The journey begins...

Dad and his navy buddies (he's the third one from the left)

2 Sundays ago, J & I headed to Grandma and Grandad's to prepare for a 7 day trip to South Carolina and back. (Sadly, T couldn't take the week off, however we were all in Alabama at the same time b/c he was in Birmingham for work!  crazy)  J & I were joining them on a trip to Grandad's navy reunion for the USS Pictor.  He has been attending these reunions for a few years but had to skip last year due to his recovery from cancer and treatments.  Every year it's in a different location, usually with something historic to tour and enjoy.  This year, it was historic Charleston, South Carolina, a place none of us had ever visited and couldn't wait to see (and perfect for our history studies)!

On the first day of the trip, we traveled through Louisiana and stopped in Vicksburg, MS to check out the Vicksburg National Military Park.  T & I had toured this with my parents back in high school, if I can find one of the pictures, I'll post it later ;)  You have to understand...not only is my Dad interested in many things Civil War, both of my parents still claim "The South Will Rise Again"...yea...and they do it often on trips like this...pretty much to embarrass their kids (right, mom?)   After lunching at Walnut Hills we spent about 2 hours at the park. 

"Hey, mom, look...De Soto!" 

The old and new bridges spanning the mighty Mississippi River between LA and MS

Walnut Hills Restaurant...good home cooking (listed in the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die", just fyi)

One of the newer monuments in the Vicksburg battlefield park, recognizing the first African American soldiers who fought

The USS Cairo, pulled up from the bottom of the Mississippi

 We also made a really short stop at the Coca-Cola museum in Vicksburg, which is J's favorite drink...was a week-long joke between he and Grandad who calls Dr. Pepper his "medicine".