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04/19/03; Vicksburg, Mississippi
Dear Family and Friends,
Another good day on the road; the cars continue to do their job well and we are getting used to our routine. Our overnight at Minden put us in position to add two more states to our “war chest”: Arkansas and Mississippi!
Arkansas border
We popped up over the Arkansas border just a few miles to Eudora on strictly “Model A roads” and then drove back through Tallulah , LA to pick up the I-20 into Vicksburg. We departed Minden at 0718 and arrived Vicksburg at 1320, counting time out for lunch alongside the street across from the court house in Tallulah. The weather today was a thin overcast, which ameliorated the heat we had yesterday. The total distance driven was 219 miles. Keith was in the lead and almost tied Dennis’ record yesterday for poor facilities at the gas station! The Smiths have consumed 155 gallons of regular gasoline at an average price of $1.47 per gallon. Thus far, the cost of car operation has averaged about $0.10 per mile.
After checking in at the motel, we drove about one-quarter mile to the entrance to the Vicksburg National Park, which is the site of the Civil War battle for Vicksburg. It was the winning of this battle that brought U. S. Grant to the attention of Lincoln and made him a national hero and finally winning for him the Presidency of the US. We first watched a video at the Visitor’s Center and then took a drive around the extensive park and visited the Military Cemetery where over 17,000 soldiers are interred – about 13,000 being unidentified.
Vicksburg cannon
Vicksburg breastworks
Tomorrow, we head for New Orleans. Our plans for this city are not quite jelled at this point, so if you want to know what we do here, you’ll have to visit the site latter!
It is time for us to thank our good friend Pat Burbank for providing to all of you the opportunity to stay up to date on our trip. She is closely monitoring this input and if we goof, she tried to correct it. Thanks Pat. (If any of you want to send your appreciation to Pat, you can address her at pat@patburbank.com)
We send you all our love,
Keith, Joann, Joan & Dennis
