Exploring was again on the agenda for today. However, we decided to take a more intelligent approach by stopping by the Natchez Tourist Info Center where we got maps and some verbal instructions about where we wanted to go. After leaving, we decided to go south of Natchez to the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
Unfortunately, all the roads we tried were flooded way before we got to the ends so we were limited to seeing one alligator and a crow. Defeated on this venture, we decided to head a bit further up the flower-lined Natchez Trace, this time going as far as the town of Port Gibson where we encountered some more gorgeous buildings. We did not expect to see such spectacular architecture in such a rural setting.
We chickened out after Port Gibson and returned to Vidalia to watch more river traffic. This time we arrived in time to see a single massive river tug pushing 28 loaded barges maybe a couple hundred feet long each upriver. The barges were arranged 4 wide and 7 long. It is amazing that the tug pilots can manipulate their quarter mile long loads through the numerous bridges here without hitting the supports. I hope they don’t screw up because it looks like some of the barges have a cargo of gasoline or diesel. Lots of barges going upriver today.
Pix. Click here