Vidalia and Natchez

Vidalia, Louisiana
Natchez, Mississippi

    I don't have much information on Vidalia. It was not the target of this outing. I would suggest staying inVidalia. That B and B looks very Southern, cool and calling. Vidalia would be cheaper than fashionalble, metropolitan Natchez, you know. I've been told Vidalia has a great seafood restaurant, also.
     A BMW rider from Mamou and his wife run up here all the time. I'll get you the name of the motel where they stay and the restaurant's name also. He's a lawyer, so, I don't know how picky he is.
     Staying in Vidalia sets you up for exploring both sides of The River. Visit Ferriday and the Jerry Lee Lewis Museum and travel up the levee and see the Winter Quarters where Grant planned the invasion of Mississippi. Cross the river and go to the battlefied and cemetery. If you haven't you need to. It will give you an insight into the third world.
      Speaking of Grant, this trip's main purpose was to scout the area for an article I want to write, tracing Grant's route up the backroads to Vicksburg.
      Leaving my home in South La. at 11am, it was a fast day, but very successful. The following is what I found.

Don't you just have to know the story of Whitehall Plantation.
The plantations are neat, and if you haven't stayed in one, do.

Viewed from Vidalia, looking East across the river. I think that's a gambling boat, or it might be one of the steamboats that travel the river, the Delta Queen, etc. The B'mer guy will know.

I crossed the bridge and at the first stop light with a turn lane, I turned north or left on N. Canal Street and just followed it, amazed at the history I was passing through. I had no idea where I was going, just following the water, where you will always find "the goods".

It came to an end and I turned left toward the river and then a right on Linton Ave. I hit gold. Look at those homes. But, I hadn't seen anything yet.

I turned around and headed back toward town when I saw this dead end street going toward the river. Of course I took it. And this is what I saw with a guard dog barking his head off. I barked back. These are the famous homes on the bluff. Some have falllen off as the soft material they are built on fell apart. Such a shame. These are protected by a reinforced face on the bluff.

This is their front porch view looking down the river.

I continued back toward town when I saw Learneds Mill Road descending the bluff. I had to go. What a view. I wanted to see the Mill. The road turned to gravel and I was burning a lot of time here which I had not planned on. I wanted to get to Port Gibson and the roads that Grant traveled. So, I turned around to see the next picture.

Those are the homes pictured above from a different perspective. Those are banana plants. Natchez really reminded me of New Orleans. Like the French Quarter, there are carriages on which you can tour the old town. Cool place, but I was buring time and I was 200 miles from home. I returned to US 84 and continued east through the traffic to US 61 north. More traffic. I wanted to get back next to the river to travel north. Not on industrial strength US 61. I saw a sign that said MS.555 and I took it. Martin Luther King Road.

I have a lot more Natchez pictures but space prohibits showing them now.