Gulfport-Biloxi Int'l Airport, Gulfport MS.
1:30 PM

Unbelievable! I can't believe I'm back here. And I can't believe the trip's over. I guess I'll have to give some thought to how I'll close this travel journal. Maybe once I'm home for a day or so, so I can reflect a bit on it.

So, my last entry en route...

Yesterday, I left Shoney's and drove the long way around Jackson, near "the rez" a reservoir that is where Jacksonians go to play. Boats, bars, beaches, etc. I did get to see where the more affluent people leave. They're all in big McMansions in gated communities with impressive sounding names. Many abutting golf courses, etc. Boring!

The only place I wanted to stop in Jackson was the art gallery — which I did. I was one of 3 people there. Granted, it was a Friday at 10:30am. But still. The "big show" was called "Passages" and it was photos of different African tribes performing various rituals. Some of the photos were good — some quite poor. There were all color and printed quite large. Some were made on 3 panels and placed together — which would have worked, if they had been pressed closely together. Oh well. The rest of the museum wasn't very impressive. There were some amazing photos by Eudora Welty (like 3 of them) and some more of Maude Schuyler Clay — which weren't as good as the one I saw in Oxford. There were some bronze sculptures of Malcolm X, MLK and Emmett Till. Pretty good.

I then headed south, I had quite a lot of driving ahead of me. Between rainstorms (yes... more) I stopped for photos. Nothing really spectacular — I was definitely spoiled in the Delta. Well, ONE stop is worth noting...

Seminary, MA — the middle of nowhere. I was on Highway 49 and saw some rusted and broken down tucks at what appeared to be an abandoned gas station. Turn out it might not be abandoned... but I stopped to photograph some of the wrecks. The rain had stopped, but a few miles over to the east, the sky was absolutely black and there was lightning too. When I was done [with the photos], I went back over to the car that I'd left running — thinking how nice and icy cool it would be. Only, I couldn't get in. NICE! I locked the keys in it. BRILLIANT. Did I mention, I was in the middle of nowhere? Oh, and the cell phone? In the car. Did I mention the storm? Argh! I was so pissed ay myself. Just a day or so before, I thought to myself that I'd better be careful NOT to do what I'd just done. I looked around for where I might hide out from the rain and maybe for something to smash a window. There was some traffic on the highway... could I flag someone down? YIKES.

Then I saw a truck pull in. I walked over to it — it was an electric company truck and the guy was there to read a meter. I explained my situation and he said he'd help me out. Whew! I pulled the weatherstripping off the rear passenger-side window and we got this piece of tie wire in and over to unlock the door! My roadside help dude's name was Rushdie — I asked "Like the author?" He didn't know... and as I was going to explain, I thought better of it... Rushdie saved the day. I got back in and the rain hit. Talk about timing!

"Rushdie" - Seminary, MS

I made a stop in Wiggins for some photos — it's a lumber town.

Then, down Highway 67 to Biloxi — arrived at about 6:00pm. A long-ass day!

I grabbed dinner at a place on the beach and watched the sunset. Then I stopped at Beau Rivage, the finest casino on the coast. It was a vegas-class place of the same caliber as Belaggio. I played poker and lost $10. That was enough for me. On my way back to my motel I stopped at the beach where I saw a bunch of white kids in their Fast and Furious hopped up neon cars. They're in town for a big show/race. Import dragsters. That's the topic of another week plus trip... maybe LA...

So, this morning, I headed out before 7am, had breakfast at Waffle House. I was waited on by "Dixie" and "April Lamb" cooked the food. Yes, April Lamb is her first name. And she didn't seem to go by just "April." Huh.

I saw this great '63 Impala in a front yard and decided to stop for a shot. There was a guy there, an older woman (maybe his mom?) and two little kids (like 5 years old). The woman was half way through a 40oz Colt 45. Must be the weekend. I snapped a shot or two and talked to the guy — who told me his name was Roosevelt. He told me to check out a place around the corner for some great cars.

On my way there, I saw a barbershop called Central Barber Shop. Unbelievable. [My barber has the same name — not really unbelievable, but a funny coincidence at very least]. So I went in and asked if I could get some photos to show my guys at Central Barber in Cambridge. The barber was psyched! I made a photo inside (very dark) and then was going to shoot one outside, when the barber came out (his name — Rob Harris!) and asked if I'd get one of him out front. He posed for two photos — I'll mail him a print or two. Really nice guy.

"Rob" - Biloxi, MS

Around the corner was Cook's Auto Body (the place Roosevelt told me about). There were some guys outside, and an older guy ("Cook") who was backing a '50s pickup (lowered and souped up) out of the yard. He and I started to chat, and I made a photo of him in front of a '47 pickup he's finishing.

Cook was very friendly and after we'd been talking for about 20 minutes, he showed me a CRAAAAAZY trike he built — it has a Chevy 350 ci engine on it! [The name painted on the back was "Nasty Little Dumper" — it had a wooden bed that tipped like a dump truck!]. then he got in his truck and told me to follow him. We got to a house near the beach where his friend lives — unfortunately his friend wasn't there. But, Cook wanted to show me his friend's cars — a '48 Willys and others. All I saw was a Nash Metropolitan dragster (yes) complete with giant rear slicks and a huge engine.

"Cook" - Biloxi, MS

Cook invited me to come over for BBQ the next time I'm in Biloxi — I'll definitely check him out next time. He told me about his kids and living in Biloxi and Alabama.

Then it was time to pack up and head out.