Sweet Home Alabama

So we began the day by piling in the car and leaving our hotel in Baton Rouge, La. We made our way out of the city, and onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. This is an old historicological route, and a "scenic drive." We stopped at few places and explored the old buildings and historic sites. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

The hospital where my Dad got to spend the day yesterday.

Leaving Baton Rouge. There were quite a few little places like this. The side says "We Plugs Patches."

Probably at least half of the houses had roofs covered in tarps.

This is what we call Tiger's Milk fudge. It is made by Cabela's. And it is AH-MAZE-ING. I'm planning on learning how to make it when I get home.

And this is the face Andrew makes when he eats the super yummy-in-your-tummy fudge.

The view outside of Baton Rouge. Once again, another beautiful area.

I have no idea what this was. It went by very fast, and no one else in my family saw it apparently. But because I have a picture, I KNOW it wasn't a figment of my imagination!

Old downtown Natchez.

Gorgeous scenic drive.

These trees are super awesome.

Inside the restored house at Mount Locust, an old plantation originally built in the late 1700's.

Ringing the bell out back.

The field. It was soooo hot here. I can't imagine what it must have been like for the slaves to work this land back in the day. Pure torture.

This is the family cemetery at the plantation. We don't have a picture of the slave cemetery, but it consisted of one stone (literal stone. Not a headstone) marking a grave. There were at least 43 or so people buried there, without any markings. And yet the family cemetery is gated and very ornate with extravagant headstones. It was interesting to see the contrast between the two.

The outside of the house.

Natchez Trace Parkway.

Walking up to the Rocky Springs ghost town. All that remains are some remnants of the old town, but no actual buildings, other than the church and graveyard. The church still has services every Sunday.

The old church, built in the early 1800's.

Jimmy wanted me to take his picture.

The cemetery. I love old cemeteries, you can tell so much about the areas history from them. For instance, James Winters went through at least 2 wives in a few years. There was a epidemic of yellow fever which seems to have wiped out many of the children. Winters had at least 7 or 8 children and 2 wives in the graveyard, all of whom died within about 10 years of each other. The town eventually disappeared due to yellow fever and depletion of the soil due to bad land management, as well as soil erosion.

Most of the people in the graveyard are children and young adults.

Some random bug thing.

ALABAMA!!!!

Once again, amazing fudge.

This is what we do when we get bored in the car.

If you look closely, my dad is in that bush peeking out. We had been in the car way too long.

Mr. Gigglepants

These are their "We're having a ton of fun riding in the car" faces.

Everything my mom and I need for a successful few hours of driving.

The copilot and the driver have to work together to accomplish tasks.

We are now staying in Tuscaloosa Alabama. So, tomorrow, we will be driving about an hour to Birmingham, and then down to Montgomery. See you then!

Bardle do,

Jenn