February 16, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Excursion # One.

Keshina and I took our first excursion together today. She liked it even though she does not enjoy driving beside water, which we did both going and coming. Our first effort was simple on purpose. She is not used to poking around back roads, which Ken and I have always done so I selected a destination that she had been to before. I have a book telling weekend trips in Mississippi. My first choice was Canton. We drove along the Reservoir on the NatcheZ Trace. The drive is lovely and Ken and I had driven the same route many times but Kashina had never been on that section of the Trace, because you drive right alongside the water. But Kashina persevered. At the top of the lake we took the highway to Canton, an old town with a pretty town square and court house. We parked down town and walked around the whole square, looking at every store. Small towns are not thriving so I expected exactly what we found. We counted 6 stores not operating at all. Totally empty. It was Saturday late morning and the square was not busy. Not many people downtown. We went into one antique store and chatted with the owner but business was slow, said he. And the best restaurant was closed today as was the Museum. But we got in our walk and admired the 19th century lovely buildings. When Wonderful Wendy was here, we three drove the same route and stopped at a restaurant just as it was closing for their Sunday brunch. It was Penn's restaurant. They graciously invited us in and we ate a delicious late lunch. It turned out to be an old Mississippi institution, Penn's restaurants. They have several in Jackson still. So, remembering how good the food was years ago, Keshina and I went to the same restaurant. When I was there with Wendy and Ken we were all hungry and the food tasted great. But today the food was bland. And almost no one was there. We both think the restaurant will close. We drove home along back roads on the opposite side of the reservoir but not right along the water, which pleased Kashina. To get home we had to drive along the spillway which is directly beside the water. Kashina did not like it but she got us home. Now she is ready for our next excursion which will be Port Gibson, "the town too pretty to burn," said General Grant. Our first excursion was a success.