San Antonio TX

May 23, we traveled from Louisiana to San Antonio, an eight-hour drive. We had planned to stay 6 nights in San Antonio, because there’s so much to see and do there.  Plus, we planned to visit with motor home friends.  Hopefully, we would have time to rest and do laundry, as well.    

San Antonio did not disappoint. Full of history and Spanish colonial architecture, San Antonio offers many opportunities to learn the role the missions played in the development of the state of Texas. The chain of missions established along the San Antonio River in the 1700s is a reminder of one of Spain’s most successful attempts to extend its dominion northward from New Spain (present-day Mexico.)  Collectively they form the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America.

Rumors of riches spurred the early Spanish explorers northward across the Rio Grande River.  By the 1600s Spaniards penetrated areas to the east, encountering the Tejas Indians.  (Texas is named for this tribe.)  While the dreams of wealth faded, the Spanish concentrated more fully on spreading the Catholic faith, the basis of Spanish colonial society, among the frontier Indians.  The missions served both Church and State.  As an arm of the church, the mission was the sanctuary for converting the Indians spiritually.  As an agent of the state, the mission helped push the empire northward.  Missions also offered Indians safety from their enemies. 

The Spanish missions helped form the foundation for the city of San Antonio.  Modern San Antonio early recognized the missions’ significance.  Since the 1920s the city has worked to preserve them.  Today these missions represent a nearly unbroken connection with the past.  Carrying the legacy of generations of American Indians and Hispanics, they live as active parishes.

Each of the 5 missions played an important role in the development of culture and religion throughout the region.  The names of the missions are:  Expada, San Juan, San Jose, Concepcion, and the best known, 

The Alamo. 

Congress created San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in 1978.  By cooperative agreement with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, mission churches remain active centers of worship.  This park is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. 

Another highlight of our visit to San Antonio is the River Walk which runs beside the San Antonio River right in the middle of the city.  Umbrella tables and the slowly flowing river make for a relaxing lunch.

Treka Davis and myself

While in San Antonio we were delighted to meet up with a Dover Baptist Church member who is in school in the US Army.  We enjoyed a Mexican lunch together and caught up on her duties and achievements.  

Also, as referenced earlier, we were thrilled to visit with motor home friends who are now living in San Antonio in a senior living community.  Wife, Kathryn, is a polio survivor, so we always share our stories of survival. 

 

Buck and Janet Walker (left) Ron and Kathryn Rickard (right)

Feeling rested and with drawers full of clean clothes, it was time to bring in the slides and hit the road again.  We enjoyed our time in San Antonio, TX.

More Adventures in Louisiana

A River and Its People

The Cane River region is home to a unique culture: the Creoles. Generations of the same families of owners and workers, enslaved and tenant, lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in the United States.

Oakland Plantation

A largely rural landscape is known for its historic plantations, distinctive Creole architecture, and multi-cultural legacy. Cane River lay at the intersection of French and Spanish realms in the New World. The park consists of Oakland Plantation and portions of the Magnolia Plantation.

Magnolia Plantation and Blacksmith Building

Two additional "chasing stamps" destinations were not expected to be in the location of the French Quarter, New Orleans.

Jean Lafitte National Historic Preserve

Established to preserve significant examples of the rich natural and cultural resources of Louisiana's Mississippi Delta region, this park consists of six physically separate sites that illustrate Acadian culture, natural history, and pivotal events that took place in this diverse region.

Experience Jazz Music Where it all Began

Only in New Orleans could there be a National Park for jazz! We visited the visitors' center and attended a musical workshop, featuring a New Orleans import from Virginia. He explained that jazz music was different from the blues, rock n roll, etc. because of the left hand base clef rhythms. Love of the jazz style music brought him to New Orleans.

Lunch at Bubba Gump's
Also, in the French Quarter we ate lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. They serve fried shrimp, steamed shrimp, broiled shrimp, shrimp scampi, …..

