More on Biloxi

This city is 300 years old and at one time the largest seaport in America.  We took a tour today of this place.  Twice in less than 50 years, this place was hit by large, destructive hurricanes.  Camille and Katrina.  The first killed more and had the highest winds.  The second had the highest water, some 30 feet of surge.  It took out most of the fishing fleet and some buildings that were over 100 years old.  Four hundred year old oaks were decimated not by wind or water but by floating stuff such as a very large casino on a barge.  The city is recovering nicely and the historic district is looking good.  Perhaps aided by all the casino traffic, this city gives one an entirely different feeling than other hurricane areas we have visited on our adventure.  The first three or four years were spent removing debris and rebuilding infrastructure.  Now, there are new dwellings, offices and shops rising from the devastation.  There is a wonderful history to this place starting with the French in the 17th century.  It is well worth visiting if you are ever near here. 

Memorial to victims of Camille.  The bent flag pole has become the icon of that storm when a pipe was found in a yard where the house was missing.  A hand lettered sign said "we will build again".
The oak tree shading Bear has a hole in the overhead branch supposedly the result of an appeal to a particular Biloxi (Native American) centuries ago.  She asked her father if she could wed a  brave from a rival tribe to which he responded "Not until there is a ring in a tree".  Sounds plausible, huh?. So what happens to the old oak trees that have succumbed?  An artist from Florida is going around and carving the remaining trunks. 

Look closely. You will see a sailfish, two dolphin and a crab carved into the tree.  He has done this up and down the coast. 

Where from here?  Once we rip ourselves away from the slip, we might just go to Mobile, next.  That fort on Ship Island, Fort Massachusetts, is still undergoing repairs and is not open.  Good thing we asked. 

Did we mention it is good to be out of New Orleans?  Now, I think I will go wash the mud out of the anchor locker.  It is black mousse and is starting to emit an aroma not unlike the stuff we found in our freezer that was unplugged for a month.