Traveling Square Dancers: Swinging Bridge Park, Jackson, MS

Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Swinging Bridge Park, Jackson, MS

Three days later, we moved to Jackson, MS. We stayed two nights in the Swinging Bridge Campground on the south side of the city. We chose the area so that we could square dance with the local club. Curious about the name of the park, we began asking about the ‘Swinging Bridge’. Many of the ‘locals’ didn’t know if there really was a bridge or not, but a cable repairman told us how to find it.

A one lane road led to it.

The bridge, no longer in use, spans the Pearl River.

The old bridge was impressive, with steel cables as large as my wrist.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge has been very neglected, (obviously, from the graffiti) a local meeting place for youth.