One Of My Favorite Wildflowers

Black-eyed Susans

They are a native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown and one of my favorites photographed recently. 

Paddlewheeler's Bring More To Vicksburg!

American Cruise Lines' newest paddle wheeler America made her maiden voyage last week, with a seven-day New Orleans round-trip cruise making its northernmost stop in my hometown of Vicksburg.

Hotel Director Drew Godfrey said the trip included 171 passengers who experienced what Vicksburg had to offer via the company's shuttles.

"We arrived and there were people holding up banners welcoming America," he said. "People here are always so accommodating and so friendly. We're excited to bring another ship to Vicksburg."

America will be in Vicksburg once a week for the majority of the year.

"Our passengers are all well-traveled and affluent," Godfrey said.  "When they come to Vicksburg, they have a disposable income.  They like to dine out, spend in the gift shops and explore downtown."

Back on board, the fun continues for passengers.

"Our chef has worked tirelessly to create a menu with a Creole/Cajun flare to it," Godfrey said. "There's open seating so our passengers get to mix and mingle with each other."

Entertainer and historian Bill Wiemuth said he gets to share a passion for the Mississippi River Valley with the guests.

"Everything from how the river helped double the country's size with the Louisiana Purchase to the struggle for the control of the river during the Civil War to the advent of steamboats and the growth of transportation and the western migration of our country," he said.  "They're exciting tales."

Entertainer Laura Sable said she and Wiemuth are also responsible for playing music for the passengers.

"We do a lot of regional music: blues and jazz," she said.  "We keep the folks happy and entertained at evening shows with the music of the region."

The pair have been cruising the Mississippi River for the past 18 years and have amassed a wealth of knowledge about its history and culture.

"I think it's important to understand the context that there's only been three passengers boats built for this river in the last 20 years, all three of them by American Cruise Lines," Wiemuth said.  "It's exciting to see this industry still thriving thanks to this company."

The ship's captain, Robert Hopkins, said America has been great and well-behave so far.

"Vicksburg is one of our best tours," he said.  "Thanks for having us, and keep having us back.  We love coming here."

America is designed with traditional Victorian-style accents and blends tradition with modern features and amenities.

While the new ship is adorned with gleaming woodwork, brass fixtures, and historic decor, it is constructed with the latest in cruise ship technology.

The paddlewheeler has seven lounges across its five decks and offers seven-, 14- and 21-day cruises.

For more information about American Cruise Lines, visit americancruiselines.com.
By Austin Vining ~ The Vicksburg, Post

Carol's Nice Turkey!

My Facebook friend, Kurt Williams, let Wisconsin friends Carol Osswald and her husband Paul, turkey hunt on his leased land recently.  

Kurt, wishing them the best of luck as they head out to hunt!

WOW!!  Looks like Carol got really lucky!

Paul and Carol smiling for the camera with her prized turkey!

A great turkey hunt shared with her husband in our great wild outdoors! Way to go Carol!  Congratulations!

Hog or Bear?

Kenneth Lee with Southern Hog Slayers laid flat on his belly in that grass by the feeder in a gillie suit trying to catch a hog in the dark the very night this funny looking hog came out to play. Thank goodness we had gotten up and left.  I believe if he grabs that hog he would be in trouble. What you think?  I think, Yes!

A funny looking hog on a trail cam according to my friend, Rex Holmes, Jr., of Natchez, MS.  Black bears are endangered species in the State of Mississippi.  In the past, a large population of black bears were found throughout the state.  Today, there are only 200-250 bears left.  I would say Kenneth Lee got lucky in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!

Trevor's First Large-Mouth Bass!

Mark Kovacs 5-year-old son, Trevor, reeled in all by himself his very first large-mouth bass yesterday.  Last week he got his first trout and was ready to go back fishing.  Mark said that his little buddy made his Daddy proud and was a priceless moment for him. He said he cast, set hook and reeled in without any help.  The water was very dirty so he gave him a power worm and he hooked a beauty for a first bass.  My congrats to this young fisherman in our great wild and wonderful outdoors.  Way to go, Trevor!

M/V Amy Gattle Northbound

M/V Amy Gattle making her way northbound with empty containers yesterday afternoon.  It is so nice to have an app called FINDSHIP on my phone so I know the name of the towboat coming. Before I would use my camera to zoom in to get the name and/or my phone to take pictures. 

A pulled-out shot.

Making her way just after passing the bridges to another hurtle...

...the bend at Delta Point which makes most Captains uneasy. 

