Back on the MS. Gulf Coast

Yesterday morning we bid farewell to our friends Mickey & Patti and took off for the MS. Gulf Coast. The drive here was smooth and uneventful. We noticed that the closer we got to the coast, the more RV's we saw parked by business's and damaged homes. Also there were more "temporary" RV parks along highway 49. These were not FEMA parks, but private ones put together to handle the contractors etc.

We elected to stay at the CB base in Gulfport (famcamp) over Keesler AFB famcamp in Biloxi. Keesler had spots in their overflow on grass with electric and the CB base had hardstand w/full hookups. We made a good choice as it is supposed to rain for the next couple of days. For those who can use the military famcamps, this one is very nice. Full paved roads, level concrete pads, gravel parking spot beside, full hookups and very roomy. There is a nice bath house and laundry and WiFi is coming very soon. Right now there is a maximum three night stay.

We did experience one setback though. While putting the slides out, our kitchen slide went about 3" out and stopped! It wouldn't budge either way - in or out. Dean crawled underneath to check out the problem and it seems that a gear box has cracked. We are working with our favorite repair place in Pensacola - Carpenters Campers - to get the part ordered. Guess that will be our destination on Sunday when we leave here. We did manage to get the slide back in and that is where it will stay. Bad news - no cooking as I can't get to any of the kitchen stuff - Good news - we get to eat out!

We took a short drive in the afternoon and even though I've seen the reports on TV beginning with the day after Katrina, I still could not believe what I saw, or didn't see. Literally everything on the beach front is gone. For those who haven't been here, I'm not talking being built on the beach side of the road. This is across highway 90 and in a lot of places, on a slight raise. It's very obvious that the tidal surge was in fact at least 36 - 40' of water! We are going to drive around more today, but I'm not looking forward to what I'm sure I'll see. Let me add here that both Dean and I have lived on the MS coast for over 30 years. I graduated from Biloxi H.S., so in a real sense, this is more like "home" than anywhere I've lived.

This is a picture looking toward the MS sound from the Edgewater Village parking lot. Notice the "empty" Wendy's sign and the McDonald's sign through the trees. That's all that is left. They didn't have to clean up in this area as all the debris was washed back about a quarter of a mile in this area. Nothing left but clean slabs. The second picture is of the beach end of Edgewater Village, or what's left, and a new condo being build behind. I'm afraid that the coast will be saturated with condo's unless the locals start to protest!



Biloxi Beach motel - no more! Look through the trees (what's left of them) - a medical center that was not visible pre-Katrina. Now the buildings are gone, but the slabs are there, and the trees will most likely die from the salt water. They were the beautiful oak trees with moss hanging.


Lastly, this one breaks my heart. This is 1st Baptist of Gulfport where we attended church for several years. This was the backdrop for ABC TV's first reports of the damage that Katrina had done. I understand that the building will be leveled and that the church will be rebuilt inland.

How sad.

First view is straight on, looking east and the second view is looking toward the MS sound (gulf) and the third one is looking inside the sanctuary.




Remember, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them. More later.