Southern Swing Day 2

I awoke later than I had planned, but considering the 2 hour time difference it was close to the usual time. I checked out of the motel and left Longview, heading east toward Shreveport. Just before entering Louisiana (state 28), I took a side road so that I could pull over and take a picture by the "Welcome To" signs. I was pleased that not only was there a sign for the state, but for the parish as well.

I pushed on through the morning through Shreveport and onward, east across northern Louisiana. I had lunch at a picnic area along the way, ever mindful of the strange bugs and other critters that must inhabit the bayou in all directions. The air continued to be oppressive. For all of its climactic faults, the pacific northwest is an awfully nice place to live. Although the part of the state I travelled though didn't have a lot going on, I would like to return to see New Orleans one day.

Early in the afternoon, I crossed the Mississippi River into the state (state 29) named for it. At Vicksburg, I wandered around a civil war monument before heading up a smaller road up along the eastern bank of the big river. It was my first chunk of driving off of the interstate, and although slower was quite pleasant. It reminded me of driving through the rural Willamette Valley, except there weren't any foothills in the distance here, and they don't grow cotton in Oregon.

After passing through a hundred miles of rural Mississippi, I crossed back over the river and into Arkansas (state 30). Shortly into the state, I stopped at a lovely information center upon a large oxbow lake. Before the trip, I had resolved to get as far as Pine Bluff for the night. I arrived there in the late afternoon, however, so instead of stopping I drove around the town a bit before pressing on to Little Rock.

At Little Rock I stopped and parked at the downtwon waterfront. I was impressed with the park and the parts of downtown I walked through. There was a large market area, although it was closed this evening. Apparenly they are starting up a small streetcar service, I was too early to catch that though. I was also a few months too early for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library, although I saw the site. From what I can tell, Arkansans are very excited for the presidential library to open.

Since it was still light out, I decided to press on just a bit longer to the town of Conway. I checked into my motel and drove around the town a bit. The downtown area was quiet but had recently been upgraded. I had dinner at the Waffle House.

September 05, 2004 11:59 PM