DAY 224: US 80 NEAR DELHI, LOUISIANA - BITES

Good Morning:

It is 4:00 am Sunday, August 28, 2011, and I am in misery. Within the past 2 hours, I have been bitten a total of 4 times. There is no flying critter, unless the continuous cloud of no-see-ums count.

Something - or something(s) have invaded SPIA and have found their way into the blankets of my over-the-cab bunk. I have not yet seen anything, but the bites are coming fast and furious, resulting in painful itching and immediate large welts.

I must be pretty tasty to something...

I surmise that something(s) may be spiders.

This concerns me as a few days ago I was discussing such a scenario with a new found friend who was bitten and paid no-never-mind. Turns out she was bitten by a Brown Recluse - common in this part of the world.

By not getting it treated, it rapidly advanced into a massive open tissue-eating sore - on her hip / tush, requiring surgery.

I am fortunate to have two small bottles of a wonder - prescription - THERMAZENE, 1% Silver Sulfadiazine Cream. I have this medication because it is miraculous on Burns. A nurse in a recent ER visit put me on to its value as a "bite" medication.

For burns, it takes away the pain; and prevents / reduces scaring upon healing.

For bites, it also immediately takes away the itch and pain...except for one huge bite on my right side under the arm pit, which refuses to stop itching/hurting and appears to be growing in size - this one appeared two days ago.

So, I am using this "SILVADINE" cream sparingly, which I understand in large doses, can be poisonous.


The reason I'm writing this is that I am fearful of climbing back into the feathers...something is waiting in there for my return.

I would normally strip out the entire bed area and hang everything out to air. Problem is that we are parked in a deserted section of US 80, it is pitch BLACK outside, and all sorts of nasty critters prowl this region at night.

So, I have retreated to the back of SPIA - far away from the bunk - and sit in dimmed light - to conserve my dwindling battery which I wanted to recharge at the State Park, but for limited $$ cannot do so - awaiting daylight which arrives in three hours.

I will have to clean everything out of SPIA and run it through a Laundromat...then look for the offending critters in cracks and crevices...and I thought itsy bitsy ants were bad.

If I don't find them, I may have to have SPIA treated by a critter-chaser i.e., fumigated, which means emptying all drawers, cabinets, and storage areas.

It is quite impossible to "seal" SPIA from the outside. Numerous access points are available for any small critter to climb aboard...simply not possible to keep them out.

Only real solution is to leave the area for non-infested places, such as, perhaps, ANTARCTICA.

and, to boot, I am hungry, having settled last evening on a bowl of rice soup...not enough for my body after walking for hours in 105 F.

I truly hope my Blog is being enjoyed...it is created at a price... 4 - 5 hours each evening...time I apparently should be spending on house-keeping / cleaning. Not to misunderstand me...I truly enjoy recording - photographing -, interviewing, collating, and creating a reasonable Show and Tell of each day's adventures...would be nice however, to take refuge now and again in a comfy air conditioned room with a Jucuzzi tub to soak in...instead of "spit-baths" of cold water allowed aboard the perpetual Oven inside SPIA.

Even so, I am thankful that it is not just SAM & ME...imagine being daily exposed for months-on-end to unfriendly biting critters, with no escaping the heat and humidity, wearing dirty clothes, setting up / tearing down camp and having limited water and food...not to mention limited electricity for the HP Mini...

Alas, there have been NO motels in this back-country of Louisiana...at least not any that I would savor climbing into. Perhaps I should drive over to I-20, only a couple miles away, and try to find a refuge reasonable enough for at least one night rest.

But for that, I must wait for daylight. My left eye will not allow me to drive in the dark.

Of course I am rambling. What else is one to do with voracious critters hunting you down in the middle of the night. Must stay awake.

SPIA's battery is getting low. In a bit, must turn the lights off and wait out the rest of the night in the dark.

and yes, it is still hot and humid even at 5:00 am...which time it now is.

Please hold my hand...if just for a moment.

OK, thank you.

Is now full daylight. Sacked out a couple hours on the side bench and have shaken out all the bed clothes...no critters to be seen. Also enjoyed my morning porridge...yum.

Will today visit a laundromat & wash all bed clothes

Will now drive to DELHI, LOUISIANA and resume walking. The drive will charge SPIA's battery a bit.

Walked to DEHLI yesterday.

Apologize for disturbing your sleep last night.

Tonight is another night ! SAM & ME.

