fries) to go with our chicken. We should have skipped the fries, they were awful. It was our first time to eat anything from Sonic, I think it may be the last one too. The chicken was good though. I added an orange to my dinner and we were finished. 

HRH looking around on her travel day in some time.

After that I called my dad to chat for a bit, brag a bit about the Dogsled's great performance today and to tell him where we can be found tonight. After that I started on the paperwork for the border crossing. This is when things started NOT going according to plan.

 I was not aware the brokers needed 5 days to do all the paperwork( I was under the impression they needed the paperwork just 72 hours prior) and I was not aware that the state of Alabama does not give the TITLE to the vehicle in the 'parting' package they gave me. They need to mail the title which will not work in my case and I'm kind of in a dither about that. I need that title in hand no later than Tuesday so I can cross the border and I don't know if a copy will do for me. They can email the title to the broker (a copy if okay for that) but the broker needs to have it for 5 days before I can cross. I also need a copy of the vendors NAFTA certificate to do my dance at the border which Mr. Manley said they would email tomorrow to the broker and a copy to me. 

Military presence here in the south, NO plates.

We will be in Cleveland for a few days and I'm hoping I can pick up the title at a Chevy Dealership there, maybe they can fed ex the thing there or something. I don't know if I could get it at a campground in Cleveland as I'm not sure where we will be staying yet. Hell I don't know if they can even have it in 5 days. See what I get for procrastinating? I need to stop doing that, this will be my lesson for certain!! So instead of sending any paperwork tonight I'll be on the phone in the morning trying to figure this stuff out!

So now you're caught up with us. Are we having fun yet? ~laugh~ I'll just bet you're saying, How come she didn't know she didn't have the title, how stupid can she be? Well I'll tell ya in Ontario you walk out with the title, you know that's the piece you take to renew your tag, they stick one piece on the back of the title and you put the other piece on the plate. They gave me everything I needed to get the tags so I assumed that meant it was the title. Oh how wrong I was and how foolish do I feel now? VERY VERY. 

We have been in and out of this state for a half times this trip.

However there is nothing I can do about it now, I'll deal with it tomorrow and we'll go from there. We can extend our insurance for a couple of days if we have to and I can extend the truck insurance for a month as well. Riley's first appointment isn't until the 14th so hopefully we get everything worked out for that. Stay tuned for the rest of.....yes, she's blonde!!! ~laugh~
 

It's after 11 pm and I'm tired so I'll sign off. Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit. Feel free to leave a comment. Until next time..be safe, take care..   

Historic Beauvoir House....

Our Location: Magic River Rv Resort, Long Beach, Mississippi

A warm night followed by a great day with lots of blue skies, warm temps and little wind. Tonight seems to be a repeat of last night!

Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum

Up at the fire shortly before 6 a.m. to see the usual faces, Buzz, and Mac followed by the regulars in a staggering line. ~laugh~ The chatter was constant and the discussions varied. Jerry, Ron, Linda, Pete, Pat, Swilly, Amanda, and Robert all put in an appearance this morning. 

Glass section in the floor between first and second floor in the Museum

Home by 8:30 am to find that Riley had bagged up the garbage, washed the dishes and had a shower all before I managed to get home. Busy lady she was!!!!! So sweet to do all that work by herself. 

Piano in the museum near the Library.

After breakfast we headed out for a walk, doing 2 miles before we called it off. Both of us were kind of tired at that point. Climbed into the Dogsled to head off for a tour of the Jefferson Davis house known as Beauvoir House in Biloxi. I've toured it before but Riley hasn't so we thought it would be interesting. The fee of $12.50 each covered everything on the grounds. The museum and Presidential Library are new since my last visit a few years ago but the 'house' was the same with a great Docent to lead us thru. He was a fun fellow that encouraged interaction, questions and engaged us often. At one point I ended up as a Volunteer! ~laugh~ Why are the door handles so low on the doors? Because men were required to be gallant and with the handles so low they had to bow to open the door and therefore bowed to the young lady in their company. Chivalry is not dead in the deep south at Beauvoir house. The Docent bowed to me while instructing me to lead the troops out and to the left.   Jim was a delight to lead us through the house and explain all the answers to all questions, even if he didn't know the answer. ~laugh~ 

The funeral carriage that carried Jefferson Davis' body.

Riley and I wandered to the cemetery before we took the tour of the house and ran into another Docent in period dress that talked a great deal about the deep south, the gardens, Beauvoir house and many other things. While a kindly woman I was happy to get away from her as she talked way too much!!!

Cannon, balls, confederate flag in the Museum.

The house was built by Mr. Brown, a rich plantation owner who used it as his summer house for 3 months out of the year. Two separate cottages grace each side of the mansion. One was a schoolhouse/library and the other was a guest cottage used at that time by visiting clergy to the area, latter as a guest house in which J. Davis stayed for 2 years. Both of these cottages were destroyed by Katrina and rebuilt. The marble arches that once graced the front yard were destroyed by Katrina and the larger rescued pieces of marble were made into a smaller arch that now graces the cemetery in the back. Mr Brown sold it to Mrs. Darcy, owner when Jeff Davis used the guest cottage. Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Jefferson Davis knew each other from 'finishing' school and were about the same age. Mrs. Darcy sold the house to the Davis'. 

View from the front porch of the house.

The cemetery holds confederate soldiers, any family member that may have died at the this location (when it was a Hospital for the confederate soldiers) and even some servants. The cemetery also holds the body of Samuel Davis, Jefferson Davis' father who was fought in the Revolutionary War. The tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier is also located there. 

 

The grand staircase!

 

We spent a couple of hours at this place enjoying the sights and tours. We would strongly recommend a visit to the place if you are in the area, it is well worth the time and money. 

 

Jefferson Davis' father's clock.

 

From there we headed homeward but stopped a a Surf Style just because we could. We both decided against a Wally run today for a couple of reasons. Home we managed to find some lunch, I sat outside reading for a while this afternoon, taking a chair to the pond's edge to sit in the sun. After that it was reading inside for a while, then close up the place as night is falling. 

 

Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.

 

Dinner was pasta since we haven't had it for a while. It was good, broad noodles with various kinds of cheese. Yummy. We left the dishes again tonight. I'm just exhausted tonight for some reason! 

 

Ceiling in the back parlour/library.

 

So there you have it, thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment. Until next time..be safe, take care...