December 31, 2016. A Rainy Day at Gulf Coast RV Resort, Beaumont, TX.

December 31, 2016.  A Rainy Day at Gulf Coast RV Resort, Beaumont TX.  We expected to be on Galveston Island today.  We  awoke to a steady, if light rain.  The RV park serves a hot breakfast at the club house.  We walked, using an umbrella, to the club house, ate and returned to Harvey.  The rain had gotten heavier.  Neither of us wanted to spend the day driving in the rain.  Moreover, we didn't have to.  We had no reservation on the island so we opted to stay put.  I paid the nice lady in the office for another night and we spent most of the day in Harvey, reading and napping to the pitter-patter of the falling rain reverberating off the top of Harvey.

The rain finally slowed about 4:00 PM.  We ventured out for a walk and discovered the roads within the park to be covered with water.  The land is exceedingly flat here and there was no place for the water to go.  Several of the concrete roads were covered with standing water.  We both returned to Harvey with wet shoes.  Annie's jeans were wet about six inches from the hems.  Her socks were soaked.

There is a pool here, but it isn't heated.  Too bad.  This would have been a good day to take a swim.  We were already wet.

The line of rocking chairs is entirely appropriate.  Most of the people here are in their 60s and 70s and up.  However, there were no takers as we passed by this afternoon.  On another day, I can imagine old timers sitting, rocking, whittling, jawing, and maybe spitting.  They would be telling stories of back home and their work lives before becoming road warriors.  It would have been spellbinding stuff.

We will bypass Galveston tomorrow.  We are scheduled to be on Mustang Island, part of Padre Island, near Corpus Christie tomorrow night.  We will be there for a while unless we grow restless or the weather doesn't cooperate.  We came to the Gulf Coast of Texas searching for warmer weather.  Last winter on the Alabama coast it was chilly.  If we don't find warm weather on Mustang Island, we'll just move further south.  The only limitation is the Mexican border.  Neither of us have any interest in driving Harvey in Mexico.  That is probably just our ignorance.  But, hey, that's who Malachi and Annie are.

Goodnight.

December 30, 2016. WWII Museum, Dad's Dress Uniform.

December 30, 2016.  WWII Museum, Dad's Dress Uniform.  We made the short drive from the north side of Lake Pontchartrain to downtown New Orleans early this morning.  The New Orleans skyline was prominent from the 25-mile long causeway over the lake.  Surprisingly, the traffic was light and I adroitly maneuvered Harvey along the narrow city streets.

Several months back, I received a letter from one of the museum curators informing me that Dad's uniform would be on display for three months.  I began planning to see it.  Today was the culmination of that plan.  Dad's uniform has been hanging in closets since his return to the states in July, 1945.  It was in the duplex rented by the folks on Edgerton in Trumann.  It moved to 512 Kentucky Street, 1704 Manning in Hannibal, 4515 Westridge in Kansas City, 1811 Greenwood in Jonesboro, in turn.  After Mom's death in 2006, I brought it home with me.

I didn't know what to do with it so it was stored in the cedar closet at our house.  Several years ago, I contacted the museum and spoke with one of the curators - there are six.  I told him the story behind the uniform and he agreed to accept it for the museum.  I was elated.  In January, 2014, Annie and I delivered it to the museum.  We were told that it would be displayed with other WWII artifacts representing the various branches of the armed services.  The curator took us to the display area and told us that different uniforms are displayed quarterly.  It has taken two years for Dad to rotate into the display case.  There is a very nice plaque detailing the story behind the uniform.

Annie and I stayed at the display for some time.  Since we had arrived when the museum opened, there was no one else in the area.  We lingered, admiring the uniform and taking pictures.  Dad would have been in his mid-20s when he wore the uniform.  It seemed small, yet remarkably well-proportioned.  Dad was in the peak of physical fitness in those years.  I said earlier that he would be proud that his uniform is displayed in the premier museum covering the war.  As I stood so close to the display and the uniform he courageously wore, I was very proud, too.
 
The Greatest Generation came home from the war and put it behind them.  They began their families, worked hard and enjoyed the American Dream.  They declined to discuss their war experiences and got on with life.  Yet, they were marked by their experience.  Dad was no different.  He never talked about his experiences.  He was just another quiet American hero.  I am proud of his service to our country and I am proud to be his son.

From Beaumont, Texas, goodnight.    

December 29, 2016. Jonesboro to Madisonville, LA

December 29, 2016.  Jonesboro to Madisonville, LA.  We are ensconced in Fairview Riverside State Park, Madisonville, LA tonight.  The park is spacious and clean.  It rests on the banks of the Tchefuncte River about thirty miles north of New Orleans.  It will be a short drive for us in the morning to the WWII Museum in the heart of downtown, near the Super Dome.

The park is dominated by majestic live oak and cypress trees covered with Spanish moss.  The river is remarkably clear for a lowland waterway.  I would have expected a sediment-laden murky river here near sea level, but not so.  The river flows into Lake Pontchartrain about two miles south of here.

Annie is not fond of the park.  There are warnings about gators here.  She spotted a poster warning about the various snakes which inhabit the area.  Gators and snakes are not Annie's favorites.  She wanted me to walk ahead of her.  "Watch for eyes in the water," she cautioned.  I assume she was talking about gator eyes.  Sadly, I saw none.  That could have been fun.

Today has been a full day of driving.  We left Jonesboro at 8:00 this morning and arrived here a little after 4:00 PM.  You will have noticed a dearth of barn photos today.  That's because there are very few visible from Interstate 55 in Mississippi.  One of the pictures shows the highway bordered by trees on both sides.  That is a typical view of the countryside from the Interstate.

You are wondering what the Washington Monument is doing in Mississippi.  Well, it isn't really the Washington Monument.  It is a cell tower located on Interstate 55 north of Jackson in Ridgeland.  Apparently, local authorities believed the miniature monument was more attractive than a steel tower.  I think they were right.  It does attract attention to passersby on the Interstate.

We will be at the WWII Museum when it opens in the morning.  I expect to be on the road to Texas by noon.  For now, goodnight.
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December 28, 2016. Home to Jonesboro.

December 28, 2016.  Home to Jonesboro.  So, here we go again.  Annie Farkley, Harvey the RV and me.  We are on the road again.  Our destination is the Gulf Coast of Texas.  First, however, we will again tour the WWII Museum in New Orleans.  This time, to view Dad's dress uniform which is on display there until March.  Dad would be exceedingly proud to know his uniform is there with other artifacts salvaged from closets and basements across America.  The Greatest Generation finally has a place for its memories.  We will be in New Orleans Friday morning.  I'll have pictures for you afterwards.

Today was a typical first day.  We were late getting away and arrived here about 6:00 PM.  We are in the Craighead Forest Park again.  Today's pictures are typical of a day's drive, barns and other sights along the highway.  There was a cute little trailer in front of an antique store.  I would judge it has about half a century of age on it.  The truck to which it is hitched is about the same age.

I am not sure what the message is on the barn in the last picture.  Apparently the owner has a grievance against local authorities.  The message is faded and hard to read.  I don't know whether that means the owner has lost interest in the fight, or if it means he is no longer able to apply paint to the barn.  I wonder.

We will be near New Orleans tomorrow night.  I'll try to collect some better images along the way.  Good night for now.