Fifty!!!

February 17, 2013 journal entries:


     Today we completed all 50 states!!!!  We've been in every one, and in less than a year! We travelled to Hawaii last March and we currently live in Alaska.  One of the Markus family goals accomplished!  Next goal?!
                                      -Jackson

We made all fifty states alive!!!  Our last state was Arkansas!!!  FIFTY OR BUST!  (BUSTED!)
                                     -Asa

Vicksburg, Mississippi

We arrived in Vicksburg in time to visit the Biedenharn Coca Cola Museum.  It was here in 1894 that Coca Cola was first put into glass bottles.  The owner of the store wanted this wonderful soda fountain drink to be available for country folks.  Coca Cola ok'd it and began to officially bottle it a short time later.

We also stumbled upon Fred's Corner Pharmacy.  It was an unofficial pharmacy museum.  So if anyone sees the pharmacist in Ouray, Colorado who owns the pharmacy museum, please tell him to contact Fred's if he needs any more pharmacy memorabilia!

The following day we went to the Vicksburg National Military Park.  It was a beautiful day so we biked the 14 mile loop in hilly territory that was to the advantage of the Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.  After a few months of fighting, however, the South surrendered.  Not before both sides had lost 20,000 men.

Mardi Gras

We drove west along the coast through Biloxi and Gulf Port on our way to New Orleans.  We left the emerald water behind as we neared the sediment-filled water of the Mississippi delta.  Oak Alley was out first stop.  This sugar cane plantation is beautifully restored and the 300 year old namesake trees are picture perfect. We enjoyed crawfish etoufee, gumbo, and red beans and rice at their restaurant.

We quickly realized that Mardi Gras was in full swing in New Orleans.  We decided to visit the French quarter early in the day for Jackson and Asa's benefit.  We travelled to the city via the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the longest bridge in the world at 24 miles.  We had cafe au lait and beignet at Cafe du Monde and then took a walk around Jackson Square and French Market area.  Even in the benign morning hours a couple of blocks on Bourbon Street was enough for us.  We felt the hand of God as we missed a shooting that evening and a tornado that touched down in Hattiesburg, MS where were headed the next day!


We were thrilled to connect with my Aunt Ruthann and Uncle Dan, their children Jeff and Pam and their families.  We visited for hours, catching up on 20 years of history in an afternoon.  They introduced us to the King cake, a Mardi Gras specialty with a small plastic baby baked in the cake.  The person who finds the baby gets the honor of buying next year's King Cake.  Jackson was the lucky one! Of all of our stops with friends and family, they had the most questions about our trek across the country.


On our way to Natchez, we traveled through Prentiss, Mississippi where Amy's grandparents lived for 20 years. We made sure to have catfish, something Amy remembered eating on her visits to see her grandparents. Natchez turned out to be another one of those hidden treasures on this trip.  It has a rich history, literally, as it once housed more millionaires than New York City. The antebellum mansions of cotton plantation owners dot the landscape here due to the important role that Natchez and the Mississippi River played in cotton export. We all loved touring through Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the United States at 30,000 sq. ft.  The upper floors were actually never finished as the Civil War erupted during construction, sending the Pennsylvania craftsmen north, never to return as the family's fortune dried up as a result of a long war and Union victory.

We also traveled parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway, an old Native American/trade trail turned scenic byway that stretches from Natchez to Nashville, Tennessee (400+ miles).  We took in the Natchez Indian Museum and visited the Emerald Mound, the second largest Native American mound in the United States.

Destin-ation

 We had heard about the white sands of Destin, but with the emerald green water and deep blue skies we wondered if we were on a Caribbean island.  Our campsite was only 20 steps from the beach, and with it being the slow season we had a clear view from our front window as there were no motorhomes in the first row. We all enjoyed the sun, sand, and shells so much that we made sure we were out everyday.  Amy gathered a few pounds of small, white round shells which seemed to be the most prolific on this stretch of beach. The boys did try swimming in the Gulf, but preferred the warm pool much better.  They really enjoyed wrestling and burying each other in the sand.

We explored the South Walton beach areas by biking along the path that follows highway 30A.  It was a 16 mile cruise that took us through quaint beach towns.  Our favorites were Watercolor and Seaside with their classic beach cottage architecture.

We definitely recommend this area for anyone looking for a break from the snow!

Florida at last!

As we crossed the state line into Florida, the boys' excitement rose knowing they were getting closer to their cousins coming for a visit.  But first, we enjoyed a few days in St. Augustine.  It is a great town with rich Spanish history dating back to the 1500's, which is evidenced in the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.  We also walked the streets, enjoyed dessert at Bon Ami and Hyppo Frozen Popcicles (yum) and visited the Pirate Museum owned by Pat Croce.  Yes, the Pat Croce that owned the Philadelphia 76ers.  He has quite an interest in pirates and the museum has tons of artifacts, some that he himself discovered while diving for treasure.  We also climbed the lighthouse, a first for the boys (excluding carrying 5- week-old Jackson up one in NC).

Next, we were off to Orlando to meet Jerry's sister Karen, husband Tom and 3 boys.  We more than survived the week with 9 total in the motorhome!  The 5 boys cousins got along great.  It helped that the weather was beautiful and our campground had several pools and miniature golf available.  We also made almost daily trips to the parks…SeaWorld, Disney, Legoland and a side trip to the east coast with a visit to Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach.  Our family was able to visit Bruno and Judy, who are parents of our friend Chris (Zuni, NM) for Sunday church between park visits.  Amy spent her birthday at Legoland and the boys surprised her with a personalized "pharmacist" mini figure they created.  The family also posed for a caricature without complaints!  All too soon, we were saying goodbye to our relatives and looking forward to our next time together.