Boog's Blog

BTC. Beijing
Warm. Quite warm. Hotel has not turned on the a/condition as the warm season has not started. Local conditions irrelevant.

Arrived as planned. Hotel an historic one from 1918,renovated. Designed to be part of the cultural experience.

http://www.bjdongfanghotel.com.cn/

Atrocious buffet dinner at the hotel. Group too tired from travel to go out. Queens Chinese level.

Domestic tourism is down as there will be a change of leadership this year. New rulers, new rules and uncertainty.

Our tour guide said that tourism from the USA would be down this year due to our election. Clearly a deeply ingrained view.

Tai chi at 07:00.

BSNT New Orleans

Cloudy a bit stormy, but the storms never came.

George advised that we should not miss the Ohr museum in Biloxi. It was an excellent suggestion and a worthwhile visit.

The museum is not finished so the exhibits are not all in place. The building and site is in itself an exhibit. Opened in November 2010 it was designed by Gehry. One interesting potter could not be looked at as an overly aggressive docent kept jabbering about his likes and files. Pics will come later.

The shoo fly, see explanation and pic below, is an alternative to the fly swatter we saw in Natchez at Longwood, and certainly of another type to the pie.

Speaking of pie, shoo fly is related to Montgomery and chess pies.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Ohr

New Orleans is sold out. Hotel said that they have been full since the beginning the year.

Now off to food.

Tornadoes have passed, intermittent thunderstorms

In between storms a few good beach walks. Without the wind and dermabrasion good views and good strolling.

Much to my disappointment the hot tub has been closed for two days : inclement weather.

Have to leave tomorrow as there are no longer any large succulent shrimps left in the gulf. We have consumed them all. Ah……

For those of you who intend to follow us here there are some of the small ones still available. Sorry.

Dinner started with a lagniappe, QB supplied the term, of grilled oysters. The word is of gulf coast origin. From the Spanish. A gift from the bartender.

Oysters followed by blue crab, grilled, and then very very large and sweet gulf coast shrimp. Happily stuffed.

Sent from my iPad

BSNT. Biloxi two

Windy with tornado watch, our first, in the evening

A very special morning conversation.

As many of you know I like to sit down, in this case share a hot tub, with strangers to get their views. Unlike at home where I share my opinions here I am in listening and leading question mode.

A dentist from east texas, a student from texas, and a business person from just outside New Orleans, proud of being from Louisiana.

First leading question: why the visceral hatred for Obama? ( guessed correctly that all three would share that view).

In somewhat rank order: his social view on abortion, socialist, Tarp, wants to distribute income from those who worked hard to get it. All agreed that this more their rural view than they would expect from a Californian or New Yorker.

Did not believe it was racism based. Much more values based. Bush was ok, not great or good, but ok.

Lots of comparative info about dentistry in different states and countries. Texas, California and florida best. Real perfectionist training.

The dentist, complaining about his $25000 a year property tax bill, felt he could survive quite well on his 160 acres and a few generators. Little need for government.

One was a segregationist, the businessman. Was far better before integration for everyone. I just listened,amazed,and let him continue. Obama wants gas prices up. Stephan Chu, energy secretary likes the idea of $10 gas like Europe. Then Obama would have riots and he could, and would, declare marshal law and suspend Congress so he could impose his socialist views.
The speaker owns three companies, carries a gun,and is not loath to use it, for protection. Claimed to be a scholar of history. I have barely touched on his views. Very friendly person.

Everyone agreed politicians are just out for themselves.

QB and I took a dermabrasion walk on the beach. Not familiar with the term? Imagine 25-40 mph winds blowing sand on your exposed parts as you walk along the gulf.

Wind so strong pool and hot tub area shut down for safety. Flying umbrella stands possible.

Dinner at Oyster House, see separate pics for this very gulf dinner.

Sent from my iPad

Sent from my iPad

BSNT Biloxi

Yes, now off the trace looking for different balls of string.

With 30 miles left to bike, wind advisory, severe, and some extra days decided to see the gulf Coast before going to new Orleans. My total knowledge of the Coast has been provided by their commercials and the AAA book.

