About I-20

LOUISIANA — Northern Louisiana gets the rainfall brought in from the Gulf of Mexico — especially during hurricane season. All those lakes you saw in East Texas are now swamps in West Louisiana. But this area was also very rich in underground oil pools. Pumping oil out of this ground is returning, now, that the price of oil has, again, made it profitable.
   Following our rule to park on the west side of town if you're westbound and on the east side if you're eastbound (thereby avoiding the heavier flow of rush hour traffic), there are a couple RV parks at exit 8 (sort of next door to the local penal farm :-) but, on the east side, all we have been able to find are a pair on the western outskirts of Minden at exit 38 (near the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant :-). Quite a contrast between the two; the privately owned park is pretty much an open field (like the one at exit 8) but the public park is on Lake Bistineau and is very nice. Neither has Internet service so you can forget about that unless you can use your cell phone.
   By the way, have you noticed that the hills are getting a little taller and more numerous? As you drive east you'll see more and more of these little mountain ranges until your reach Alabama — which is the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains.
   In Monroe (milepost 116½) you'll cross the Oachita River which used to be great for fishing. Folks used to line the bridges with their picnic baskets and, mostly, home-made fishing poles. This was dip and nab fishing, — no fancy fly fishing. They say the fishing is still good but it is unlawful to fish from a highway bridge. (Just can't leave us alone!)
   And, on the subject of wildlife, around exit 124 you will be cutting through the Russell Sage State Wildlife Management Area. This is a natural wetland just teaming with about every kind of native species (and some not so native). Bird Watchers will love this place — especially in the Spring.
   At about milepost 187½ you'll cross the mighty Mississippi River and enter the State of Mississippi.

MISSISSIPPI — Vicksburg is 'high ground'. They used to say they were immune from the annual Mississippi flooding but no more.  If you're a history buff you've found a spot that will keep you occupied for days. Even if you're not, a tour through town will reveal some really beautiful  homes. When they built houses back then they really believed in luxury (without all the technology). If you do decide to tour Vicksburg and you're eastbound take Clay Street (used to be the old US-80 Business before I-20 replaced US-80). If you're westbound, take exit 4-B and ride Clay Street into town. Return to I-20 via Washington Street which runs along the Mississippi River.
   In Jackson you'll cross Interstate 55. Someday we'll do I-55; it is a fun highway and goes through some very interesting places. Speaking of fun highways, the Natchez Trace Parkway has an intermission in Jackson. This runs along the old Natchez Trail — which was a well-used pioneer trail bringing folks to the Gulf area. The Parkway ends, momentarily, at exit 105 of I-55 and picks up again at exit 34 of I-20.
   If you're running with your windows open or your air conditioner on 'vent' you may have noticed how the scent of the countryside has changed. We never were able to get a solid answer but there are some trees in this mixed forest area that smell like they are in bloom all the time. Who knows, maybe they are someone's secret source of perfume.
   Meridian is the last large 'town' you'll pass through and is the beginning of what we have been told is catfish country. Apparently there are dozens of small impoundments west of US-45 where catfish (that will eat almost anything) thrive. These are 'wild' catfish — much tastier than the artificially raised kind you usually find in the supermarkets. There is a place called 'Catfish Plus (1716 Hwy 19 N; 601-482-2507) in Meridian — and, no, that is not a paid ad — where you'll really find out how tasty catfish can be!

ALABAMA — It was only 171 miles across Mississippi, quite a contrast with Texas. Now you're in Alabama and you will see an increase in evergreens. We're approaching the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. A little trivia; in Louisiana and Mississippi US-80 meandered back and forth across I-20. US-80 is gone, now, well south of us and our new companion is US-11 — one of the longest north-south US highways still being maintained. If you get bored, try getting off the Interstate and follow the US highway. You will find many interesting things along the way — and some very good eating spots that aren't national franchises.
   A little east of milepost 36 you'll cross the Tombigee River. Maybe it doesn't look like much but this is a historically famous river. Further downstream it was a prime means of transport in the 19th century and before. That frequently featured steamboat of the movie world, the Robert E Lee, really did exist and steamed up and down the Tombigee carrying cotton and merchandise. This area is also covered with swamps from which much timber was hauled the hard way. These folks really had to work hard but it also churned out real men.
   Some thirty miles further you encounter the Black Warrior River and Tuscaloosa. The names Black Warrior and Tuscaloosa have a lot in common: Black Warrior is the English translation of the Choctaw tashka (warrior) and lusa (black). The river, with the Tombigee, were the prime media of transportation and link between Birmingham and Mobile in the 18th and early 19th Centuries and for the Native Americans (particularly the Choctaw) for centuries earlier. There is much to see and do in Tusacaloosa if you're looking for an excuse to get out of the driver's seat. We'll refer you to the Travel Bureau's web site for more information: TCVB.ORG.

