Using one of the extra days we have to travel.

We slept a bit later than we should have.  By the time we had packed and loaded the car, breakfast had been cleared.  We had some bananas and each ate one.  I asked the clerk for directions to the local Lutheran church and arrived there just in time for the 10 o’clock service.  We had several people greet us despite this being an LCMS church.  Being greeted by more than 1 person besides the pastor is something rare in our church body.  It was Reformation Day, and a brass band played for the service.  As usual, it was a very uplifting service.  When we finished, we left for Vicksburg before eating lunch.  I left going the wrong way because I had missed a turn.  We weren’t delayed too much and were in Jackson by 1.  We stopped at a Popeye’s for a chicken dinner.  I could access the Internet, so I made a reservation at a Quality Inn in Natchez.  We traveled on to Vicksburg and went to the Civil War battle ground.  We had been there years before with the girls.  Emily didn’t remember going but Stacy might.  There was a new feature.  We could take our phone and call a specified number at each marked stop on the driving tour to receive a message as to what happened at that site.  There were 15 sites but we only had time for 7 because the park closed at 5.  We had a bit of trouble getting through Vicksburg, but talked to a sweet young black girl who gave me directions.  It was still difficult, but still possible.  We drove south to Natchez in a rain.  It was quite dark and treacherous.  We pulled into Natchez and bought some microwave popcorn.  We also ate sandwiches made with some peppercorn turkey breast and bread we had brought from home.  We are still a day early in our trip, so we will stay in Lafayette Monday and Tuesday before going on to New Braunfels a day early.  We will likely find more to do for the extra day there.