Story by Sneed Adams, Anne Adams & John Sweney
Photos by Anne & Sneed Adams, John Sweney, & Gil Fuqua
In his novel "Life on the Mississippi", Mark Twain wrote, "The face of the river, in time, became a wonderful book . . . which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it had uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day... I can picture that old time to myself now, just as it was then: the white town drowsing in the sunshine of a summer’s morning…the great Mississippi, the majestic, the magnificent Mississippi, rolling its mile wide tide along, shining in the sun."
Reflecting the river's spirit of genteel adventure, the RROC members took a wonderful trek "Up A Lazy River" for the 2005 National Spring Tour. The river indeed told a new story every day -- stories of pride and determination, of beauty and grace, of community and sacrifice. Participants could not help to drive away with a greater respect for the warm and inviting people of the region and be awed by the visual feasts both natural and man-made.
Sharon and David lead us across I -10 to Nawlins
The Tour began in New Orleans on Sunday, April 10 following The Lazy River through Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg and Jackson. The tour ignited lots of interest in the Gulf Coast Area, attracting 13 Texans and their seven PMCs. We had one Honorary Texan with us as a seat was open in a pretty S II and a nice lady from Nawlins rode shot gun for 6 days.
The tour was organized by Laura and Bill Borchert. They did an excellent job. Altogether there were 32 cars and 62 members. Members came from California, Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wyoming, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia and Texas.
We met our hosts at the Garden District Hotel
in the heart of New Orleans and had our welcome dinner that evening at the
Palace Café on Canal Street. The Nawlins ambiance was overflowing.
The dinner was fabulous and set the pace for the next 6 days of fine dining
and devastated diet plans.
We had a short ferry boat ride
to get out of New Orleans and over to the River Road.
We took up the entire ferry.
Monday morning we were off on our trek up the river road to Baton Rouge. The first challenge of the day was to get all 32 cars away from downtown Nawlins, across the Mississippi River on a single ferry boat. To our rescue came 12 of Nawlin’s finest motorcycle policemen who provided a seamless escort to the ferry They led and intermingled with the cars while caravanning on the road to our first stop at Nottoway Plantation for a tour and lunch.
It remains a question still unanswered. Who were
the most impressed? The local citizens or the PMC drivers? We surely stopped
traffic and got lots of waves from the local folks as we pleasantly interrupted
their morning.
Gil Fuqua's 1924 Silver Ghost
New Orleans' finest gave us an escort out of town
Nottoway Plantation along the River Road
The Texas Delegation at Nottoway Plantation
The Nottoway Plantation was completed in 1859. The large antebellum home was sited on the Mississippi River and surrounded by 7,000 acres of sugar cane. The Texas Delegation posed for a group photo under one of the many large oak trees surrounding the home.
With the tour and lunch at Nottoway completed we continued our travel north in a drivingrain storm to Baton Rouge and a tour of the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. We continued north in the pouring rain to St. Francisville, Louisiana and The Myrtles Plantation for dinner and tour.
Tour of the Louisiana Governor's Mansion
It would not be Louisiana without a bit of rain.
The heavy rainstorm had knocked out the power in the area. We went for dinner at The Myrtles Plantation. The Myrtles is one of America’s Most Haunted Houses. The 209-year-old National Register Home was built by General David Bradford in 1796. Touring the Ma haunted mansion after dark with a flashlight during a blackout was just what we needed before dinner. Spooky Spooky Boo! The Spirits were benevolent to us this evening. They liked the cars and recognized a kinship. They restored the power in time for the kitchen to complete our absolutely fantastic dinner.
John and Mike navigate to Natchez
The next morning the rain was gone and it was bright and sunny. It was a perfect day to drive the back country roads to magnificent Natchez on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.
What would this old river be without a paddle wheeler?
The 60 mile drive to Natchez was a pleasant drive though rural river basin countryside. This brief drive, however, gave no warning for what awaited us in Natchez. Natchez can only be described as Stanton Hall, Auburn, Longwood, Magnolia Hall, Melrose, Monmouth, Rosalie and of course, Dunleith.
Breathtaking and awe inspiring to say the least.
For those of us who appreciate the older, finer cars, the antebellum mansions
and homes of Natchez were treasures without equal. We spent most of the day
wandering about these great homes trying to soak up some of the splendor.
We had sun the remainder of the trip. Great parking at Springfield Plantation
Springfield Plantation Built 1791
Our second day in Natchez had us on the tour trail to Springfield Plantation and Port Gibson for lunch. Springfield Plantation was built between 1786 and 1791 by Thomas Green a wealthy planter from Virginia. It was the first mansion built in the Mississippi River Valley. Springfield is today managed by Arthur C. LaSalle, an interesting eccentric who will regale one with the plantation’s history for as long as one cares to listen. Andrew Jackson, our 7th President married his wife Rachel at this home in 1791.