But first the largest octagonal house in America. Longwood. The tour was conducted by a costumed southern bell. Full petticoat, antebellum. At 10000 square feet on the first as well as the second floor, it ends up at 30000 sq ft with the unfinished fourth through sixth floors.

Built by the scion of a rich, very rich, plantation owning family it is now preserved by inclusion in the historical registry. Worth looking up in wikipedia.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwood_(Natchez,_Mississippi)

And, some professional images

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwood_(Natchez,_Mississippi)

Food observation. This entire trip we have not had a single good piece of bread. Just not a bread culture. Bread has resembled wonder bread. Too far from the wheat growing areas?

Not many coffee places but it has been possible to get good coffee without too much searching.

BSNT. Natchez

Another almost perfect day.

Left one off the list: bugs. They seem to buzz the head and arms on warm humid days. Today it was in part bees.

Spending time in the rural areas one gets to understand a bit more of the American political collage. First, the church is not only the center of the community but seems to be the collector of all funds. There are new churches, large and we’ll built everywhere. Multiples where one would seem to suffice.

Second, while roads are excellent and few services such as hospitals and clinics are few and far apart. The churches probably along with the community help the sick and indigent as best as they can.

The areas are economically poor. Suspect few disposable dollars for more taxes.

Taken together little value from government and maybe less for Obamacare. Almost a mirror image of urban value.

Lunch on the back of the rental car.

Dinner at "Little Pigs Inn " By far the best BBQ we have had. Pulled pork, chickens, multiple sides, beer, tea. $20 for all.

The Mississippi is large and powerful here. Bridge to Vidalia a delight.

BSNT. Vicksburg

Another sunny warm day with gusty winds from, wherelse but from the South West.

The section of the trace we next encountered was closed to cars. About 15 feet has subsided but as there are few entries and exits 8 plus miles were closed. Open to bikes though.

In Palo Alto the disruption would have been marked with a bike beware sign.

So, a nice bike ride on a private road. Being Sunday morning few were on the road. QB got to walk without traffic.

Speaking of traffic we have noticed that the roads here are are outstanding. Wide, divided roads, four lanes, often with additional portions being added. Small towns in porkville as best as we can tell. California could sure use some of these roads.

A side trip. Off to Vicksburg. The national battlefield is a stomach churning experience. First it is huge. The driving tour tales 1.5-2 hours over 18 miles. The government film is actually a good one. Shows the carnage and pointless deaths in perspective as well as covering the repeated strategies of the extended battle and siege.

The battleground is high up on a bluff overlooking Vicksburg. Steeply rolling hills. Walked a good section and got a feel for what the carnage must have been like. Inconceivable. Mud, dirt, rain, cholera, malaria, starvation and hand to hand fighting apart from the incessant cannon fire.

Found an historic mansion for the evening. Cedar Grove mansion. Large rambling house.

BSNT Ridgeland

Another perfect day.

Usual nature walks, riding, and lunch by Pearl River.

Very few fellow riders. Saw only two today.

Cyclists have a lot to contend…. Complain about. Hills, wind, road surface, traffic, traffic lights, rain, riding east into the morning sun or west in the evening, heat, humidity,sore butt, sore arms. Today was a no complaints day, well maybe one but I am not saying.

The kids in the hot tub did not believe that I am 104. Left them puzzled.

BSNT. Kosciusko

Another perfect day. Hot, but no hotter.

First a hike on Little mountain one of the higher peaks on the trace. Rolling path on a hillside. Met a somewhat local couple, Clinton Mississippi. Told us not to miss French Camp.

One pic shows a tree stripped of bark, caused by the recent tornado. Underside has its bark. The couple that pointed it out treat tornadoes as Californian view earthquakes.

French camp turns out to be a settlers store and village from the 1800s. Excellent cafe with home made foods. A broccoli salad fit for California.

Run now as part of the French Academy, a Christian boarding school K12 that qb described, by reading their literature, as a place out of Dickins with corporal punishment etc.

Museum was closed but the log buildings are well worth the visit.

More rides and more nature walks. All good. QB took a longish turn. We will have earned our evening bread.

Signage continues to meet and exceed the expectations of George and Libby – well commented. Signage in pics sent separately.