DAY 223: TALLULAH - DELHI, LOUISIANA

After a restful and uneventful night - just the way we like them -, drove SPIA a few miles out of the town of TALLULAH, LOUISIANA, parked, and walked BACK to TALLULAH. Did not intend to walk so far, but the morning was pleasant, I was feeling good, and before I knew it I was back in town.

Along the way, I observed the advancing KUDZU vines...above mailbox is about to disappear...

My sister, Millie, lives in KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, suburbs. Millie says that during her morning 3 mile walks - which she does every day -, the KUDZU is advancing towards her neighborhood, being now less than one mile away. There appears no stopping this vine.

Millie says some neighbors have bought goats and put them in pastures with KUDZU. The goats eat the vine to the bare ground...only to have it sprout right back up.

TALLULAH is home to a women's prison...seen above in the background.

Not much going on in the town of TALLULAH. What there is comes from creative folks - mostly African-American - working out of their homes or from previously abandoned business buildings.

This Teen Center is on US 80, which runs down the middle of TALLULAH.

Hot Tamales business looks to have been closed down.

...as have nearly every business along the 8 - 10 blocks of US 80 as it passes through.

There are actually three water towers...one is too far away to include in the photograph.

Main Street...US 80.


Please say HELLO to Dave, the local Mail Man. This being Saturday morning, we are witnessing a soon to be discontinued service. Would not be surprised if the local Post Office is on the list to be closed down by USPS.


The Court House is impressive and in good state of repair.

A monument dedicated to local young men who volunteered for the Confederate Army.

On his sweep through the South, General Grant passed through TALLULAH.

Dedication words on the Soldier's Monument are nearly erased by weathering of the stone.

The most impressive sign in all of TALLULAH...the entrance to the Women's Prison.

Outside of town, the landscape quickly extends beyond the horizon. Only 20 miles away on the East side of the Mississippi River, the landscape of Mississippi is hilly and forested. What a difference a river makes.

Lots of new Silos dot the landscape. Many seed crops are being grown in this part of Louisiana. The towns are run down and essentially having a difficult time. The farms...a.k.a. Plantations...appear to be doing quite well.

All day long US 80 has 18-wheelers passing every 5 minutes or so, carrying newly harvested grain to local processing plants.

Always seems to be a Lonesome Tree in such landscapes.

The rivers are muddy and running low...even this area is in need of a LOT of rain.

So much so that many creek beds are dry.

This is the area of Ancient Indian Mounds.

Please say HELLO to Johnny. Johnny, together with his Son, "Scooter" and daughter-in-law Shelly, operate 150 acres of this enriched soil flatland.

I had a few minutes to chat with Johnny while Scooter and Shelly played in their sand box...harvesting Soy Beans from their Plantation. Johnny says he and his Brother raised CRAWFISH on this same land for over 20 years.

They carefully groomed the 150 acres to incline slightly to a center line running East and West. The North and South ends of the land were raised a few inches above the center line. In September they flooded the entire acreage, stocked it with Crawfish, which they harvested in the Spring. The land was then drained and planted in a grain crop for the Summer, after which the land was again flooded for the Crawfish.

Today, Scooter is concentrating on Soy Beans. Scooter says this year is his best ever, yielding 75 bushel beans per acre.


Daddy (Johnny) drives the Hopper Tractor while Scooter and Shelly tool through the field harvesting 6 rows at a time in their sophisticated Harvester.

It is a dusty job. The control cabin is fully enclosed - and I imagine Air Conditioned -. Scooter drives it like a plaything...not missing a single stalk.

Sure beats the old Sythe and Rake system used when I was a kid.

Up close look at the business end of Scooters Harvester.

Johnny told me about a Louisiana State Park near the town of DELHI, LOUISIANA, only 4 miles away. I drove over there hoping to find a spot with electricity. Arriving, was told the price was $28.00. Since I don't have $28 for that at the moment, I asked if there would be a discount for the Federal Park Pass- a lifetime membership. The lady said yes, a 50% discount, as long as I was a resident of Louisiana or one of the Resciprosity States. Washington State is NOT on the list having resciprosity with Louisiana..

SPIA, SAM & ME turned around, returned to US 80, where we are parked in a wide spot on the edge of the road for the night. We normally park thus, so it is really not a big deal.

Walked three legs today of 22 miles. Tomorrow, we continue West on US 80 towards SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, about 170 miles away.

Blog refuses to Post...VERIZON signal is intermittent. Hope we do not lose all my work again.