Richard Branyon's 1949 Silver Wraith
Rick & Sandy Barrett's 1938 Derby Bentley
Randall & Alean Andrae and their 1925 Silver Ghost
Bob Wright's 1933 20/25
There were many antebellum homes in Natchez
This web page tells of many more. --- http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com/houses.htm
The Natchez Chamber of Commerce allowed us to park inside the City Convention Center. They also had a great place outside where we could wash our cars. Natchez is one of those places that you feel compelled to keep a secret from the rest of the world. You have to wonder if maybe that has been the case down through the ages. The town’s old homes remain intact and show us so much about what life must have been like in this very wealthy river town prior to the Civil War.
Yellow Roses at Stanton Hall
John & Mike adding character to Stanton Hall
Richard Branyon (standing left) hosted dinner Tuesday evening. Great!!!
The first evening in Natchez we were treated to dinner at Richard Branyon’s in the antique district. It was a casual affair under the stars in the courtyard of his home. A quiet relaxing evening to end a perfect day.
RROC National President Fred Ward and his wife Anne
Dunleith Plantation in Natchez for group photo and dinner
That second evening in Natchez we had dinner at Dunleith Plantation. Before dinner we lined the cars in the circular driveway for a group photo. This has to be most magnificent photo ever taken of PMCs outside a POM. (Precious Old Manse)
We all stood on the front porch and watched as the photographer struggled to find the proper location to take the photograph. He resorted to placing his 15 foot ladder in the middle of the busy main street that passed in front. Of course the photographer never realized how perilous his position was. Drivers coming down the road caught a glimpse of the PMCs and could not help looking at the cars.
Dunleith Plantation cast a spell over all of
us. We were whisked back in time to a place of grandeur in the old South.
The dinner was splendid beyond compare.
Arriving in style at Dunleith Plantation for dinner.
Sneed & Anne Adams with Marque their Bentley
Sharon & David Galvan
Dan & Cathie Mouton
Beryal & John Potier
Bob Wright & Eddy Bridges
The guy from Dallas, what's his name?..... Doug Handel
Dinner at Dunleith Plantation
Dunleith Plantation after dinner photo shoot.
Four of the preeminent families of Natchez pose for their annual portrait at Dunleith Plantation.
The drive to Port Gibson
Lunch stop Wednesday in Port Gibson at the Restoration Cafe. Highly Recommended!
Old Churches Tour in Port Gibson
This church had blue windows which gave the inside an interesting view
After lunch we were given a tour of several old churches in Port Gibson. The Catholic Church had deep blue stained glass windows producing an ethereal feeling. The Presbyterian Church featured a hand pointing to heaven.
Vicksburg National Military Park
This restored ironclad was incredible -- http://www.nps.gov/vick/cairo/cairo.htm
Vicksburg provided an insight to one of the final conflicts along the Mississippi
River during the Civil War. We toured a portion of the battlefield and had
a nice box lunch at the display of the Union Ironclad Gunboat Cairo which
was sunk in the Yazoo River a few miles from Vicksburg. It was recovered from
the river in the late 1960s and is on display in the battlefield park. The
steam engines and boilers were recovered. It was fascinating to us old car
repair types.
The Texas Memorial at the Vicksburg National Military Park
http://www.nps.gov/vick/tx/tx_stm.htm
All gathered nicely under guard at the Isle of Capri Hotel in Vicksburg
While in Vicksburg we stayed
at the Isle of Capri Casino. What can I tell you? Lots of fun and lots of
laughs. No one broke the bank and we all left the next day with our cars
Movie Museum in Canton
Lemonade and a stroll downtown through Canton, MS.
Closing dinner at Schimmel's in Jackson
Leaving Canton we motored down to Jackson, Mississippi for the final evening and farewell dinner.
It was a grand tour enjoyed by
all, proving once again that an RROC tour is without equal: magnificent automobiles
in their natural elegant settings; new friends and shared experiences; first-class
regional cuisine and expanded waistlines; adventure, exploration and learning
-- and a new story every day!
The 50th Wedding Anniversary Team
It looks like Louisiana knew we were coming.
Story by Sneed Adams, Anne Adams & John Sweney
Photos by John Sweney, Gil Fuqua, Anne Adams & Sneed Adams.
A special thanks to Laura & Bill Borchert for a job well done.
Here are the web pages of the photos taken by others on the Tour
Sneed & Anne Adams - http://sneedadams.smugmug.com/gallery/487515
Kelly Kyle - http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4299384&a=31725508&f=
John Sweney - http://www.bentleyclassic.com/rroctour/
Gil Fuqua - http://gilfuqua.smugmug.com/gallery/486042
http://gilfuqua.smugmug.com/Cars/73314
Laura Borchert - http://LBorchert.smugmug.com/gallery/496120/1/20288628
http://LBorchert.smugmug.com/gallery/496107/1/20294835
Bill Pritchard - http://www.propermotorcar.com/2005tour/
Warren Milan -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=n8ibt52.bg88vsy&Uy=g8u
d9i&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3FshowSlide%3Dtrue&Ux=1&UV=76466995499_726
25636906
E-Mail
Sneed Adams