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   Birmingham is a megapolis and I-20 is routed right through the middle of it. Fortunately there is an excellent way around it: I-459. Interstate 65 also is also routed through Birmingham, — another of our favorite Interstates. Years ago when you approached Birmingham from Atlanta you could look down on it from the pass (about 980 feet elevation) and see a virtual rainbow of smoke pouring out of the many chimneys. The colors represented were awesome. Birmingham has been cleaned up (mostly) since then but it is still a great view. I-459 meets I-20 just east of this spot so, if you are eastbound, you might want to go east on I-20 to exit 135 (which is THE spot), loop around and head back east on I-20.
   At milepost 163 you'll be crossing the Coosa River impoundment (called Logan Martin Lake here). Oxford and Anniston at exit 185 were the home of Ft McClellan, one of the many military reservations closed by the budget crunch. At exit 191 is US-431 which is the best (only?) access to Cheaha State Park and the Skyway. Cheaha Mountain at 2407 feet is the tallest in Alabama. And, finally, after 214 miles you enter Georgia.

GEORGIA — We lost US-11 in Birmingham (it's following I-59); now we're being accompanied by US-78 which will stick with us all the way to Atlanta. We've found that if you need to find a business (like a hardware store which RVers need all too often) it is easiest to look along the old road (a US highway) that people used before the Interstate was built. Though a lot of those businesses are long gone, unfortunately, there are still many remaining.
   It is almost 50 miles to Atlanta and (my opinion) very uneventful if you ignore the terrible pavement for westbound traffic. It is like the waves of the ocean and you have to carefully adjust your speed to avoid loosing all your dishes, etc.
   I-20 does slice Atlanta almost in the center — just south of downtown - but, except for rush hour, the traffic does not uphold Atlanta's reputation (but 285 certainly does!).
   Every year we check with the big guys (Woodall, et al) including AAA if there are any RV parks close to Atlanta so your can use MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit which has great train service) instead of trying to drive around in Atlanta. The answer is still 'no'. Except for Stone Mountain. No, it isn't close in and there is no train but there is bus service (currently Route 120) to the Avondale MARTA station. From there you can go most anywhere. See the MARTA web site.
   From exit 67, where you cross I-295, it is about 137 miles to South Carolina. Which brings us back to food. All that tooling around Atlanta and eating in what is usually offered leaves you salivating for a great meal; how about catfish with a side of grits and hush puppies. (Watch the Yankees run! ... away :-) Covington has such a place and it is absolutely great (no, this isn't a paid ad, either). Take exit 88 and head south on Crowell Rd (about 2.2 miles) to Brown Bridge Road, turn right and go 0.2 mile west. They're next to the intersection of Kirkland Rd (11366 Brown Bridge Rd; 770-787-3571. They have all kinds of FRESH seafood but if the kids don't like seafood they also serve a big cheeseburger ("...for the Yankees", we're told).
   Greensboro has Lake Oconee (an impoundment of the Oconee and Apalachee Rivers) and some rather nice RV parks (see our Greensboro page). There's even a nice U S Forest Service camp about 12 northwest of town. (Don't expect to find an empty spot in the summer - they only have 6 and there are no showers, etc: just toilets).
   Guess I forgot to mention that we traded US-78 for US-278 in Atlanta (US-78 goes through Stone Mountain) but now we see 78 again at exit 172 in Thomson. There's a significant body of water here, too: J Strom Thurmond Lake (you remember him, of course). There's a pair of good Army Corps of Engineers campsite (with RV pads) at the lake (about a dozen miles northeast of town) and they have restrooms with hot showers, dumps and 30 amps. There's room for class 'A' vehicles but you have to watch the power drain. You may not need air conditioning; it's usually nice and balmy at the lake. More trivia: Lake Strom Thurmond is the downstream neighbor of Lake Hartwell which is the downstream neighbor of Lake Keowee which is the downstream beighbor of Lake Jocassee which is the downstream neighbor of Lake Toxaway way up in North Carolina. And, yes, these are impoundments of the Toxaway River with help of the Tugaloo River and about two dozen creeks. When they get finished using that cool, fresh, clean water they become the Savannah River
   Now you're approaching Augusta home of Fort Gordon —  on the Georg-a Side — and the 'Department of Energy' (read this as atomic power) facility on the South Carolina side. The name Augusta is usually associated with golf but there's a whole lot more to Augusta than golf. There's a constant play of music venues ranging the entire spectrum of tastes, or the excitement of the Speedboat races on the Savannah River. If you're just passing through there is the usual historical stuff but what most of the kids like is across the river in Aiken, South Carolina.

