We planned on spending the morning buying some new tires, but what the heck they still look fine. We managed only 179 miles today but that was kinda on purpose. When we asked google last month what the shortest route home was, it had us take the I-20 to Birmingham, then north to the I-40 in Memphis, but I have always wanted to check out Vicksburg Mississippi, its only 100 miles longer.

A new red road to follow today the U.S. 80 it was just lovely but it ended in Jackson. We stopped for gas there and fortunately I checked my nuts and bolts on the towbar rig. A nut was gone and the bolt was hanging there waiting to jump out when we went over a bump (which “red roads” have a lot of). I had been checking them once a day, now it seems like we are pulling over every couple minutes.

So Lei picked the route out of Jackson, down the “Natchez Trace Parkway” and up a black road into Vicksburg. Maybe someday we will have the time to drive all the way down and see “Mammie’s Restaurant”.

Natchez Trace Parkway

Natchez Trace Parkway

We got into Vicksburg about 4:30 PM and got a free room at the Comfort Inn (we use the Choice Hotels Point program and finally had enough points) pretty good price for Friday night! We disconnected the Ranger and by 5:15 we were at the Vicksburg Battlefield Park, we wanted to see what the hours and price was, the ranger had himself locked in his gate shack, but finally came out and told us $8 per car and it was open till 7PM but he wasn’t taking anymore money, “wink wink nudge nudge” and enjoy.

How cool more free stuff, we said, as we drove in, turns out the park has 16 miles of roads and it took us an hour and a half and we were rushing through. Here is a picture, I will have to get a couple more up soon with more story. Later though.