Pioneer Plaza, Book Depository and Samuels BBQ

Day 82 - Lots of adventures today.  "Pioneer Plaza honors Dallas’ cowboy past by celebrating the trails that brought settlers to Dallas. Pioneer Plaza features native landscaping with a flowing stream and waterfall with a re-creation of a cattle drive in the form of bronze statues of longhorns being driven by three horse riding cowboys.

Each sculpture was created by Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. The sculptures are believed to be the largest bronze sculptures of their type in the world."  We all had fun posing with the cattle.  Sherry had an awful misstep trying to navigate the rocks over stream.  Her camera and phone also went into the drink with her.  Steve M. did an excellent job troubleshooting the electronics.  We're hoping when they dry out they will work.  Unfortunately Sherry, Norm, Vicky and Steve were not able to make it back in time for the book depository museum.  When we were through in Dallas we drove to Chuck and Donna Samuels in Lucas for a wonderful BBQ.  Scrumptious - Yum!  If anyone left hungry it was their own fault. 

Which way to the bead store?

Bob running with the cattle.  Look out for the stream.

The stream the cattle will be crossing and the scene of Sherry's plunge.

Sherry reluctantly decided she will not try out for this new Olympic sport.

Bob, Connie and Howard - Oh Connie, looks like that might hurt.

Del, Dee and Dale on the cattle drive.

Connie and Mary showing the cattle the path to the water and Dee happily going for a ride.

Earl trying to lead the cattle across the stream.

Dallas Book Depository

6th Floor Book Depository - window where Oswald is believed to have shot
President John F. Kennedy.

Vicky - Trick or Treat anyone?

Above, Judy, Chuck and Dale
Below, Judy, Chuck, Dale, Dee Duane, Mabel, Connie and Mike
Good times at the BBQ!

Donna and Chuck Samuels, Hosts extraordinaire!

Frogmore Plantation & Magnolia Hall

Day 79 - Tour of Frogmore Plantation, a 200 year old plantation, in Ferriday, Louisiana. Dinner at Magnolia Hall, the last grand house built before the Civil War in Natchez, Mississippi.

Out building on Frogmore Plantation 

Picking leftover cotton

Kitchen run by slaves to feed workers

Lynette Tanner, owner and tour guide of Frogmore Plantation

Magnolia Hall

Historian at Magnolia Hall

Displaced Southern Belles and wannabees

Natchez, Mississippi

After three days touring the Natchez Trace we made it to the end of the Trace.  We are camped at River View RV Park in Vidalia, Louisiana.  We have a spectacular view of the Mississippi River and Bridge. Today we took a tour of Natchez and visited three antebellum (built before 1861) mansions. (Look but don't touch the merchandise, thank you very much!)

Dinner at Jugheads in Natchez.  Our own private room.  Too much fun.

Boo Hiss! Riverboat Casino that leaves a lot to be desired.

Dunleith Mansion

View from the verdana of the Rosalie Mansion

Jack aka J, our Rosalie tour guide.

Rosalie Mansion

Grounds at Rosalie Mansion.  Very interesting trees.

Sky Flower 

Stanton Hall Mansion

Waiting for the tour of Stanton Hall Mansion.

Longwood Mansion

Mathew, our Longwood mansion tour guide.

Natchez-Vidalia Bridge taken from River View RV Park

Natchez Trace - Day 74 Continued

Exploring Cypress Swamp - Group 4 took a break and walked trough the water tupelo/bald-cypress swamp.  Eerie area.  There was a path around the swamp and two bridges over the swamp on our path.  We did not see any alligators or any animals but the mosquitos and bugs feasted on all of us.  Just part of the circle of life.

Duane walking on a log in the swamp.  Thankfully he was successful.  

On the lookout for alligators.

We journeyed off the Trace to tour the Mississippi Craft Center.  We had thought it was on the Trace since it was listed on map.  My guess is that it used to be but was relocated to its current location - just a few miles from the Trace.  The center offers demonstrations by craftsmen on weekends and has classes taught by master craftsmen throughout the year.  Certainly an interesting must see stop.

Natchez Trace - Day 74 Continued

Dick exploring the waters edge - pretty tricky!

Cove at waters edge

"A group of Scotch-Irish Christians, under the area Presbyterian Church, established the The Central Mississippi Institute for Girls in 1885. The French Camp Academy for Boys opened later in 1885. The school was intended for children of Native Americans and White settlers who lived in the French Camp area. In 1915 a fire destroyed the girls' school; both the schools for boys and girls combined as the French Camp Academy. In 1950 the school was reorganized under a board of trustees, which represented various Christian denominations. The school operates several businesses in French Camp, including a bed and breakfast, a gift shop, and a restaurant."  We toured the gift shop and had dessert at the cafe.  Bread pudding and Mississippi Mud Pie with ice cream - Yum!