Iuka, Mississippi

This morning we left traveling north into Mississippi headed for the town of Iuka, MS about 35 miles from Red Bay.

Our first stop was at the Tishomingo State Park which was quite impressive.  The road through the Park is fairly narrow and windy.  We first stopped at a picnic area with a long dock into the lake.  Our next stop was at this old log cabin next to a creek and among the trees.  Leaving the cabin, we walk up a path a ways to the bridge over the creek.  Very serene.

 Leaving the log cabin, we drove around the lake and through the campground and family cabin area which includes an old lodge.  It is a lovely area and there was one 42 foot Class A there, however, we both agreed it would be tight getting into and out of the various campsites even if they were long enough.   We also stopped at the Swinging Bridge built in the 1930's.  It is a native stone and steel cable bridge and crosses high above Bear Creek a number of trails.

Continuing up the road, we arrived in Iuka (pronounced eye-you-ka) which is named after a Chickasaw chief who was allegedly cured of his ailments after drinking of the free flowing spring waters and as a result of his cure, built his home here.  In 1904, the mineral springs water was awarded a Silver Medal at the St. Louis Fair in St. Louis as the purest and best mineral water at the World's Fair.  Word spread after that and Iuka became a health resort during the late 19th century.  The mineral springs are nestled among giant old trees in the Mineral Springs Park and are within a space of less than 100 feet.   In the Park is the cute covered bridge below.

Luka is also noted for the "bloody" Battle of Iuka on September 19, 1862 in the late afternoon and leaving 1,500 soldier either killed or wounded.  At the Oak Grove Cemetery we found a great many old headstones dating back to the Civil War period.  The one shown below is of a Confederate soldier who later became
Governor of Mississippi for 12 years.  Many of the Confederate soldiers buried here had a red and white ribbon around the headstone.  Interesting.

There are a great many old homes here dating back to the Civil War period.  Most of the homes are one story and not the large antebellum type we have been seeing.  Also saw the Church of Our Savior built in 1873 of board and batten.

We stopped at a local restaurant for our lunch then headed east and north getting on the Natchez Trace Parkway to take in more of this lovely road and the many interesting turnouts along the way including Colberts Stand which is along the Tennessee River and Cave Spring which was used by the Indians.

It is getting late, so we turn around and head back toward Red Bay taking in more of the Natchez Trace Parkway on the way back.  After returning to Red Bay we stopped at an ice cream placed called SnoBiz for a treat.  Ron had a sundae which consisted of vanilla ice cream topped with shaved ice then topped with red raspberry syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top.  Different.  He said it was delicious.

Helen Keller and Wilson Lock and Dam

Today our adventures began by heading east and north from Red Bay to the Alabama area called "The Shoals"  (actually four cities - Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia) along a four lane divided highway through the beautiful green countryside where we saw people having a garage sale along the highway.   We passed through Russellville, the county seat of  Franklin County which has an interesting history.  While the county was established in 1814, the county seat in Russellville did not actually occur until 1890 as three other communities in the county held that title over a period of years until a mysterious fire in the courthouse in Belgreen burned and another election was held.  It seems that several communities wanted to hold the title of county seat.

The name "The Shoals" where we headed today came about as a result of the treacherous waters that run through this area on the Tennessee River.  The waters have been tamed by a dam and lock which I will talk about later.

The town of Tuscumbia has a quaint downtown which includes a majestic Colbert County Courthouse complete with tall tower with a clock, a restored railroad depot,  Helen Keller's childhood home,a lovely park and many antebellum  homes.

Our first stop was at Spring Park, an extensive park which includes a golf course, children's amusements including a carousel, roller coaster and train, picnic tables under the trees and Coldwater Falls (a man made falls) cascading 48 feet into a lovely lake with lots of Canadian Geese floating in the water.   In addition, there was a beautiful bronze statue of an Indian woman with a child called Sacred Tears which pays tribute to Native Americans.

Next we visited the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller.  The house was built in 1820 by Helen's grandfather on 640 acres and much of the family's furniture and Helen's personal mementos are in the home.  Also on the grounds (only 10 acres today) are the Cottage which was used as a school house for Helen while she was working with her teacher, Anne Sullivan.  Behind the house is the Pump where Helen finally made a connection between the word water and the water itself, Kitchen and Cook's Bedroom, the Ice House, Gardens and the Lion's International Memorial Garden.  A docent gave us a brief overview of the history of the house and family and then we were free to roam around the house and grounds.  What an inspiration Helen Keller was to America.

This is a copy of a statue of Helen Keller that can be found in Washington, D.C.

After a brief stop for lunch at Aunt Bea's Bakery and Bistro and a drive around town looking at all the old homes, we headed further north to the town of Muscle Shoals where we found the Wilson Lock and Dam on the Tennessee River.  After driving across the Dam we found a road that lead to the Lock area and we were able to watch a Coast Guard boat  leave the upper lock, the water in the lock drop to the lower level, barges enter the lock at the lower level, the lock close behind them and then watch the barges rise in the lock to the higher level, a process taking approximately two hours.  What a thrill and so interesting.  The Dam is the cornerstone of the TVA (begun in 1933) and boasts one of the highest, single-lift locks in the world.  Construction of the Dam was started in 1918 during WWI.