DAY 222: EDWARDS - BOVINA - VICKSBURG, MS & TELLULAH, LA.

Please say HELLO to Senior Pastor David L. Bridges, FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST CHURCH, Wills Point, 'Texas.

Dave was up at dawn to try his luck on the lake pier at ASKEW'S LANDING CAMPGROUND as I opened SPIA's door after my before dawn oatmeal early this morning.

Yes, Dave had one "bump". No, Dave caught no fish this morning.

This is about as fresh as a Black Eyed Pea is gonna get. I picked it from the living plant as I walked along US 80 between BOLTON and EDWARDS, MISSISSIPPI. Had to go back towards BOLTON to cover the miles I did not walk yesterday afternoon.

From the Campground, drove SPIA into EDWARDS, parked and walked the walk above. Then moved SPIA out about 3 miles from EDWARDS, parked again, and walked another 12 miles along US 80 down a fertile valley towards BOVINA, MISSISSIPPI, a bedroom community for VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI on the Mississippi River.

Field of Black Eyed Peas about ready to harvest. The plants have all but dried out and the pea pods are about to fall off the bush.

A bit further on are a number of harvested Corn Fields. The above photograph shows the corn stubble after the harvest is complete. I'm impressed at how "clean" the harvester equipment leaves the field. A number of local corn fields have all ready been plowed...except a plow is not used...a large disc is pulled by a tractor thoroughly turning and mixing the field, ready to lay fallow for a couple months before being planted again...perhaps with a different crop such as Cotton, Peanuts, Black Eyed Peas, or a couple other choices. Crop rotation is important to keep the soil from becoming depleted from crucial elements. If, say, Iron is taken from the soil by this year's crop, next year's crop should put that iron back into the soil.

On the roadside I came across this large pile of corn kernels dropped during the harvest.

US 80 between EDWARDS and BOVINA is NOT a maintained road. Strange that neither the Feds, the State, nor the County steps in to keep US 80 maintained. It is deteriorating severely, especially the many concrete bridges, which are literally falling apart from crumbling cement.

The above river is the same river we saw yesterday in the Mural...the ferry boat being destroyed by the Union Soldiers...the ferry was a bit upstream from this bridge.

Plaque riveted to the bridge.

The River Bridge from a distance. The roadway is so narrow, many of the concrete uprights have been damaged or destroyed from being hit by passing vehicles.

About six such bridges are in the area which is not maintained. When a vehicle came, I had to climb OVER the concrete rail to avoid being hit...the driving lane is only 8 feet wide...and NO berm at all.

US 80 roadside is lined with tall grasses, having not been cut for a number of years. I certainly was not going to step into those grasses...snakes, you see...so, I simply stood still and forced passing vehicles to go around me.

Under nearly every bridge, it was dry down below. except this one, which had pools of standing water.


Another pool had a number of small turtles. Managed to snap this photograph as one came up to breathe. They normally stay submerged for a few minutes and only surface for a few seconds...probably to avoid becoming din din to some passing hawk.

Please say HELLO to Randall Mauck and his lovely daughter Katie.

Randall owns JOHN's GROCERY in BOVINA, MISSISSIPPI, where State of Mississippi once again maintains US 80 the rest of the way into VICKSBURG.

I stopped in to ask Randall about the profusion of vines growing over everything...the same vines I have reported for some weeks and which Bob, my friend from BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON, , sent us a description from Wikipedia.

For some miles along US 80 leading into BOVINA...and on to VICKSBURG, there is very little of Mother Earth that is not over grown by this vine. The vine is: KUDZU. Remember that name...it may soon be common in YOUR back yard the way it is growing...about three feet EVERY DAY...and cannot be killed !!!

Brought into the United States about 1920 as a supplement for grazing cattle, the vine quickly spread. The Government - Feds and State - liked the idea of using KUDZU as an erosion stopper, and took it upon themselves to plant sprigs - it only takes a one-inch piece to get it growing - all along US 80 banks to stabilize them.

80 years later, the entirety of middle Mississippi is overgrown with KUDZU, overwhelming everything else. It grows over all vegetation, including tall trees. It grows up telephone poles and reaches into the sky to grab hold of overhead electrical wires. Wherever KUDZU grows, everything else dies.

A few select photographs will convince even the most skeptic critic that KUDZU is bad news:



KUDZU even attacks the roadway !

