Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Vicksburg, Mississippi to Fairfield, Texas
Highlights: Vicksburg National Military Park, Driskill Mountain, and the Republic of Texas
Vicksburg is located on a high bluff at a bend of the Mississippi River, a vital route for troops and supplies during the Civil War. Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the siege of Vicksburg, which ended with Confederate surrender of the city, a turning point of the war. The park includes over 1,400 monuments and markers, 17,000 graves, and the restored USS Cairo, one of the first ironclad gunboats.
Vicksburg National Military Park, Minnesota Memorial
Illinois Memorial and the rolling hills of Mississippi
Tom joins the Battle of Vicksburg
The USS Cairo was sunk by a Confederate mine seven miles north of Vicksburg in the Yazoo River in December 1862. Over 100 years later, the boat was raised from the river and its remains are now on display. Disappointingly, access to the USS Cairo is currently closed (Covid), and we could only see it from a distance.
USS Cairo
Yazoo River from Fort Hill
Navy Circle offered a nice view of the Mississippi River before crossing into Louisiana. There we met Erik, a 55-year-old juggling hitchhiker. We felt sorry for a guy trying to hitch rides during a pandemic and gave him a lift as far as a truck stop in Tallulah.
The Mississippi River from Navy Circle, Vicksburg
Erik, the friendly hitchhiker
The highest point in Louisiana is atop Driskill Mountain, at a breathtaking 535 feet. A 1.6-mile trail leads from the parking lot of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church on State Road 507 to the summit. The view from the top isn't exactly spectacular, but we're still proud to have bagged this peak!
Driskill Mountain Base Camp
Summit success!
View from the top of Louisiana
Finally, we entered Texas. Texas was an independent country from the time of its revolution from Mexico in 1836 until it joined the United States in 1845 as the 28th state. A short detour off US 84 brought us to the last remaining marker of the international boundary between the Republic of Texas and the USA, now just west of the Texas border with Louisiana.
Should have packed our passports!
Lodging: Budget Inn, Fairfield, TX. Comfy room, low price, and we could park right by the door. Score! We were traveling with more gear than usual as we headed into remote West Texas, so convenient parking was a major plus.
We had a delicious TexMex dinner at El Jimador and then looked for a place to top off the air in our spare tire before reaching the more lonely roads. We got the air at a Cooper Farms Country Store then went inside to browse the large variety of craft sodas and homemade candy and treats. We ended up leaving with three kinds of fudge.
Mmmmm... Bacon!
Driving distance: 396 miles
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