SOUTH CAROLINA — "Are we there, yet..." Almost. Aiken is in what the SC tourism folks call Thoroughbred Country. Yes, you guessed it: they are really into horses. Every year for three weekends they have horse shows and horse racing, — and the Aiken Triple Crown. Unfortunately for most vacationers, this occurs in March (but March in Aiken is like June up North). Aiken also has a very unusual — and interesting — museum housed in a former millionaire's mansion 803-642-2015. Gardeners (and there are a lot of them!) will love Hopeland Gardens 803-642-7631 (which contains more than flowers; how about the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in a restored carriage house. South Carolina maintains a large web site with all kinds of information about the State. Visit them at SKIway.net.
   About an hour from Georgia is Interstate 26 and Columbia. Columbia is in a topographical bowl. It gets HOT, very HOT. Columbia is also the home of Fort Jackson which was a gift the the U. S. Government by some very concerned people during World War I (2 June 1917 to be exact) with the firm proviso that it NEVER BE CLOSED! The original gift was just 1200 acres (look at it now, — 52,000 acres!).
   Columbia does have one campground worth special mention. It is in their Sesquicentennial State Park on US-1 about 3 miles northeast of exit 74. The fees run $15 to $18 and they have water and 30 amp electric hook-ups. Add to that a dump and hot showers and a beautiful environment and you could have a very pleasant night — or day or two.
   Continuing east from Columbia, after you cross the Wateree River (milepost 97) there just isn't much to write about. There is Lee State Natural Area in Bishopville (exit 123) which is outfitted like most SC State Parks but charges less than $20. Then we have our O'Henry ending; the Interstate ends at exit 160, the I-90 interchange, in Florence. That's all, folks. They seem to have forgotten about Myrtle Beach and South Carolina's Grand Strand which badly needs Interstate highway access. They've yakked about it for twenty years but the money always goes somewhere else.
   While it's off the Interstate, we will continue on US-76 to Marion and from there on US-501 to Myrtle Beach. After all, that's where most folks are going. And there are several RV parks worth mentioning along the way.
   Myrtle Beach, by the way, is probably unique. In fact the whole Grand Strand (which extends from North Myrtle Beach south to Murrells Inlet (some extend it to Pawley's Island) is very special. Here is a wide variety of fun and excitement plus a fantastic beach. There are the top performers, most with their own theaters (like in Branson MO but Myrtle Beach is much more accessible - and friendly we think) and no gaming. This is great for families. And if you're a golfer, you already know about the area golf courses. Places to stay? Almost a dozen good RV parks and campgrounds just waiting for you.
   Hope you've enjoy our tour. There is so much to see in the 48 states of the United States of America. Having done my time in countries around the globe with the U.S. Army, I really like it here. And why get kicked around at an airport or treated like baggage on a plane. Drive the American Highways, stop where and when you wish and enjoy the smell of the flowers.

contributed by Bob Masters