Day Four

Kudzu and I went into Natchez this morning to see what was so special about this much hyped city. Not much as it turns out. It appears that Natchez is trying really hard to be cool and trendy, but it's just not happening. Downtown is really pretty and there are some great old southern buildings, but it's just kind of blah. After paying $8.00 to tour Longwood, the cranky, old garden club ladies that run the place took one look at Kudzu and turned up their noses. They told me I couldn't take her in unless I held her through the whole tour. I guess they were afraid she would pee on the floors their grandaddy's slaves worked so hard to polish. They were the first rude people I had met in Missippi so the Zoobley and I headed for Louisiana.

Downtown Natchez

Approaching Baton Rouge, there's nothing special to comment on in Louisiana except flat land and smelly chemical plants so Kudzu and I headed for the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain and stopped for the night in the town of Mandeville. We checked in to Fountainbleu State Park and after a run for me and a long walk for the Zoobs, I had a great red snapper and a cold beer at Rip's on Lakeshore Drive. Fountainbleu State Park is essentially a large grove of live oaks and Spanish Moss with a small beach on the Lake. It's the nicest of the state parks I've been to but also the most crowded with lots of families celebrating Halloween.

Fountainbleau Park

Longwood

Melrose