Pensacola, FL

Lillian, AL

Because I headed north to Vicksburg after leaving New Orleans, I missed the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and as you know, coasts are near and dear to my heart. So today I headed out early and jumped on that great Interstate 10 and took it almost all the way back to New Orleans, but dropped down to the coast at Bay Saint Louis. I then followed State Highway 90, which follows the coast, back to Mobile where I jumped back on the Interstate to get around Mobile Bay and back down to my “house” at Lillian, Alabama.

All along the Mississippi coastline, there is almost a continuous long white sand beach (60 or so miles) dotted with historic towns, some of which have retained their old town charm, such as Ocean Springs and some that have been taken over by modernization and tourism. According to someone I was talking to today, the sand on the coast has been brought in over the past 10 years by the Army Core of Engineers as part of the plan to build up defences against future hurricanes and to help protect the shoreline for non-humans as well. It’s sand that has been dredged up from the Mississippi. Sand fences and grasses have been installed to help build up dunes to secure the sand and prevent erosion and that activity is continuing.

Of course, this coast was hit hard by Katrina, and the communities along the coast are slowly recovering. Lots of houses have been repaired or rebuilt, mainly on stilts like elsewhere along the coast, but many of the antebellum homes could not be fixed and so the land has been cleared. There are hundreds of lots along the coast where you can see the infrastructure such as footings and roadways, but no house. Many lots and many of the houses that remain are for sale.

There are new developments too, and many are underway or development approvals are being sought. There are many government infrastructure projects completed like wharf and boardwalks, and restrooms (also on stilts, looks a little weird). Biloxi has become casino central with Hard Rock, Harrah’s, Golden Nugget all with huge hotels and casinos along the coast. Places to stay, eat and be entertained are plentiful, and it looks like they continue to grow. Even in off-season, things are quite busy. One of the most popular activities is deep sea fishing, and there are lots of operators lined up to take your money to do that.

Just after arriving on the coast, I stopped for a great salad with ahi tuna at a restaurant called Shaggy’s at a marina in a town called Pass Christian. I enjoyed the outdoor setting even though it was only 18 degrees or so. There were many Valentines treating each other to a brunch today from the look of things.

I drove east along the coast stopping from time to time to have a look at things or just wander along the beach. As the day progressed it got a little overcast, and the forecast is for rain tomorrow. One of the stops I made is at the home and Presidential Library for the 1st (and only) President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis. It was interesting to see the property, where he spent two years writing his book, “The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government”. He was initially living in a cottage of the owner of the main house while writing the book but when the widow died she willed her home and all her remaining assets to Davis. His wife loved roses and spent hours in the rose garden.

The home was severely damaged by Katrina, and the front of the home is still under reconstruction. Many of the items in the home and on the property were washed out into the Gulf, but they were able to salvage quite a bit.

There is a cemetery where many of the local Confederate soldiers are buried along with the remains of an unknown soldier.

Mobile, AL

Pascagoula, MS

Ocean Springs, MS

Biloxi, MS

Gulfport, MS

Pass Christian, MS

Bay Saint Louis, MS

Mobile, AL