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| I came down off Firetower and hit MS 33. Turning north, I soon saw this chimney. If I'd been in south Louisiana I'd thought it the remainders of a sugarcane mill. I don't believe much sugarcane was grown here. There was a gate and it was locked. The water tower next to the stack was not at the town. It didn't have a local football mascot on it so I figured it belonged to the industry which had put it up. This really has me in a fit. I don't like secrets. If you are going to put up a huge chimney and a water tower, blocking the sky for miles around, you should label it. That would be the decent thing to do so you don't rowel up folks, like me. |
| Next was the village of Crosby. This is the town hall. I thought it was an old railroad property but soon that asumption would be challenged. Notice the pillars. |
| I got off the road and checked out the neighborhood street. The houses were alike on one block. These were "company" houses, I'll bet. The roofs were new. The design is simular to the municipal building. This was a lumber town. The stack was part of the operations. Was it connected to boiling water for steam power? Betcha. It could also be a garbage incinerator. My romantic bubble wiould be burst. |
| I continued on. I saw a road named "Airport" going up into the forest. I followed it a short ways, passing the back side of a large home. Then, just before the pavement gave out, this mansion appeared. Nice place. No doubt the owner is connected to the local industry. I don't know why I assume so much. He may be from New Jersey and just liked the spot. |
| I didn't want to go northwest to the corner of 33 and US 84. 33 is a main road and you know how I feel about those. Bunkley Rd presented itself. It went northeast, the way I wanted to go. It went through farm land and forest. It went to Bunkley. Bunkley is a town with a sense of humor. You just have to go there. The baseball field is called The Town Square. Stuff like that. The Bunkley Hunting clubhouse was on the outskirts of Bunkley. The humor continued. |
| You know that sign has a private joke behind it. This is not the first time I've seen old cabins saved by hunting clubs. They are too much for some families to contend with but perfect for a bunch of guys to visit. Community effort is a strong tool. Notice the large fan on the right side of the porch. This place is not used just in winter. |
| Living room furniture on the porch is such a Southern Thang. It's hot down here and sitting inside the oven is dumb. Sleeping and sittin' on the porch is smart. Especially with that fan on. I'll bet those couches have seen some horizontal residents. I'll bet there's been some Hee-Hawing. I'll bet. Uncomfortable furniture is dumb, also. Speaking from experience. |
| It was getting to be "going home" time. I hit US 84, got some gas, and bit the bullet to go down what I thought would awful four laned 98. No. 98 is a quaint two laned forest highway as it begins here at US84. The first treat was the Homochitto Bridge, no jumping or diving. Ok? Jumping is from that other bridge, Billy Joe. |
| Sand. This is Fall. The River is low. You can see its potential in Spring. |
| I told the GPS to take me home, directly. I dove down Dilton Farmer Rd.to Thornton Rd. After a few more, I hit MS.48 going on the front side of Percy Quin St.Pk. and then through Magnolia, one of the top ten named towns in MS. You cannot say, "I'm from Magnolia, MS, without slipping into a slow Southern drawl. You can't say it fast. It can't be done. Don't try it. I bit my tongue. |
| I'm afraid the Brookside Grocery has just closed. Or, perhaps the owner is fishing. I am guessing that is a kerosene drum on the left of the porch. Electricity is still not "everywhere". Magolia Progress Road presented itself. I'd been to Progress and was now on a familiar route. |
| Pumping Station Rd. went south running into La.450 as it crossed the Osyka Stateline Rd. This is the way to come and go from this portion of MS. La 450 from the stateline to La.16 is a treat. Ok, you didn't hear me. It is a TREAT. Note this. La.450 runs from just north of Folsom all the way to MS. The sections from La.25 to La 16 are not that good. Their strength is that they get you north fast. Then after 16 the fun begins. Just before La.38, coming from the south, you pass throght Sunny Hill. The old church has been pictured many times in this rag. It does not seem active anymore. It needs paint and some friends. The old store above is so sad. The hurricane did it in. |
| The old building below is the one I was afraid to go into in a previous ride report. It was a hotel, I do believe. Let's stay in it this Halloween. To the left are links to sites about the Homochitto Forest. Visit them and then visit the forest. It's another one of those MS secrets. The ride was a complete success. As far as the roads go, every sort is available in good repair and very interesting in every category. The Links will guide you to places to stay. For bicycle riders, the state park has a top notch trail. |
| Later, Steve |
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| The Sunny Hill Hotel |
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