Leaving Mississippi for Louisiana

Monday, May 21 we headed to Baton Rouge, LA.  But we took a side trip to another place to cancel a stamp in Buck's PASSPORT.  Although not a national park, this site in Pioneer, LA, called Poverty Point World Heritage Site, has a stamp in the PASSPORT.  I will quote from the Internet the story of Poverty Point World Heritage Site  because I can't write it any better.  Here it is -

Centuries ago, when Stonehenge was built and Queen Nefertiti ruled Egypt, American Indians were building earthen monuments in north Louisiana.  Hand by hand and basketful by basketful, men and women shaped nearly 2 million cubic yards of soil into stunning landscapes.  The result was a massive 72-foot-tall mound, enormous concentric half-circles and related earthworks that dwarfed every other earthen monument site for 2,200 years.  

The amount of forethought and organization needed to build Poverty Point without the aid of modern instruments, domesticated animals or even wheeled carts must have been staggering.  And for what reason?  We still do not know, but clues are constantly being revealed.  Archaeologists have much to work with, as millions of artifacts were found at the site.  Domestic tools, human figurines and tons of stones from up to 800 miles away have led to speculation that Poverty Point was an ancient residential, trade and ceremonial center.

More mysteries:  Poverty Point was abandoned around 1100 B.C. A more recent native group added another mound in about A.D. 700, but occupied only a small fraction of the site, and only for a brief period.  Aside from that, there was only intermittent human use of the site for 2,900 years, until settlers from Europe inhabited the area in the 1800's.

After hearing a few reports of this ancient settlement, archaeologists began systematically recording the site and collecting some of its countless artifacts.  In 1962, the federal government designated it a National Historic Landmark, one of the highest honors for an archaeological site in the US.  And in 2014, the site achieved perhaps the highest honor of all:  UNESCO named Poverty Point a World Heritage Site.  

There are only three other archaeological sites in the US with that distinction.  UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, whose home office is in Paris, France.   I could not determine the other two archaeological sites in the US to receive the honor.  

No other activities that we chose for Louisiana need to be included in this blog.  We will continue another day.  

Vicksburg, Mississippi National Battlefield

We traveled from Tupelo to Vicksburg, Mississippi  located on the banks of the Mississippi River and began the "chasing stamps" process.  One of our main stops was Vicksburg National Military Park.  

Confederate President Jefferson Davis remarked, "Vicksburg is the nailhead that holds the South’s two halves together.” At the start of the Civil War, Confederates controlled the Mississippi River south of Cairo, Illinois all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. With its valuable commercial port and railroad hub, the city was of tremendous importance. From points west of the Mississippi River men, food, salt, and weapons, were funneled through Mexico and made their way to Vicksburg and Confederate armies in the East. 


President Abraham Lincoln also realized the necessity to capture Vicksburg. Remarking, "Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.” The capture of this "Gibraltar of the Confederacy" was an immediate priority for Lincoln. If Vicksburg fell, Union forces could isolate Texas, Arkansas, and much of Louisiana, cutting off Confederate supplies and personnel. 

As the war progressed, Federal naval and ground forces pushed south from Illinois, and north from the Gulf of Mexico as they closed in on Vicksburg. In 1863, they set their sights on Vicksburg, the Fortress City. The fate of the Confederacy would lie largely with the fate of Vicksburg.  At 10 AM on July 4, white flags were displayed from the Confederate works, and the brave men in gray marched out of their entrenchments, stacked their arms, removed their accouterments, and furled their flags. The victorious Union army now marched in and took possession the city. The fall of Vicksburg, coupled with the defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in the battle of Gettysburg fought over July 1-3, 1863, marked the turning point of the Civil War.  The Union had won.

I'll admit that I had help from the internet to compile this blog.  Hope you enjoyed the history lesson.  

