Paul M. Grist State Park, Selma, AL
Due to Memorial Day most National Points of Interest and attractions were closed. We also woke up to a rainy day. Good time to log some miles and take in the back roads of Mississippi and Alabama. We were lucky that once out of Louisiana the rain stopped.
I was surprised by how Eastern Mississippi is so unlike the west part of the state. It's much more wooded and very little farm land. Here's a typical shot of what the 5 hour drive looked like.
Just cuz, I had to include some fun things along the way. Kinda jealous that our California gas fill-up stops don't include boiled peanuts, both Cajun style and plain!
We're used to seeing almonds or walnuts everywhere in California, but this is pecan country...pies, pralines, roasted, sugared, you name it.
We stopped for a picnic on the side of the road and barely made it to Selma within minutes of the Interprevtive Center closing. I had just enough time to run in and get some literature and maps to plan our strategy over the next couple of days. It was so cool to walk across the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge. Because it was the Monday evening of a holiday weekend we had the bridge to ourselves
This was the sight of the "Bloody Sunday" conflict between law enforcement and peaceful protestors in 1965. The 50 mile march from Selma to Montgomery triggered a milestone event in the Civil Rights Movement.
P.S. Gary violated the "no butt" rule and snapped a pic of Ned's butt. So funny.
The view from the middle of the bridge looking out was beautiful. Hard to get my mind around the serenity and beauty from this spot with what happened over 50 years ago.
We also visited the Brown Chapel AME Church. This place served as the starting point for the Selma to Montgomery March.
"Defying threats of death Martin Luther King, Jr. led 400 Black and White Americans on the longest, largest most dramatic march of his career."
The March was for Southern Blacks to gain the right to cast a vote. In the following 10 years Black voters increased from 1.4 million to 3.8 million, and Black elected officials from 72 to 2568 .
Selma also has some beautiful historic homes.
This is the Sturdivant House, one of the most intact Greek Rival antebellum homes in the South. It was completed in 1853.
We're camped about half hour away from downtown Selma. The campground is amazing. There are only 11 campsites and we have the entire place to ourselves. We are camped right on the lake. There are very friendly Canada geese, fireflies and really noisy frogs `that have come out this evening.
After all the New Orleans food we consumed we were looking forward to a healthy dinner this evening of grilled chicken and salad. I'm loving all the history, culture, places and food we're experiencing on the trip, but also loving just as much just hanging with Gary and Linda laughing and telling stories.
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