Are we at the half-way point yet?

Everybody has a “half-way” point on their travels.

Well, I guess they do. We do.

Its not exactly the exact point as on a 500-mile trip, one stops right at the 250-mile marker.

That’s not the way it happens. Nothing is that exact. Well, I don’t think so.

Years ago, we would travel from our home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast some 80 miles to the north to Hattiesburg, the hometown of my wife.

At the time we had two young children. Well, I thought they were young, one a teen and the other wishing.

Wiggins would be considered the halfway point. But we didn’t always stop there.

Our first few years, having taken what is now referred to as “Old Highway 67,” we would stop about six miles from Wiggins and tank up on a soft drink for each of us.

Later on, we stopped just north of Wiggins for refreshments.

And then occasionally we would stop way before Wiggins, then sometimes in Perkinston (just south of Wiggins), and get something to drink.

Those last times were when our children were up and gone and it was just me and my wife.

It is amazing how an event grows.

Our children, early on, were happy to have a Coke or Barq’s Root Beer. That worked for a number of years no matter where we stopped.

And then one day, when getting a soft drink, one of our sons couldn’t resist asking to expand their  options — candy or potato chips.

And the new routine was born.

It wasn’t just a drink stop anymore, it was a snack stop. 

I did manage to keep them to two items each. I didn’t want it to advance to a “meal stop” since we were only about 45 miles from a meal at my inlaws.

And nowadays, when wifey and I travel toward the mountains, we have regular stops. And some have been expanded to “meal stops.”

Well, we deserve it!

Next post: April 7, 2015

Springtime and the colors explode

It seems as though the last freeze is a few weeks behind us in south Mississippi and we’re heading to Easter, which is just around the corner.

As my father and others over the years have intoned, “don’t plant until Good Friday.”

That seems like a good mantra.

About three or four weeks ago, the weather lightened up, people were out buying and putting  plants into the ground. And then we had another freeze. 

But that seems to be in the past.

There’s nothing like traveling out to the back yard and sowing a few seeds, whether it is for beans, okra, tomatoes or any number of different flowers that offer beauty during the spring and early summer.

I like to take pictures of plants and flowers. I just don’t always know their names. So here’s for just plain enjoyment of plants sans names.

Next post: March 31, 2015

Food fotos whet appetite for travel

Travel offers wide variety of delicious enticements

Lately when I sit down to take it easy, my mind almost goes blank. 

But then there are two (maybe three) things I know I will think about.

That’s traveling and food.

Lately my appetite's has been whetted for both.

After last year’s robust adventures of taking five trips of more than 600 miles, I’m getting back into the mood.

Once last Christmas arrived, we seemed to be traveled out.

The winter months are a good time to relax, rest and make more plans.

Originally, plans over the winter included heading back up to the Smokey Mountains for a snowfall, but that didn’t materialize.

We just took it easy. Our only day-trip was to New Orleans for some beignets. We haven’t taken an overnight trip in more than three months. That’s not like us.

But then again, during that time, we decided on a European cruise, so that’s what our time and money are budgeted toward.

Upon return, the mountain trips will resume (already booked time this summer) and may look forward to additional trip to places unknown.  I don’t know.

With the cold days of winter behind, the temperatures edging up, it seems like it is time to head out once again.

Next post: March 24, 2015