Reaching out to Ross Barnett |
For starts, I guess I should explain the title. Ross Barnett was a governor of Mississippi. There is a large reservoir north of Jackson named in his honor. I saw it once, I wanted to see it again. It also ties into my infatuation with the Pearl River. The Pearl feeds and exits the RBR. Some outings are ramblings, some are purposeful. Those are few. This was one. The ride would be an ambitious undertaking estimated at no less than four hundred miles. It was above I-20, my imaginary "point of no return". This would be a test. |
I have learned over the last few years of wandering Mississippi that using an Interstate or major highway is blasphemy. Missing the little disappearing towns wrought with so much history and beauty cannot be forgiven. Wishing not to be unforgiven, I planned the route the best I could with my horrendous map software. Mississippi's road map is useless. It has blue lines with no names or numbers. I did the best I could without the use of my GPS which is out there in Texas, somewhere, being fixed, I guess. |
The Ride was off to a great start. Not believing such a dumb sign, I found no closed bridge, but an open one that bore my weight sufficiently. |
I rode east from Bogalusa and crossed the Pearl R. Almost immediatey I turned north on MS 43 which is one fine road during its stay in Pearl River County. It goes flat in Marion C. I followed it until it merges with 13 south of Columbus. I chose not to merge, but crossed onto what I thought was maybe old 43. It isn't, but it is one fine road, also, which rises with the terrain swooping and twisting. It is called Wild Game Rd. or something close to that. When it finally attained the altitude it was seeking, I saw the sign to Columbia Lake. Having taken the Oath not to bypass free admitance to lakes, I checked it out. It has camping at 15 bucks a night. |
Darn big picture of a Cow Sign. Hardly useful. Most people know cows are slow. I ran into a simular sign west of the Pearl up in Red Bluff country. It noted "Cows, 45 mph". Now there was something to heed. I could, at times, be overtaken by a 45mph cow. |
Sumrall Speed Trap. Naw, they just park them all over town to make you think there's someone in them. No kidding, I saw three. Worked for me. |
Leaving the lake, I proceeded on until I reached US 98. 98 is one of the roads I use in sectioning my rides. You know when you cross it. Seemed this was the end of the line for Wild Game. I needed to find another. I took Rocky Branch road north into Sumrall. A lot of roads lead there. Dr.Fagan had just mentioned he'd been there. On purpose? Of course. |
Entering Sumrall |
I took MS 589 out of Sumrall and joined 590 as it crossed 49 into Seminary. The barn below is the obligatory barn picture for this outing. I hoped to get a better picture of Bossy in the far opening. She was posing. |
It was Sunday morning and the sign was right next to an emptying church. I was pretty much a mess having left my razor at home and not really premping up too much as I knew this would be a sweaty, gruelling outing. I never take off my "star wars" off-road helmet as that requires removing my glasses and teasing my two strans of hair. I sensed mothers telling their children not to stare. |
I should have asked the question, "Does Seminary have a seminary"? But I didn't and opted to shoot the little clothes store that was probably another kind of store in the far past. Great to see tradition continuing. Really. |
This unexplained little cabin was next to the old train station. I don't think the roof is original. |
Here's the old train station in Seminary. It is now air-conditioned. Didn't use to be. How did we survive? |
I left Seminary on Willow Grove Church Rd. I never found the great old church which I knew this namesake road must lead to. I took the picture of the Willow Grove Water Tower. Dr. Fagan might ask me to prove I was there. |
Entering Seminary |
I got to Ellisville Rd.(Ms.588 I think, I never saw a number) I crossed US 84, heading north. It is another marker for my rides. I was now in an unknown northern latitude. I turned north on Salem School Rd. imagining witches teaching. Never saw the school.Then I turned onto New Liberty Church Rd. Again no church. I did come to this sign. This is where the loss of the GPS was most sorely felt. NLCR was out, I'd done it. I think I took Gilmer, SOUTH. Wrong way. But sometimes it's great to be WRONG. I did find a good road. Ok, I didn't find it. It was an accident like most of my "finds". |