Day 5: Zachary, Louisiana to Hot Springs, Arkansas

Woke up in Zachary and went for a two-mile run outside. It was beyond hot. But nice to see the town up close. Here's their train station:








I ran down their main street--probably the first white guy visiting from out of town to do so.








Here I am thinking I was going to evaporate any moment about 1.5 miles into it:








Some crazy-looking guy on an adult-size tricycle yelled "faster, boy!" to me. Thanks, pal!

Waiting for everyone to load up outside the hotel. A fly landed on my head right as I took this pic.








We split up the group again today--not our idea but I was very pleased to only have Tim & Doug with me for the day. Leading a group of nine was a pain. We pulled over here under a gas station canopy to check the map, and a few minutes later a huge rain storm came in. Good timing! Always nice to put rain gear on before you're wet.








The rest of our group actually drove by us at this point and waved to us. Then they missed the turnout for the NTP (Natchez Trace Parkway)--what may very well be the prettiest stretch of road we've been on the entire trip! That's what happens to my little baby chicks when they don't follow their mother hen.

The NTP was surreal. We only rode on it for 50-60 miles but it goes from one corner of Mississippi to the opposite corner. It's a two-lane road with hardly anyone on it. I'd like to go back some day and ride it from end-to-end. A few Gopro pics:





















































We didn't mind the rain at all. It was nice not to be so hot for a change.

My cousin Jeff who served his mission down here somewhere told us to have lunch at Rowdy's in Vicksburg, MS. The rain and wind were getting pretty wild right as we got there.








I wish you could hear her accent. Very charming place.








Doug and Tim had their house specialty, fried catfish. Also on the plate was fried shrimp, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. They said it was great.








I had a country fried steak with fried pickles. Fried pickles are really growing on me!








We waited for a half hour for the rain to lighten up. Sam texted me that Vicksburg was the site of a critical confederate loss due to its control of the Mississippi river. The museum there was shaped like an ironclad ship.








They had a full display of the battles there.








My favorite part was the display of ironclad ship models.

















Vicksburg is still bitter about the loss. They didn't celebrate the 4th of July for 80 years after the Civil War ended!

From Vicksburg, we crossed the Mississippi back into Louisiana and headed north at Tallulah on the US-65. We were quickly in Arkansas, which I absolutely loved driving through. The skies cleared up and the temperature was around 75 degrees the rest of the day.

Our hotel tonight is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is the boyhood home of Bill Clinton. Right next to the hotel is the Bleu Monkey Grill. This may be the best food we've had so far!

Nachos:








Caesar's salad:








Mushroom burger:








"monkey shrimp" (those are fried bananas in the back, mangos down the middle, black beans on the left)








And then what I ordered...chicken and cheese wontons dipped in buffalo sauce and bleu cheese! Amazing!








For dessert, we got an apple crisp, which came out sizzling on a skillet:








I skipped that to have some chocolate cake:








Doug complained that the apple crisp tasted funny, then pulled his lighter out:









It burned! It was covered in liqueur!








After dinner, I got in the hot tub for 10 minutes until we got kicked out. Did another load of laundry before bed. What a day!