Learning gospel music on Scenic Drive

Bikers enjoy Scenic Drive in Pass Christian

Wifey and I have two basic route options when traveling to New Orleans.

One is to almost immediately get on Interstate 10 about four miles from where we live in Ocean Springs and just drive the speed limit and get there in about an hour and a half.

The other option is to take US 90 which travels along the beach from Biloxi on the east to Bay St.Louis on the west.

Its a more time-consuming trip. The highway parallels the beach for about 20 miles. The road then heads inland as it crosses swamps, rivers and bayous on its way to the Big Easy.

And it takes a little bit longer because wifey enjoys taking the Scenic Drive in Pass Christian which means for about three miles, we meander along the scenic road at about 10 miles per hour.

Scenic Drive parallels US 90 but runs along the edge of a high ridge just north of the highway.

There is the open waters of the Mississippi Sound to the south and a variety of expensive looking and not-so-expensive-looking homes on the north side of the drive.

It has been reported that many New Orleans well-to-do- residents years ago owned a lot of the houses which their families lived in during the summer, enjoying the gulf breezes while those in the river city had to deal with oppressive heat.

And anyone who has visited the Crescent City in the summer knows about that heat and humidity.

We’ve taken the Scenic Drive route numerous times, sometimes stopping in the shade of a hugh oak tree to picnic. This last trip involved taking a few photos at the location of the Gospel Singers of America facility.

We’ve seen the sign throughout the years and wondered what was offered.

Gospel singing facility in Pass Christian, MS

The organization's website says they teach students to read music, play instruments, sing and write gospel songs and encourage them to return to their home churches and help with the music program.

Next post: April 1, 2014