America's Maiden Voyage

Today the new paddle wheeler America docked at our waterfront in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, on her maiden voyage.  It was built by American Cruise Line (ACL) at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland for overnight river cruising.  America will replace existing paddlewheeler Queen of the Mississippi.  She went into service on May 7.  She will have features never seen before on a riverboat.  It is larger than previous ACL riverboats with a 185 passenger capacity.  Her home-port is New Orleans, LA.  I was told that this is as far as she will go and will head southbound to Natchez, MS.  

Rosie's Sheds

Rosie's Mom said that these are definitely getting harder to find, but we got lucky on our hike and stumbled on these two.  Don't let the basset hound fool you.  She was absolutely no help in locating the sheds as she was distracted by a piece of deer leg...and a nap.

Great to get out in the wild outdoors!  You don't know what you will find! Congrats to Rosie on her sheds...a lucky little girl!

Maiden Voyage of Paddle Wheeler AMERICA

The paddle wheeler America is expected to stop in Vicksburg Tuesday as it makes its maiden voyage for owner Connecticut-based American Cruse Lines.

The boat is the newest in the company's fleet of eight boats that cruise American rivers and the East Coast.

It is one of the company's two boats cruising the Mississippi River, and during its maiden voyage will also make stops at Oak Alley in Vacherie, LA; Natchez; Vicksburg; St. Francisville, LA; Baton Rouge, LA; and Houmas House in Darrow, LA; before returning to New Orleans.  America will spend the day in Vicksburg, and guest will tour the Vicksburg National Military Park.

"The rebound of the riverboat industry has been remarkable," said Bill Seratt, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.  "Last year, we greeted around 30,000 people who arrived (in Vicksburg) by water.  It's just amazing to see that entire industry come back with such great force."

Built for American Cruise Lines at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, America is the third new riverboat built for the Mississippi for American Cruise Lines.

The five-deck rear paddle wheeler has a capacity of 185 passengers and will introduce features never before seen on a riverboat.

The American-flagged and American crewed boat was designed with traditional Victorian-style accents and blends tradition with modern feature and amenities, and is constructed with the latest in cruise ship technology.

By Bill Seratt
The Vicksburg Post

A Tailgate of Fish & Frogs

Dustin McLeod of Escatawpa, Mississippi, recently caught a big mess of fish and some frogs. He had a great day as you can see by an overflowing tailgate. That's some good eating for sure! 

My congrats on his nice haul in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!

What It's All About

Dean Blackwell of Hattiesburg, MS, said that he didn't kill anything this whole season but he was right by his grandson's side with all his kills.  

I'm sure Dean would not have had it any other way and that God truly blessed them. 

My congrats to his grandson and kudos to Dean for instilling in his grandson the art of hunting and of course the memories they both shared in our great wild outdoors. 

Turkey #1

Turkey #2

Turkey #3

Wild boar!

A squirrel!

A nice buck!

Now, it time to go fishing!

Gun Pointing!

This picture is courtesy of our friends at hunter-ed.com and is used to show that when walking side by side, each hunter is responsible for ensuring their gun is pointed in a safe direction.  Pass it on, we are safe, responsible gun owners in our great wild outdoors!

M/V Crimson Duke @ Delta Point

After leaving the waterfront and taking pictures of the grand American Queen, I headed for the Louisiana Circle.  As I was entering the circle I saw a towboat coming around the bend (Delta Point) at my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.  

Straightening up.

Almost in view...

...with a very large tow.

Looking at the bridges for the next hurtle.

M/V Crimson Duke making it's way toward the bridges which is another hazard for the pilots.   

He will make it and I'm sure breathing a lot easier.

Safe travels to M/V Crimson Duke southbound to New Orleans according to the app FINDSHIP!

A Nice New Mexico Turkey!

Chris Eaves got it done in New Mexico recently on a beautiful foggy morning.  The Merriam turkey came in on a string, he said. Chris was hunting at the Gila & Apache Outfitters & Guides.  My congrats on a very nice turkey in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!  Way to go, Chris!

Tagging A Texas Eastern Turkey

Jeremiah Bennett, from Royse City, TX and my friend on Facebook, snuck away yesterday morning and managed to put a tag on another Texas Eastern.  He said, it's been too much work and not enough hunting. This is a great shot of his turkey slung across the hood of his grandpa's old Ford.  My congrats, Jeremiah on a very nice turkey in our great wild outdoors.  #TexasEasterns

He had an 11" beard...

...and 1-1/8 spurs.

Cute When Little!

Randolph Anderson of Leakesville, MS, said that turkeys are so cute when little and it's this year's hatch.  Right now they are not for sale in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!