Spent a "rest" day touring the Vicksburg Battlefield that was the site of Gen. Grant's seige of Vicksburg in 1863. Would have preferred a walking tour, but the tour is 16 miles of constant hills, so cycling was my best option. There were hundreds of monuments and statues commemorating the battles and the soldiers who fought them, including impressive monuments erected by each state in honor of the soldiers from that state.
The history of the campaign and seige was quite interesting and the historical markers indicated exactly where all of the key developments took place in the course of the seige. The museums at the visitor center and U.S.S. Cairo Museum featuring the recovered remains of the Union Gunboat sunk by an electronically detonated mine were very informative and interesting. And, of course, the military cemetery was very poignant.
I am very excited about riding the historic Trace Natchez trail tomorrow. Hoping to meet some other touring cyclists on the trail and to camp at the Natchez State Park campground tomorrow night.
My friend, Bob Conway, who is originally from New Orleans, is going to meet me next Thursday night in New Orleans and ride with me to the mouth of The River 95 miles south of New Orleans.
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