It was almost 4 p.m. when we left for home.  There is still much to see in "The Shoals" area which we will leave for our next trip to Red Bay.  Yes, we know there will be repairs on the RV again at some later time.  

The King's Birthplace

We are settled in our new camping spot for the next week so can now do some sightseeing in the area.

Today we ventured north making a stop in the next town/state about three miles down the road at a flea market store where I found a couple of books (like I need a few more to add to my full container in the bay).  We then proceeded on to the Natchez Trace Parkway going south toward Tupelo.  We had originally planned to cover this area when we left Vicksburg a month ago, but weather and a leaky roof prevented it.

Shortly after entering the Parkway, I snapped this picture and it wasn't until I saw it on the computer that I realized there is a lock showing up in the middle of the picture.  It turns out this is one of 10 locks on the Tennessee -Tombigbee Waterway which we had crossed.   The Waterway is an alternative route to the Gulf of Mexico extending 200 miles in eastern Mississippi where it connects with the Tennessee River. Interesting.

We stopped at several points of interest along the Parkway and were especially intrigued with the Pharr Mounds  which date back 1,800 to 2,000 years.  Indians in the area made these mounds and used them for burial sites.

There was a Visitor Center further on and we stopped there to listen to a 15 minute video regarding the Parkway which is really not a parkway but a National Park 800 feet wide running 444 miles long through three states (Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee).  The road through this Park is very smooth and is not only treed lined with many interesting points of interest, but also filled with cultivated farmland.  An RV can easily navigate this Parkway but there are some points of interest which cannot be accessed.

Leaving the Parkway, we drove into Tupelo which is the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.  Below is a picture of the home he grew up in as well as a statue of him at 13 and the Assembly of God church where he first sang gospel music.  Long live the King.

Leaving Tupelo, we drove back to I-78 but left it again a few miles east to find a place for lunch in Mooreville which it turns out is one of those many small back woods places that hardly exist.  However, we decided we would take this back road through the countryside to the interstate and luckily we found a family owned restaurant called "Comers" which at 2 p.m. was still open and serving lunch.  The place was very clean and the only eating establishment in the area.  There were about twenty tables with only a couple occupied.  This changed quite rapidly after we were seated when numerous other people arrived.  Our lunch was good and the prices very inexpensive.

We crossed this rusty old bridge hoping it would hold together for one more car, ours.

Returned home to Red Bay and a quiet evening.  More adventures tomorrow.

Finished at Tiffin

Today all the work being done on our Phaeton at the Tiffin Service Center was completed.  We are very pleased with the service and highly recommend it to those with Tiffinn motorhomes.  New friends have been made here not only through RVillage but also from just walking around and visiting with people in the Customer Lounge while waiting for service to be completed.  There was lots of discussion about the service, the repair people, places to visit  and places to eat or not not only near Red Bay but also all over the U.S.

Tomorrow we will move to an small self service campground here in Red Bay to await our appointment to get our Norcold refrigerator changed out for a residential one on June 23.   For those reading this who are not RVers, there have been many problems and fires with the Norcold.  Since we are full timing now, we decided it would be prudent to change over to the residential.

While we await the appointment, Ron and I intend to do more sightseeing here in Alabama as well as Mississippi (the Mississippi border is just out of Red Bay) and will be posting our adventures and pictures over the next week.

Adventure Day

After hearing from some fellow RVers about a couple of interesting places to visit near here, Ron and I took off this afternoon so see what all the talk was about.

Our adventure took us 17 miles into the backwoods of Alabama not really knowing what to expect while driving down a dark treed shaded road

where we cautiously approach a  cemetery called "Coon Dog Cemetery."  not really knowing what we will see.  Coon Dog Cemetery you say.  Yes, Coon Dog.

The first dog buried here was "Troop" in 1937.

Leaving the Cemetery, we returned to the main road driving another 5 miles north and turning off on Mill Mountain Road to a sign that said "Rattle Snake Saloon."  What is that all about?  From a dirt parking lot with horses waiting to be ridden, we climb the steps into the back of an old truck and are driven down a narrow very steep windy dirt road to the Saloon which is actually a watering hole under a rock in the mouth of a cave.

Off to the left is a building which included a bar, tables and chairs and the kitchen, but we chose to sit outside under the rock along with the other patrons.

There was a tour group sitting at a number of tables, but we found a small slice of log table and outdoor chairs to await our waitress in short shorts.  Before 5 p.m. they do not serve liquor so we opted for a soft drink and an appetizer of battered and fried pickles which I had been wanting Ron to try.  I had eaten them many years ago and found them to be delicious.  Once again getting into the truck, we are returned to the top and head back to Red Bay.

A fun day.