If I did not move, tomorrow it would have a good hold on my shoes and legs...in a week, I could not be found, being fully covered with KUDZU.

Imagine sleeping under an open window as a few KUDZU vines come searching for new turf.



BOVINA, MISSISSIPPI also has a nice Water Tower.

The only way to get rid of KUDZU is to cut it out...even so, it WILL come back in the Spring; the roots haves been discovered over 30 feet underground by construction crews. Randall is also a Surveyor and has witnessed excavations uncovering KUDZU roots deep underground...poison will kill the above ground plant, but NOT the roots.

KUDZU appears to be here to stay.

As I walked into Louisiana after driving SPIA over the Mississippi River I-20 Freeway Bridge (walking is NOT allowed to cross the Mississippi River), I have spotted numerous KUDZU vines growing on the Louisiana side.

A really BIG tree. The home is under...if one looks closely...why not click click !
and, next to that big tree is this field of ready-to-harvest Cotton.

The Cotton Boul, ready for picking.

I have walked three sessions today, totaling about 30 miles. SPIA is parked in the Louisiana town of TALLULAH, about 15 miles from the Mississippi River, on US 80.

We will stay on US 80 until reaching SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, where we will turn North West on SR 1, crossing into Texas at the junction of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas...SR 1 then becomes Texas SR 71, which continues to WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.

..a point of interest is that WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS was my very first assignment back in 1952 when I joined the US Air Force. I did not attend any "Tech. Schools" as I was already well trained in Shorthand and Typing in High School...shorthand I took at 165 wpm and typed - on an old upright manual - at 100 wpm...guess that is why I ended up as a Stenographer at the PANMUNJOM, KOREA Peace Talks a few months later.

DAY 221: CLINTON - EDWARDS - ASKEW LANDING, MISSISSIPPI

Please say HELLO to Linda. Linda and I had a close encounter this morning during my one and only walk of the day.

Linda gave me a haircut...after first washing a few days' grime out of my scalp.

Later in the morning I returned to the shop where I enjoyed a lengthy chat with the shop owner.

The town of CLINTON, MISSISSIPPI, Water Tower.

SPIA stayed overnight at Firestone Northwest Auto ...thank you Jacob.

Jacob completed the engine work at noon. SPIA's motor now purrs like a new motor...thank you again, Jacob.

Did manage to walk through CLINTON enough miles to reach the town of BOLTON, MISSISSIPPI, 6 miles West on US 80...which shares the roadway with I-20. Drove SPIA all the way to EDWARDS, MISSISSIPPI...this time on old US 80. another 6 miles further West.

A down town CLINTON, MISSISSIPPI boulevard.

A bloom on a flowering shrub outside Linda's Hair Solon.

In the town of BOLTON, MISSISSIPPI, stopped at the local Chevron Gas Station for directions...as there were no signs for US 80.

Please say HELLO to my new friend Mr. Johnny.

Johnny is 80 years old in a day or two. He and I share an important moment in early 1953. Mr. Johnny was stationed in the Port City of INCHON - at the mouth of the Han River, West of SEOUL, KOREA. Johnny was in Supply, trucking supplies to the United Nations Forces North of SEOUL.

INCHON, KOREA was the site of a large fuel oil depot. It was also a favorite target for the North Korean "Bed Check Charlie" - a Biplane which flew at night to harass the enemy by keeping us awake all night running for fox holes and trenches. Every once in awhile, Bed Check Charlie dropped a bomb or two to liven things up.

On the night in question, our Wing, the 8th Fighter Bomber Wing at SUWON, KOREA, scrambled a F-94 Night Fighter to intercept the incoming Bed Check Charlie. F-94 is a large fighter/bomber...this one equipped with Radar and a second Pilot...a GIB as known in Viet Nam (Guy In Back).

When Bed Check Charlie arrived over INCHON. Mr. Johnny was in INCHON...I was at SUWON -some 25 miles away when a bomb was dropped, hitting one of the gas storage tanks.

Mr Johnny witnessed the event - a massive explosion - up close and personal. I saw and heard the same event from SUWON.

Our F-94 attempted to shoot down the offending slow / low flying two-wing North Korean airplane. Diving on the enemy, our F-94 failed to pull out of his dive and crashed into the Bay of INCHON. Both pilots died in the crash.

A singular moment like the one above, happening nearly 60 years ago is recalled by two old men in a Chevron Gas Station in BOLTON, MISSISSIPPI. Complete strangers instantly became like Brothers.

