Gulf Places

February 14 to 16, 2014 - Mississippi

Randal could not resist early morning sunrise pictures of the Old Bay, Lillian AL at Gulf Shores KOA Kampgrounds before leaving for Gulfport, Mississippi on US#90 Gulf Coastline.

When we got on the road the GPS lady directed Randal for an hour drive on secondary county roads, zigging and zagging through the countryside of farms lands, before linking up to US#90 and to I-10. At one point Randal ignored the GPS lady when he saw a sign saying, “To 1-10”, which went nowhere but a detour off a dead end of new construction.

At Mobile AL we drove though a tunnel and across bridges over Mobile Bay. A few minute later we were in Mississippi. A long bridge went over Pascaagoula River, at an elevation of 2 feet.

At 11:00am we drove passed Biloxi to Gulfport when we arrived at Gulf Haven Campground off US#90. This campground was completely destroyed three time by hurricanes. In 1969 by Hurricane Camilla; 2004 by an hurricane. It was washed out again during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was rebuilt.

On August 29, 2005, Gulfport was hit by the strong eastern side of Hurricane Katrina. Much of the city was flooded or destroyed in one day by the strong, hurricane-force winds which lasted over 16 hours and a storm surge exceeding 28 feet (9 m) in some sections.

Gulfport was incorporated on July 28, 1898, was founded by two men, on was the president of the Gulf and Ship Island Railraod that connected inland lumber mills to the coast, and the second one who who later took over the G&SIRR, dredged the harbour in Gulfport, and opened the shipping channel to the sea. In 1902, the harbour was completed and the Port of Gulfport became a working seaport that now accounts for millions of dollars in annual sales and tax revenue for the state of Mississippi.

We checked in for three nights at 39.00 at night. While we were there it was sunny with temperatures ranging from 3ºC in the morning to 19ºC by afternoon. We were able to sit outside for our happy hour.

We saw areas that is still not developed since 2005 hurricane. Foundations and parking pads sitting empty. Many 'For Sale' signs lined the streets. All the newer building are built on cement stilts.

Every morning we walked along the Randal and I went for a walk along the white sanded beach. The tide was out leaving sand bars for us to walk on. There are no sea shells here like the beaches on the Florida coasts. In fact the beaches looks dirty near the water. No waves at coming in at low tide. Volley ball nets were set up several parking lots and benches along the side walk.

One afternoon Randal and I went on tours to Long Beach, the next town.

The pier in Gulfport was closed due to damage. Many people were out enjoying the warm weather and the gulls were all over the place. A couple of young people were fishing with nets in the drainage channel for minnows.

Randal was up and out by 6:00am to take sunrise photos. He even captured the full moon.

When I went for my walk I could hear a US Military Band playing the National Anthem. I passed the Waffle House and thought it would be nice to go for breakfast so I returned to the trailer to invite Randal out for a large breakfast. Now we feel stuffed and will not eat until suppertime!!!

On Sunday we drove into Biloxi. We drove along US#90 on the shoreline and stopped in a parking area to see Katrina Sculpture Garden by Scroggins, a Wood Sculptures Artist. These tree sculptures paid tribute to people who lost their lives during the 2005 Hurricane for the victims

Biloxi's Katrina sculpture project began in January 2007 when Mayor A.J. Holloway and Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel spoke with Mississippi “chainsaw artist” Dayton Scoggins about sculpting marine-related figures from the dozens of standing dead trees in the median of Beach Boulevard in Biloxi. The trees were victims of the saltwater storm surge of Hurricane Katrina 16 months earlier. In March 2007, after MDOT crews "topped" the dead trees, Scoggins made the first of two sculpting visits to Biloxi, creating egrets, seagulls, pelicans and dolphins from a collection of trees just west of the Biloxi Lighthouse. Scoggins's initial five sculptures -- a $7,000 investment for the city -- inspired Fort Walton Beach, Fla, sculptor and frequent Biloxi visitor Marlin Miller to approach the city about donating his time and talent to sculpting more standing dead trees in the center medians in Biloxi.

Historical sign on the pier explained the WAD IN , a protest gathering during the Civil Rights Movement during the early 1960s where the rights of African Americans demanded the rights to the beach area.

On April 24, 1960, a terrible race riot occurred when 40-50 African-Americans attempted to swim off of the Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches in Biloxi and Gulfport. The whites-only beach became a scene of chaos as angry whites attacked the civil rights activists with sticks, chains, blackjacks, and pool cues. Four were seriously wounded in this incident. The violence continued into the night, and two white men and eight black men suffered gunshot wounds.

We walked to the Lighthouse built in 1847 near the sea wall, endued more than 20 devastating hurricanes the most destructive being in 1893, 1906, Camille in1969, and Katrina in 2005 when it was damaged. We walked out on the East Pier which had been rebuilt since the hurricane. The gulf water is very shallow. As we walked back to the parking lot there was a tour car (Biloxi Tour Train) pulling out and we over heard the lady conducting the tour say that all the sand on the beaches along here was brought in in 1960s. That was an interesting bit of information. We went into the Tourist Information Centre across US#90. There was a statue of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, a Canadian who born in New France near Montreal.

Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1706) was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of the order of Saint-Louis, adventurer, privateer, trader, and founder of the French colony of Louisiana of New France.

On entering the Tourist Information Centre we saw it is decorated for Marti Grai. The Building was rebuilt in 2011 after the last on was devastated during Katrina. There was the 24th Annual Mississippi Coast History Week celebrating the 315th Anniversary of d'Iberville's Landing in Mississippi. We talked to an Acadian/Cajun dressed in 1700's costume.

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".