The last night we were in Vicksburg, Mississippi, we went out to eat at Rusty's, a popular restaurant on the water.  A river boat blocked the view of the river, but that was OK.  It also blocked the sun from our eyes.  We had to wait for a table.  A cute little fellow, his slightly older sister, and his mom were also waiting for a table. He was playing the role of the pesty little brother and was about to cause a problem.  I asked him if I could see the children's magazine he had in his hand.  We got acquainted over that magazine.  Finally he got up the nerve to ask why I was in "that" chair. (My power chair).  I gave him a simple answer and he accepted it.  He talked with me the whole time they waited for a table and didn't bother his sister again.  Their mom thanked me when they got their table.  We happened to be seated near them and he kept saying hello to me.  As we left, they also left.  He wanted to give me the picture he colored while waiting on his order to be brought to the table.  His name was Reed.  He was a very smart fellow and very thoughtful.  Highlight of my day. 

2018 trip to the SW, USA

It seems I'm late in beginning the blog of our motor home trip to the SW.  I haven't blogged since the 2015 Alaska Caravan in 2015.  My memory fails me, but thanks to Stacey, my daughter-in-law, and Buck, my live-in computer geek, hopefully, I have remembered how to do it. We appreciate your following us in our quest to visit all the states in our motor home.

We left home on Monday, May 14, headed west.  Our first stop was a little town in Georgia just south of Chattanooga TN. We'd camped in Georgia before, bet we didn't want to drive all the way from Shelby to Tupelo in one day.  For two days we spent time "chasing down stamps,: or at least that's what I call the process of driving to a national park, visiting the visitor's center, and going to the "stamping station."  At this point Buck opens his PASSPORT book for national parks and uses the stamp to indicate the name of the national park and the date of our visit.  This process is called "cancelling the stamp." Buck is truly dedicated to this new hobby. In fact, he planned this entire trip around the location of national parks.  As you continue to follow us you will be surprised at the location of some of these parks.

After two nights in Georgia, we drove to Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Aaron Presley.  No, this was not a national park, but Buck knew he couldn't let me miss going to Elvis's birthplace.

We learned that Elvis was born into a share-cropper family on January 8, 1935.  They lived in a two-room house that his father and grandfather built. Probably everyone knows that he was a twin.  His brother, Jessie Garon Presley, was a still-born baby and was born first. I know they must have been so relieved that Elvis was a healthy baby.  You can't help but think of how life would have played out for Elvis if his brother had lived.  Maybe they would have become the Presley Brothers and gain all the fame that Elvis earned.  Or maybe Jesse would not have been musical at all.

I've included a few pictures of the house and the outhouse.  This is the original location of the house.

Notice the radio on the dresser.

The first song Elvis sang in public was at his church.  The song - Jesus Loves Me.  He was about 5 years old.  When he was 11, his mom, Gladys, took him to a hardware store where she planned on buying him a hunting rifle.  A guitar caught her eye and Elvis tried it out.  They didn't buy the rifle after all.  This was the beginning of Elvis with a guitar.  His pastor at the church taught Elvis how to play it.  When Elvis was 13, he sang a farewell song and played his guitar for his Milam Junior High class before moving to Memphis where his father hoped to make a better life for his family.  Nine years later, Elvis returned to the fairgrounds and performed a benefit concert for the City of Tupelo.  The proceeds were used to purchase his birthplace and make a park for the neighborhood children.

Assembly of God Church

Quick update.  We're headed to the southwest US tomorrow.  We will keep you posted right here on our blog page.  See you soon.

You're Invited

Buck and I returned home on Friday, October 3. We were really excited to be home after being on the road since May 17.  While the trip was wonderful in many ways, we are very happy to be back home with family and friends.  

We are presenting slides and videos of our travels in Canada and Alaska on Sunday evening, November 15 at Dover Baptist Church located at 1501 Polkville Road (Hwy 226 North), Shelby, NC  28150.  

You are invited to attend. Arrive around 5:30 to view a CD made by some of our caravan friends who are professional photographers. You can also survey our table filled with interesting books, photos, and maps of the trip. Our presentation will be at 5:45. Please feel free to bring family and friends interested in learning about our trip.

One very interesting event happened on our return trip in Canada. About 3:00 AM we were awakened by caravan friends telling us that the Northern Lights were lighting up the night sky.  The Northern Lights were amazing; a phenomenon that is very difficult to explain.  We will share slides of the lights at our presentation.

We hope to see you there!