I am so very proud to stand beside Mr. Johnny...take good care, my friend...and happy 80th Birthday.
Arriving in EDWARDS, MISSISSIPPI, I intended to park SPIA for the night and take another walk...this time back East on US 80 toward BOLTON.

I opted for a large parking area under an old Water Tower...a good spot as it was in the middle of the two-block long business district and already had a 18-wheeler tanker truck parked there.

To avoid any later-on problems, I walked over to City Hall, a block away, to get permission to park overnight.

City Hall, EDWARDS, MISSISSIPPI, is housed at the East end of a long line of old brick buildings...the only building on the block being occupied.

Someone has done a meticulous job in restoring / maintaining City Hall inside and out.


Please say HLLO to Nancy Duren, Deputy Clerk for the City of EDWARDS, MISSISSIPPI.

This young lady, Miss Nancy, as she wants to be addressed, met me as I walked across the polished floor to her high counter...also highly polished. Presenting my SAM & ME card, Miss Nancy referred me to another lady in an office, the City Clerk...who immediately telephoned an "Alderman", who happened to out driving someplace.

A few minutes later, Alderman Green, a friendly and yet serious man, took my hand and devoted the next half hour arranging for SPIA, SAM & ME safe and comfortable accommodations for the night.

...no, we cannot allow you to park overnight on City Property...liability you know ! But, we have another option for you. Our three town Churches have a fund for just such a situation...we would be pleased (meaning the three Churches) to arrange for your overnight stay in our local ASKEW'S LANDING CAMPGROUND....but, I have no funds for an overnight stay...we have arranged to have payment for you from our town Church fund...as Miss Nancy hands me a twenty and a five dollar bill.

And, Alderman Green says to me..to show how much we look after visitors to EDWARDS, here is another twenty - as he pulls a twenty dollar bill from his wallet and hands it to me.

I am speechless. Miss Nancy says to me that this is the way EDWARDS folks are...we take care of each other.

Alderman Green excuses himself with...take good care Mr. Maynard; and say something nice about EDWARDS, please...as he walks out of building.

Miss Nancy and I sit and chat for another few minutes before I,too, excuse myself...thanking Nancy again and again - to her wide smile...I walk out with - yes - with a tear rising in my eye.
Miss Nancy's plant.

City Hall stands behind the RED car parked by this extraordinary scene of a much used railroad track passing under the gracefully arched bridge reminding me very much of a similar bridge I once long ago walked over the Grand Canal in VENICE, ITALY...while being accompanied by 13 delightful and beautiful Can Can Dancers on tour (with me as their M.C.) from PARIS' Moulin Rouge. ***When Love Walks In And Takes You For A Spin...OOH LA LA LA, c'est magnifique...***

Ok, so I'm lousy at French...but the girls did throw an all night party for us - all 13 & me - in our hotel room in TURINO, ITALY on the final night of our 3-week tour together. I was an emotional wreck for a few days after...and still cherish the photographs I have managed to hang on to of some of our performances.



EDWARDS' Old Water Tower.

EDWARDS' New Water Tower.

The road leading into ASKEW'S LANDING CAMPGROUND about 3 miles from EDWARDS.

My Welcoming Committee... at the Campground Office / Store.

Please say HELLO to Tamara (a.k.a. Tammy), Store Manager of ASKEW'S.

Tammy says she came up from GULFPORT a few years ago to visit a friend living at ASKEW'S, was offered the job of Store Manager, accepted, and has not looked back.

ASKEW'S is an historic spot..battleground for Civil War Blue /vs/ Gray.

The Community Center.

A Mural depicting the Yankees blowing up ASKEW Ferry Boat on a river a short distance from the Campground. Be sure to click click photographs...detail is often spectacular.

The Campground Swimming Pool.

The Confederate Flag included in the MISSISSIPPI STATE FLAG still causes some friction..so says Tammy.

A local Goose with no fear.

SPIA resting for the night in Space # 72...the first space developed at the beginning of the Campground development...which now has 92 Spaces.



A 32 acre lake graces the Campground...this is the view from SPIA's Space 72.

Without blog comment, we offer more views of this exquisite lake.








My only regret is that I must endure some of America's most desirable places...what I mean to say is that in addition to sharing all these beautiful people and places with you, my friends and blog followers, I miss not having someone standing by my side while doing so...

Tomorrow is another day..Gone With The Wind.

Tomorrow we shall walk.